Ion cannon
Ion cannons are weapons used in Star Wars that can disrupt the target's electrical systems in addition to causing physical damage, essentially functioning as a directed electromagnetic pulse weapon.
Disabling Properties
The most obvious use of an ion cannon occurs in TESB, when a planetary ion cannon at the Hoth Rebel base fires on an Imperial Star Destroyer blockading the planet. Three hits are sufficient to disable the target, causing it to veer off course and allow a Rebel transport to fly past without firing at it. The Star Destroyer takes no visible damage during the incident.
An ion cannon blast on a target can fry the electronic circuitry of the target, necessitating the equipment to be repaired[1]. A droid's memory may be wiped if it is affected by ion cannon fire.[2]
Eventually, a starship hit by repeated ion cannon fire will lose power.
Of course, the energy contained in the ion cannon bolt can still cause physical damage upon impact. Fighter-sized starships have been destroyed upon being hit by planetary ion cannons blasts[3].
Use in Standard Combat
Ion cannons are used alongside turbolasers in many battles[4]. Ion cannons assist in overcoming enemy shields and disrupt the target's electronic systems more quickly than unassisted turbolasers would.
Properties Against Shields
Ion cannons are blocked by particle shields, but will pass through ray shields[5]. In practice, this means that a target's combat shields must be defeated before any significant effect on its electronic systems takes place[6].
Ion Cannons outside Star Wars
Outside of Star Wars, ion cannons tend to function like simple energy weapons.
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