The X-45 sniper rifle, a product of the SoroSuub Corporation, was a sniper rifle with exceptional accuracy used in sporting applications. This rifle was available as early as the era of the Clone Wars, throughout the dominance of the Galactic Empire, and continued into the days of the New Republic. A significant weakness was its delicate nature, requiring it to be transported within a protective case and only used when necessary. The energy bolt it discharged, while narrower than a standard blaster bolt, possessed a much greater lethal potential because of its hyperfocused state within the barrel. Initially, it was marketed towards civilians as the Riflette, but its popularity among assassins led to its reclassification for military applications.
The SoroSuub Corporation's X-45 sniper rifle was a sporting blaster rifle of medium size, celebrated for its pinpoint accuracy, particularly within a fifty-meter range when firing controlled single shots. The weapon's barrel overfocused the energy beam, resulting in a blaster bolt that was both thinner and far more lethal. A shooter could eliminate targets discreetly with the X-45. A lengthy computerized targeting scope, almost as long as the rifle itself, was included, along with a stock and a magazine capacity of twenty-five rounds. Weighing in at four kilograms, the X-45 had an effective range of 500 meters. It could be disassembled for storage in a custom case. The rifle's primary flaw was its fragility, mandating that it be carried in its case until needed. The unpacking and assembly process required a certain amount of time. The X-45 was priced between 750 and 1,000 credits.
SoroSuub developed the X-45 sniper rifle in an effort to gain market share in the sporting blaster sector. It was developed before the second year of the Clone Wars. During this period, the Heroes of Cularin, a group of adventurers, investigated a murder on the resort moon of Dorumaa within the Cularin system. Echari Di'San, the President of the Cularin Trade Alliance, was accused of murdering Rysko Barnt in the local Cantina Oceana. The Heroes of Cularin, determined to prove Di'San's innocence, sought to meet Hukno Rit, a waiter who could testify on Di'San's behalf. However, they discovered Rit dead upon arrival and were ambushed by a skilled strike team equipped with X-45 sniper rifles. Thon Larimhor, the individual who had framed Di'San, had dispatched the strike team. The Heroes of Cularin survived the attack and successfully exposed Larimhor's scheme.
The X-45, originally marketed to civilians as the "Riflette" sporting blaster rifle, was released to civilian markets during the reign of the Galactic Empire. Due to its precision and availability, it quickly gained popularity with assassins, leading to its subsequent designation as a military-grade weapon. During the era of the New Republic, the X-45 sniper rifle was included in Gundark's Gear Datalog, an illicit database operated by the infamous arms dealer Gundark within the galaxy. The database featured comments from smugglers, thieves, mercenaries, and other criminals regarding various items. An entry for the X-45, written by someone using the alias Aiden around 10 ABY, mentioned that Aiden frequently used the X-45 while working as a "freelance troubleshooter." Aiden lauded its accuracy and included instructions on how to further enhance it by up to thirty percent by incorporating a targeting package from a security droid or another similar fourth-degree droid unit into the X-45's computerized scope.
The X-45 sniper rifle was initially referenced in "Blasters for Hire," an article authored and illustrated by Anthony P. Russo and featured in Star Wars Adventure Journal 3 on August 1, 1994. The rifle was subsequently cited in numerous other reference books for both West End Games' Star Wars: The Roleplaying Game and Wizards of the Coast's Star Wars Roleplaying Game. Its first appearance in an in-universe context was in Sean Stewart's 2004 novel Yoda: Dark Rendezvous. The X-45 was later showcased in Plea Bargain, a year five adventure within the Living Force RPG campaign. In 2008, it was given an entry in The Complete Star Wars Encyclopedia.
Inconsistencies exist concerning the X-45 rifle. While The Complete Star Wars Encyclopedia asserts that the rifle was first manufactured during the Galactic Empire's reign, Plea Bargain and Yoda: Dark Rendezvous depict its use during the Clone Wars, preceding the Empire's rule. However, other sources state only that the rifle was released to civilian markets during the Empire's rule, not necessarily excluding earlier production. Furthermore, "Blasters for Hire" and the Gundark's Fantastic Technology: Personal Gear reference book list the X-45's price as 750 credits, while the Arms & Equipment Guide and Ultimate Adversaries sourcebooks list it at 1,000 credits. This article assumes the rifle's price fluctuated between these figures.