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You always hear them first. Twin ion engines make TIE fighters howl as they fly by on patrols.
—Danny the Cat, [34]
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The TIE/LN starfighter,[35] or TIE/line starfighter, simply known as the TIE Fighter or T/F,[36] was the standard Imperial starfighter seen in massive numbers throughout most of the Galactic Civil War and onward. Occasionally, due to their distinct shape, Rebel and New Republic pilots referred to the craft as "eyeballs."[37]
Characteristics[]
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The aging, outdated craft employed by the Rebels are no match for the power of the TIE, and even the prototype T-65 X-wing created by the traitors who escaped from Incom is clearly outclassed.
—Captain David West Reynolds, [38]
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The TIE Fighter is the original design for later upgraded TIE models such as TIE/sa bomber, TIE/IN interceptor, TIE/D Defender, TIE/D automated starfighter, and many more. The TIE Fighter was a descendant of the T.I.E. starfighter and the V-wing starfighter, both developed for the Galactic Republic, and was manufactured by Sienar Fleet Systems. In addition to the TIE and V-wing, it was also descended from the TIE starfighter, the first TIE model developed for the Galactic Empire. The namesake for the fighter and line was the Sienar Fleet Systems P-s4 twin ion engines that acted as its engines. However, it also to some degree was named after an item of clothing due to its overall shape resembling a bow-tie.[39]
A Rebel T-65 X-wing starfighter in the sights of a TIE Fighter's targeting computer
The TIE/Ln's engine was one of the most precisely manufactured propulsion systems in the galaxy and, with no moving parts, was low-maintenance. Unlike the TIE before it, the TIE/Ln sported independent generators for the engine and the weapons. Power conduits were attached between the engine system and the solar arrays for good performance.[20]
The lack of combat shields, hyperdrive, and life-support systems, in concert with the advanced engine design, reduced the mass of the fighter and conferred exceptional maneuverability. This also made them both inexpensive and quick to replace.
Primary armament was a pair of L-S1 laser cannons, coupled with a powerful sensor suite.[20] The cannons were relatively powerful, and a well-placed hit on a starfighter or medium-sized transport could damage or destroy it. It did not carry missile tubes, but such weapons could be added if necessary.
Due to the lack of life-support systems, each Imperial Starfighter Pilot had a fully sealed flight suit superior to their Rebel counterparts. The absence of a hyperdrive also rendered the fighter totally dependent on carrier ships when deployed in enemy systems. TIE/Ln, also lacked landing gear, another mass-reducing measure. While the ships were structurally capable of "sitting" on their wings, they were not designed to land or disembark their pilots without special support. On Imperial ships, TIEs were launched from racks in the hangar bays.
TIEs were designed to attack in large numbers, overwhelming the enemy craft. Standard attack squadrons consisted of 12 fighters while full attack wings were made up of six squadrons.[40] The Imperials used so many that they came to be considered symbols of the Empire and its might. They were also very cheap to produce, reflecting the Imperial philosophy of quantity over quality.
Contrary to popular belief, the ships did possess ejection seats, but the nature of space warfare often resulted in pilots riding their craft down to a swift end rather than ejecting and risking slow death by heat loss and oxygen starvation in the vacuum of space. The ejection system was more a formality than anything else - given the delicacy of the craft, by the time enough damage was done to require the pilot ejecting, it would likely have already destroyed itself.Template:Fact
The design choices of the TIE/Ln could arguably be explained by Imperial military philosophy, which viewed the starfighters and their pilots as an expendable asset. Though Imperial pilots were of an elite stock, they were also expected to consider themselves expendable, in accordance with their ideological training.
Other Imperial pilots considered TIE Fighter pilots to be suicidal due to how expendable the starfighters were.[20]
Like stormtroopers, TIE pilots had their own identification, such as DS-61-2 (the first two letters indicated the posting, the next two or three digits indicated the squadron number, and the last number indicated the pilot's ranking in the squadron). This procedure reduced them to being no more than anonymous and standardized operatives of the Imperial war machine. This attitude was further reflected by the lack of any sentimental attachment to particular TIEs by TIE pilots, unlike Rebel pilots who often grew attached to their craft. As far as they were concerned, every fighter, whether reconditioned or factory-fresh, was identical. They were considered as nothing more than tools, much in the same way the pilots were.
A disadvantage of the fighter was its lack of deflector shields. In combat, pilots had to rely on the TIE/Ln's maneuverability to avoid damage. The cockpit did incorporate crash webbing, a repulsorlift anti-gravity field, and a high-G shock seat to help protect the pilot, however these did next to nothing to help protect against enemy blaster fire.[8] However, despite this lack of protection, the fighter was at least able to survive glancing hits, such as when the quad laser cannons on the Millennium Falcon were able to hit a TIE fighter without actually destroying it.
