TIE fighter

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This page is about the fictional TIE fighter starcraft. For information on the LucasArts computer game TIE Fighter, see Star Wars: TIE Fighter.

Star Wars craft
TIE fighter
Manufacturer	Sienar Fleet Systems
Specification	T/Ln starfighter
Type	Space Superiority Assault Fighter
Length	6.3 meters (other sources give 6.08)
Weapons	2 SFS LS-1 Cannons; 6 Proton Torpedoes (if upgraded)
Shield	none
Hull	9 RU
Crew	1 pilot
Top Speed	100 MGLT
Troop Capacity	none
Affiliation	Galactic Empire, Imperial Remnant
Cargo Capacity	N/A
Passengers	N/A

A TIE fighter is a fictional starfighter in the Star Wars universe and is the standard Imperial starfighter. TIE is a backronym for "Twin Ion Engine", and the TIE fighter is the mainstay of the Imperial fleet throughout the original Star Wars trilogy (episodes IV-VI). The movies include very little technical information about the craft but extensive details were subsequently created for the Star Wars Expanded Universe. Rebellion/New Republic pilots gave TIE fighters the slang name "Eyeballs" because of their spherical cockpit and viewport.

Contents 1 Specifications 2 Experimental models 3 Variants 4 History 5 Computer games 6 Trivia 7 External links

[edit] Specifications

According to Star Wars Expanded Universe aftermarket merchandising, the TIE fighter was manufactured by Sienar Fleet Systems and cost 60,000 Imperial Credits (the standard currency of the Empire) to build, which is apparently cheap for a fighter. The design was based on the older Eta-2 Actis Jedi interceptor and the Sith Infiltrator.

While highly maneuverable, TIE fighters had minimal or no shielding and were easily destroyed. The TIE pilots themselves, had to trust their adept flying and combat skills to compensate for these weaknesses, along with often superior numbers. They did not carry missile tubes in standard configurations, but these were sometimes added as necessary, but logically, missions with missiles and other heavy weaponry required would be carried out by TIE bombers escorted by fighters. The fighters had no landing gear and were launched from specialized racks, although they are structurally capable of sitting on their wings. Life-support systems were not included, so each pilot had a fully-sealed flight suit (of superior construction to that of his Rebel counterpart).

Contrary to popular belief, the ships did possess ejection seats, as evidenced in Episode V^{[citation needed]}, but the nature of space warfare resulted in pilots preferring to ride their craft to a swift end rather than eject and risk slow death by asphyxiation.

The fighters, along with their pilots, were viewed as expendable by high ranking Imperial officers; even the pilots consider themselves expendable. Like stormtroopers, TIE pilots were addressed by a number, such as DS-61-2 (the first two letters indicate the posting, the next two or three digits indicate the squadron number, and the last number indicates the pilot's ranking in the squadron). TIE fighters were weak individually, although a direct hit on a starfighter or medium transport could damage or destroy it, but TIE craft were intended for use in large numbers.

According to the Databank entry on StarWars.com, the large panels on either side of the craft are solar panels, which are used to collect the energy to power the craft. The energy is focused into the drives, which blast out ionized gas from the rear of the craft, giving it its incredible speed and distinct sound. The TIE interceptor took this propulsion method to the next level, adding control flaps to the propulsion nozzles at the rear of the craft, allowing it to make tight turns and rolls impossible in Rebellion craft.

According to the TIE Fighter computer game, for a limited time a very few TIEs were equipped with torpedo launchers. This was to combat the traitorous Admiral Zaarin who had retrofitted his TIE squadrons with shielding.

According to Industrial Light and Magic modelmaker Lorne Peterson the original technical term considered for the acronym TIE was "Thermal Ion Energy" but was eventually changed to "Twin Ion Engine" and appeared as that term for the first time in the Star Wars Sketchbook, 1977.

Ever since it has become the general understanding that TIE refers to an ion drive propulsion engine, rather than an engine working with ionized plasma, which is the basic form of the reactants in nuclear fusion.

The propulsion interpretation causes a variety of contradictions:

• While average TIE fighters have two (twin) propulsion engines, Vader's has four, thus cannot fall under this category.
• Ion drives will only work in the vacuum of space, because of particle interference within in atmosphere, thus limiting electrostatic ion thruster propelled vehicles to space.
• According to the Star Wars Sketchbook "TIE fighters make use of advanced forms of propulsion". If the fusion rocket was established as the basic form of propulsion in the Star Wars universe, ion drives would be vastly inferior and inefficient in comparison. The sketchbook could indicate the antimatter rocket or another form of spacecraft propulsion, significantly beyond current engineering.

[edit] Experimental models

TIE/e1

TIE/e2

TIE/e3

TIE/e5

• TIE/e1 — Also known as the TIE Experimental Turbolaser Ball, it is an experimental model that never made it into standard production. Little information is available on the TIE/e1. Visually, the TIE/e1 was a TIE/ln with a single radiation panel, on one side of which was the pilot ball, and on the other was an additional pod with a single large laser cannon. The two laser cannons were removed from the pilot pod.

