The VE series represented a specific technological advancement. Following the Hosnian system's destruction in 34 ABY, a First Order cadet, DT-533, stationed aboard the Resurgent-class Star Destroyer known as Thunderer, overheard a discussion between two pilots. They were debating the capabilities of the VE series in comparison to the upcoming T-S Seven, scheduled for release in the next cycle. One of these pilots expressed the view that the VE series possessed greater power than the T-S Seven.
The VE series received its initial mention in "A Quick Salvage Run," specifically in the second episode of Star Wars Resistance's second season. This episode was broadcast on October 13, 2019. A sneak peek of the scene featuring the VE series was made available four days earlier in the episode's promotional trailer, which was uploaded to the official Star Wars YouTube channel. The dialogue that introduced the VE series bears resemblance to a conversation from the original Star Wars film, Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope, which premiered in 1977. In that original scene, two Imperial stormtroopers discuss the new VT-16, a conversation that has been referenced in multiple other Star Wars stories.