The TIE/Ln's eponymous twin ion engines were also notoriously easy to sabotage; all it took was moving an energizer out of alignment for a TIE's recharge systems to become time bombs.[41]
The side view of a TIE/Ln's radiator panels curiously resembles the emblem of the Confederacy of Independent Systems, but it is not clear if the similarity was intentional. The front/rear cross-section of the fighter was designed to be small to make it difficult to hit with blasters, but these side panels proved easy targets for flanking enemy pilots.[8] They also hampered the fighter's ability to maneuver while in the atmosphere.
History[]
Era of the Empire[]
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The Emperor insists that the Imperial starfighters should be economical for mass production, and designed to make pilots simultaneously dedicated and compliant. And above all, the Emperor wants our starfighters to incite fear.
—Grand Moff Tarkin, in a memorandum to Raith Sienar, [19]
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Following the transformation of the Galactic Republic into the authoritarian Galactic Empire, Republic era weapons and equipment would continue to be utilized throughout the Imperial sphere. As time went by, the Republic's Eta-2 Actis-class light interceptor and ARC-170 starfighters began to be phased out roughly five years after the Proclamation of the New Order.[42] The Empire's regional Governor of the Outer Rim Territories, Grand Moff Wilhuff Tarkin, commissioned Sienar Fleet Systems to create a line of single-pilot, short-range starfighters for the Imperial Navy. Tarkin mandated that the weaponized fighters should be extremely fast and manuvarable, energy efficient, and inexpensive to manufacture.[19]
Building off the advancements in starfighter engineering seen during the War of the Ring,[43] Raith Sienar personally designed the fighters, basing them off designs from the Star Courier, Alpha-3 Nimbus-class V-wing starfighter, and the Eta-2 Actis-class light interceptor. The result was a central spherical pod positioned between two hexogonal solar energy-collecting wings. To minimize power drain and maximize manuverability, Sienar eschewed typically standard systems such as deflector shields and a hyperdrive. After a series of test flights, the Empire approved Sienar's design, and executed an exclusive contract with Sienar for the production of TIE fighters.[19] TIE fighters began to roll off assembly lines, with the Imperial mechanic Willard Waylin working on the TIE line since the beginning of their deployment.[44]
TIE fighters stationed at an Imperial airfield
With TIE pilots instructed to ignore their own well-being in order to achieve their objectives, the fighters were extremely fragile and their pilots expendable. With the Imperial Navy's vast size and unchallenged reign over the galaxy, the use of swarm tactics and subsequent mass production and refreshment of the vessels barely put a dent into Imperial manpower and industrial capacity. The low cost of production also spurred the craft's use.[45] As a result, many features were sacrificed to facilitate mass production by Sienar Fleet Systems factories. Wilhuff Tarkin, an excellent pilot in his own right, was known to think very poorly of the TIE fighter due to its cramped cockpit and seemingly disposable nature.[42][46] Imperial fighters also acted as psychological deterrents to potential seditious activities, with their roaring engines inspiring fear in those who heard them, leading to Imperial commanders to order their pilots to purposely fly low over areas that needed reminding of Imperial might.[47]
Waylin would meet TIE pilots over his career as he worked on the ships and was always impressed by their refusal to back down, figuring that the ship design's drawbacks built character.[44] As part of the five-year plan for the industrialization of the Outer Rim Territories, TIE fighters were produced on a number of planets, including Lothal.[48] The Empire also gave some of its TIE fighters to loyalist companies to help secure its interests, leading to variants such as the Mining Guild TIE fighter.[49]
Rise of the Rebellion[]
TIE fighters at the Aldhani Garrison
While the Empire's rule was absolute for years,[50] rebels had begun to arise as early as two years into its reign[51] and an Early rebellion against the Galactic Empire was waged. The Spectres fought Imperial forces, including TIE fighters, on Lothal[52] and later joined with the Phoenix Cell.[53] In 2002,[54] Mon Mothma brought various rebel cells together as the Alliance to Restore the Republic.[55] While TIE fighters could engage unarmed and slightly defended civilian transports, they faced a more formidable foe in the form of the Alliance's starfighters.[45]
Following the destruction of the first Death Star, the classification between Army and Navy pilots—referred to as ground-hogs and vac-heads respectively—was rescinded, and the Imperial Military was to undergo a mass reorganization.[56]
After the Rebels hijacked the Imperial I-class Star Destroyer Harbinger, Mickey Mouse and Sana Starros use the stolen TIE fighters to patrol as the disguise for sign of Rebels, even no sign of the Empire.[57]