• TIE/e2 — Another remodeled experimental remote-controlled TIE/ln. Information is classified. The TIE/e2 has never reached standard production status. Standard cannons were replaced with outer wing turrets that had a 45 degree angle of rotation.

• TIE/e3 — Also known as the TIE Interceptor Rockets, an experimental TIE interceptor, with the four standard wingtip laser cannons removed, and two fast-fire Missile/Rocket pods placed on the outer side of the radiation panels.

• TIE/e4 — An experimental remote-control TIE fighter. This craft first appeared in the game X-Wing Alliance. All weapons were stripped from this model of TIE Experimental, and it was used for Kamikaze attacks, most notably against the Rebel Mon-Cal cruiser, Liberty.

• TIE/e5 — An experimental remote-control TIE fighter. This craft also first appeared in the game X-Wing Alliance. It was a TIE/ln with a large booster rocket welded onto the back increasing its speed.

[edit] Variants

TIE/gt

TIE/rc

TIE Raptor

TIE Hunter

TYE Wing

• TIE/Advanced fighter — Also known as the Advanced x1, it is a modified starfighter once used by Darth Vader. An alternate interpretation is that this is an example of the Long-Range TIE Fighter.

• TIE Avenger — The production model based on Darth Vader's TIE Advanced x1 prototype.

• TIE Bomber — A larger, less maneuverable version of the TIE Fighter used for destroying large ships and fortifications.

• TIE Clutch — The TIE Clutch came into wide production after the Battle of Endor and the fall of the Empire. Since "[a]fter stupidity and hydrogen, TIE cockpits are the most plentiful resource in the galaxy" many pirate groups and planetary self-defense groups began accumulating a number of Clutches. Of note, several of the pirate groups associated with Leonia Tavira and the Invidious piloted Clutches exclusively or had a number of them on hand. The cockpit is married to three wings placed equidistant around the cockpit, with one directly above the hatch and the other two acting as landing skids. The TIE's lasers are complemented by an ion cannon on the top wing, and it is often equipped with shields. The Clutch is introduced in I, Jedi and is Corran Horn's main vehicle for that novel.

• TIE Crawler — Though not strictly a TIE fighter variant, the TIE Crawler does use the same cockpit.

• TIE/D Automated Fighter — A TIE fighter piloted by a droid brain instead of a living pilot.

• TIE Defender — A TIE fighter variant featuring deflector shields and hyperdrive, and four laser cannons, two ion cannons, and six to eight concussion missiles or proton torpedoes. It was five times more expensive than the basic TIE fighter.

• TIE/fc — Also known as the TIE Fire-Control Fighter, it is a variant in the TIE fighter series. It carried only one laser cannon and instead carried several sensors. It was primarily designed to scan an enemy base and transmit the information back to the fleet. The ships would then attack the base and be able to evade the enemy's defenses. Because of its importance, the craft was designed to be very maneuverable.

• TIE/gt — Short for TIE Ground-Targeting Starfighter, it is a predecessor to the TIE Bomber. It was designed to be dependent on the TIE/fc Fighter, which provided precise targeting information. The fighter's payload included 6 proton torpedoes, 18 air-deployed mines, or 20,000 plastic leaflets which were used for propaganda missions.

• TIE Hunter — A TIE model similar to the TIE Interceptor, but with S-foils. This TIE model was used exclusively by the Imperial Storm Commandos, and designed to counter the Rebel Alliance's X-Wing starfighter. However, it was not mass-produced, due to the fact that the Empire refused to use the fighter because it was based on a starfighter of the Rebellion.

• TIE Interceptor — Also known as the TIE/I or T/I, it is a faster version of the TIE fighter that is identifiable by its bent and arrow-shaped wing features.

• TIE Mauler — The TIE mauler apeared in Star Wars: Empire at War. It could run over enemy units and self destruct. It was lightly armoured, with low-powered weapons, but made up for these drawbacks with its speed.

• TIE Phantom — A variation of the TIE fighter featuring cloaking technology and features three bent panels around the cockpit.

• TIE Raptor — Like all TIE craft, it has a spherical cockpit with an octagonal window, but rather than the usual large wings on either side, it has four short fins protruding from it. Each TIE Raptor was armed with four wing mounted laser cannons, and a pair of concussion missile tubes mounted just below the cockpit. This fighter was involved in the final battle between Han Solo's Mon Remonda and Warlord Zsinj's Iron Fist. To draw off Wedge Antilles with his Rogue and Wraith Squadron's, Zsinj sent a fake 181st Fighter Squadron to the world of Selaggis Six in the hope that this would allow Zsinj enough time to fake the destruction of his Super Star Destroyer Iron Fist. Having engaged this fake 181st, the Rogues and Wraiths were attacked by a squadron of new TIE Raptors but ultimately this design fared no better than any other. This is the only known use of the TIE Raptor. Despite the striking similarity between the TIE Raptor and the basic TIE Fighter, Sienar Fleet Systems was not responsible for its design or manufacture.

• TIE/rc Vanguard — A reconnaissance version of TIE fighter, constructed by Sienar Fleet Systems (SFS) for the Galactic Empire and private contractors. 6.3 meters long, the fighter sports only one laser cannon, but uses the extra space to carry enhanced sensors that are more powerful compared to baseline TIE/ln starfighter.

