TIE fighter
- See also TIE Fighter (Game)
Twin Ion Engine or TIE Fighters first saw use during the waning days of the Old Republic. They rapidly became the main starfighters of the Galactic Empire, in a multitude of subvariants; and are one of the most recognizable symbols of the Empire, other than Stormtroopers.
TIEs are produced by Sienar Fleet Systems.
Characteristics
While the name refers to the craft's propulsion method, the TIE family is better-known for its distinctive use of large side radiators which are commonly referred to as "solar panels."
The actual engines appear as a pair of glowing red circles on the rear of the fighter.
Performance
The TIE family is known for its great maneuverability, made possible by the lightweight construction and powerful power plant. The small visible surface area of the craft when it is facing its target gives the fighter the advantage of being difficult to hit when attacking, especially under jamming conditions.
TIE Models
TIE Fighter [Old Republic era]
Spotted six months after the Battle of Naboo.
Possibly Old Republic T.I.E. fighters?
TIE Fighter [white hull]
Newer than the Old Republic T.I.E. fighter. Predates the TIE/ln by an unknown amount of time. Deployed at the Battle of Yavin in which they were on par with rebel X-wings.
TIE/ln
The TIE/ln was an updated design of the standard TIE fighter. It was faster and more durable than it's predecessors while also possibly having an extended sublight range as well. Several specialised variants using the TIE/In's basic form exist, such as the TIE/fc and the TIE/gt.
TIE Bomber
The Empires most numerous Bomber. A twin-pod design with the starboard pod housing the one man cockpit and the portside pod containing the bomber's payload. The yeilds and number of bombs, missiles, mines, and torpedos it carried could be changed to suit various mission objectives.
TIE/fc
The TIE/fc (the fc standing for fire control) is a reconnaissance fighter which is used to assist in long range weapon fire for either ground or starship based weaponry.