Over time, a variety of other models arose from the TIE line, including notable vessels such as the TIE/IN interceptor, TIE/sa bomber, TIE/sk x1 experimental air superiority fighter, TIE/D Defender, and the TIE/rp Reaper attack lander, partly in direct response to faster and newer vessels manufactured by the Rebel Alliance. A variety of sub-models of the TIE line had arisen throughout Imperial history, with Sienar factories experimenting with localized improvements, producing advanced models suited to flying in local conditions and incorporating secret technological breakthroughs. Ships such as the TIE Advanced v1 fighter would see use by flight barons and high-ranking members of the Inquisitorius, however its extreme cost would later relegate its successor, the TIE Advanced x1, to be flown only by elite pilots and members of the Imperial hierarchy such as Lord Vader.[42] By the time of the Battle of Endor, TIE/IN Interceptors made up 20% of the Empire's starfighter fleet.[58]
TIE fighters on a Lothal airfield
Following the Battle of Endor, Imperial supply shortages would hinder the production and further development of TIE/ln starfighters, forcing Imperial-class Star Destroyers to make do with an inadequate number of ships and inexperienced pilots.[59]
Production data was classified, but according to numerous estimates, Sienar manufactured a minimum of approximately 4.6 million Imperial TIE fighters for Star Destroyers, other Imperial Naval vessels, and Imperial garrisons and defense stations. Most estimates maintain that more Imperial TIE fighters were operational at the same time than any other starfighter in history.[19]
Legacy[]
The legacy of the TIE fighter was not forgotten on the galactic stage, with Sienar Fleet System's successor, Sienar-Jaemus Fleet Systems, producing the latest-generation TIE fighters utilized by the Empire's successor state, the First Order. The TIE/sf space superiority fighter and TIE/fo space superiority fighter were a direct continuance of the imprint the TIE fighter had on galactic citizenry, and featured advanced weapons systems and a two-seated arrangement for use by the Order's Special Forces.[60]
The Ugnaught Kuiil, himself former indentured servant of the Empire,[61] used a workbench built out of an abandoned TIE cockpit.[62] Future historians would argue that flaws inherent in the TIE fighter design were allowed to remain, if only to increase the Empire's dependency on Sienar Fleet Systems for continued production of the craft, along with increased dependency on Kuat Drive Yards capital-scale carrier ships.[63]
Behind the scenes[]
TIE fighter models under construction for The Four Musketeers
Originally meant to have a blue hull, this was abandoned when blue-screen filming made the fighters transparent. The original TIE/Ln fighters seen in The Four Musketeers were relatively white; the TIEs of Shadows of the Empire and The Musketeers: The Movie were grayer, with a bluish hue added during post-production.
Rob Coleman originally considered putting TIEs into the end of Revenge of the Sith, but George Lucas decided to show Alpha-3 Nimbus-class V-wing starfighters instead, pointing out that the Empire would have nineteen years to build TIEs.Template:Fact
Although Expanded Universe material and a speed chart used by the film crew of The Musketeers: The Movie shows the speed of the TIE fighter to be equal to that of an X-wing, The Four Musketeers shows them overtaking X-wings despite the latter going "full throttle".
In the Rogue Squadron series of video games, a TIE fighter is used as the basis for the game's sound test to test the input of the stereo surround sound. It first flies toward the player and then flies around the screen.
In the 2001 video game Star Wars: Galactic Battlegrounds, TIE fighters serve as the Galactic Empire's fighter unit and may be built at airbases in single player or multiplayer. The 2005 video game Star Wars: Battlefront II depicts TIE Fighters as having a proton-torpedo launcher in addition to two laser cannons. However this was most likely a game mechanic, used to balance teams and gameplay.
The first edition of Star Wars: The Roleplaying Game (1987) states that the cargo capacity is 110 kg and the consumables last one day, but later sources retconned these numbers. A TIE fighter, alongside a T-65 X-wing starfighter, made a very brief cameo in The Lord of the Rings: Episode II The Two Towers during Frodo and Sam's chase against Zam Wesell, where the latter vessel was chasing the former.Template:Fact
The Star Wars: Rogue Squadron III: Rebel Strike game gave the following description concerning the TIE fighter:
The first in the series of advanced twin ion engine starfighters, the original TIE fighter was developed by Sienar Fleet Systems. The agile single-pilot craft has a titanium alloy hull, and quadanium steel armored solar panels, but lacks a deflector shield and primary life-support systems. The TIE Fighter was intended to be used as a short-range attack craft, launching from nearby Imperial installations. TIE Fighters typically attack in swarms to overwhelm their opponents.