• TYE wing — A hybrid starfighter type known as "uglies", TYE wings combine the cockpit of the TIE fighter with the engine from the Y-wing. The cannibalized nature of the design results in the class being known by a number of names, including TIE wing, TIE-Y, TYE fighter, or simply TYE. However, this combines the sluggishness of the Y-wing and the lack of shields and heavy weaponry of the TIE. As such, pilots commonly refer to the TYE wing as "Die wing." In the plot of Star Wars, TYE wings are often found in many private defensive fleets and in the service of space pirates, most notably by a group of Imperial privateers against Rogue Squadron after the Battle of Endor. It was introduced in the novel I, Jedi and also played a role in the comic X-wing Rogue Squadron 30: Masquerade, Part 3.

• TIE Predator (Imperial Fighter) — A Galactic Empire starfighter used 130 years after the Battle of Yavin IV. It played a role in the plot of the Star Wars: Legacy comic series, where it was used by Emperor Roan Fel's starfleet to battle the Galactic Alliance. It was also used in the Third Battle of Ossus, also known as the Massacre of Ossus. It had the classical spherical TIE cockpit, and had four ion engines. It had two triangular-shaped solar wings, one to each side of the cockpit and connected to the cockpit. Their wings could have variable configurations. In addition, unlike most TIE models, it sported a hyperdrive and a deflector shielding generator. It was also fast, maneuverable, and powerful, like its predecessors, the original TIE fighter and the more advanced TIE interceptor. For armament, they sported four laser cannons and possibly missile launch systems. Squadron captains had TIE cockpits whose cockpits had the traditional TIE pattern: a small circle surrounded by a circle of hexagons. Lower-ranking pilots had cockpits which were filled with horizontal bars.

[edit] History

The original TIE fighter was more maneuverable but less durable than the heavily built X-wings, but TIE fighters generally enjoyed numerical advantage. A newer variant, the TIE/ln "Line" Fighter boasted improved engines, surpassing contemporary Rebel fighters of the time. The TIE interceptor was the intended replacement for the TIE/ln, but the collapse of the Imperial government into sectionalism precluded this. As the Galactic Empire retreated, more and more factories found themselves behind New Republic lines and ceased production. For this reason the Empire began to install shields on their fighters. By the time the peace treaty was signed (in Vision of the Future), the Empire was using export starfighters manufactured by other races (such as the Sullustan SoroSuub Preybird) due of a lack of TIE manufacturing facilities.

[edit] Computer games

In the X-Wing/TIE Fighter computer game series, the TIE fighter was not equipped with the rechargeable shield technology found on Rebel craft and more advanced Imperial fighters. The TIE fighter boasted superior maneuverability to partially compensate for this deficiency.

It is also featured in Star Wars: Battlefront and Battlefront 2, equipped with lasers and proton torpedoes.

[edit] Trivia

• The phrase "TIE fighter" is said only once in the whole Star Wars trilogy (when Lando orders his strike team to return to the surface of the Death Star in Return of the Jedi).

• The Imperial TIE fighter versus the Rebel X-Wing idea may have been based on dogfights between slower but better armored American planes and faster, as well as more maneuverable Japanese Imperial Zeros during World War II.

• Comic book artist Brandon Badeaux at one point believed that TIE fighters existed before the original trilogy of Star Wars movies. Badeaux placed a TIE fighter on the first page of "Nomad: Chapter One" in Star Wars Tales #21, alongside original Clone Troop Transports and what appears to be a Super Star Destroyer. Republic Gunships also appear in a flashback during this story. This comic takes place approximately six months after The Phantom Menace.

• The TIE fighter sound effect was created by combining an elephant scream with a car driving on wet pavement.^{[citation needed]}

• It has been suggested that the creators of the Star Wars films gave the craft the name "TIE Fighters" for their apparent likenesses to bowties.

[edit] External links

• Star Wars Databank | TIE fighter
• TIE fighter on Wookieepedia: The Star Wars Wiki

Vehicles of the Galactic Empire
Entries in italics denote vehicles from the Expanded Universe
Ground vehicles
AT-ST | AT-AT | AT-TE | 74-Z Speeder Bike | Juggernaut | AT-PT | TIE crawler
Starfighters
TIE Fighter | TIE Interceptor | TIE Bomber | TIE Advanced x1 | TIE Avenger | TIE Defender | TIE/D fighter TIE Hunter | TIE Phantom | Assault Gunboat | Missile Boat | Skipray Blastboat | A-9 Vigilance
Capital ships
Star Destroyer | Super Star Destroyer | Executor | Nebulon-B Frigate | Corellian Corvette Lancer-Class Frigate | Interdictor Cruiser | Carrack-Class Light Cruiser
Other
Lambda-class shuttle | Death Star | Walker Dropship | World Devastator | Sun Crusher
See also
Star Wars air vehicles | Star Wars aquatic vehicles | Star Wars ground vehicles | Star Wars starfighters | Star Wars support craft List of vehicles | List of minor vehicles