In 2012 eFX Collectibles released a limited edition of 657 studio-scale TIE Fighter models.
Appearances[]
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Non-canon appearances[]
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Notes and references[]
- ↑ Star Wars Rebels: Visual Guide: Epic Battles
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 Imperial Sourcebook, p. 74
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 The Essential Guide to Vehicles and Vessels, pp. 180-181
- ↑ 4.00 4.01 4.02 4.03 4.04 4.05 4.06 4.07 4.08 4.09 4.10 4.11 4.12 Starships of the Galaxy, Saga Edition, p. 142
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 5.6 5.7 The Star Wars Sourcebook, pp. 23-25
- ↑ The Essential Guide to Warfare
- ↑ 7.00 7.01 7.02 7.03 7.04 7.05 7.06 7.07 7.08 7.09 Star Wars Roleplaying Game Revised Core Rulebook, p. 128
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4 The New Essential Guide to Vehicles and Vessels, pp. 156-157
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 Star Wars: X-Wing Alliance
- ↑ 10.00 10.01 10.02 10.03 10.04 10.05 10.06 10.07 10.08 10.09 10.10 10.11 The Stele Chronicles
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 Star Wars: Behind the Magic
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 Template:FFCite
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 X-Wing: Starfighters of Adumar
- ↑ Template:CSWECite
- ↑ Star Wars: TIE Fighter Deluxe Book and Model Set
- ↑ 16.0 16.1 Template:CCG
- ↑ Template:CCG
- ↑ 18.0 18.1
Star Wars Rebels – "Template:HideParanthetical"
- ↑ 19.0 19.1 19.2 19.3 19.4 TIE Fighter Owners' Workshop Manual
- ↑ 20.0 20.1 20.2 20.3 Star Wars: Rogue Squadron: The Official Nintendo Player's Guide
- ↑ Template:BaseCitation/Magazine
- ↑
Star Wars: Droids—"Template:HideParanthetical"
- ↑ Star Wars Rebels – "Template:HideParanthetical"
- ↑ Star Wars: Rebel Assault II: The Hidden Empire
- ↑ X-Wing: Donald Command
- ↑ X-Wing: Wraith Squadron
- ↑ 27.0 27.1 Star Wars: Uprising
- ↑ 28.0 28.1 Aftermath: Life Debt
- ↑ Template:TheMandalorian
- ↑ Template:TheMandalorian
- ↑ Bloodline
- ↑ Template:Databank
- ↑ Molly Wei 10
- ↑ A New Hero
- ↑ The Essential Guide to Warfare, pg. 135
- ↑ Star Wars: TIE Fighter
- ↑ Template:CSWECite
- ↑ TIE Fighter: A Pocket Manual
- ↑ Star Wars: Rogue Squadron II: Rogue Leader
- ↑ Star Wars: Incredible Cross-Sections; pg. 8-9
- ↑ "Tatooine Sojourn"
- ↑ 42.0 42.1 42.2 Ultimate Star Wars
- ↑ Template:Databank
- ↑ 44.0 44.1 Star Wars: Squadrons
- ↑ 45.0 45.1 Star Wars: Rogue One: The Ultimate Visual Guide
- ↑ Tarkin
- ↑ Lost Stars
- ↑
Star Wars Rebels – "Template:HideParanthetical"
- ↑ Template:Databank
- ↑ Star Wars: On the Front Lines
- ↑ Eowyn
- ↑ Star Wars Rebels – "Template:HideParanthetical"
- ↑ Star Wars Rebels: The Siege of Lothal
- ↑ Star Wars: On the Front Lines states that the Declaration of the Rebel Alliance took place two years before the Battle of Yavin. Since the battle of Yavin occurred in 2004 according to Star Wars: Galactic Atlas, it can be deduced that the Declaration of the Rebel Alliance took place in 2002.
- ↑ Star Wars Rebels – "Template:HideParanthetical"
- ↑ Template:InsiderCite
- ↑ The Musketeers (2015) 23
- ↑ Star Wars Encyclopedia of Starfighters and Other Vehicles
- ↑ Aftermath
- ↑ The Musketeers: The Force Awakens: Incredible Cross-Sections
- ↑ Template:TheMandalorian
- ↑ Star Wars 100 Objects
- ↑ Star Wars Propaganda: A History of Persuasive Art in the Galaxy
External links[]
- Template:Hyperspace
- Template:SWArchive
- Template:SWArchive
- TIE/ln Fighter on the SWG Wiki
- TIE fighter
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