TIE Interceptor

The Twin Ion Engine (TIE) fighter is a series of fictional starfighters featured in the ''Star Wars'' universe. TIE fighters are depicted as fast, agile, yet fragile starfighters produced by Sienar Fleet Systems for the Galactic Empire and by Sienar-Jaemus Fleet Systems for the First Order and the Sith Eternal. TIE fighters and other TIE craft appear in ''Star Wars'' films, television shows, and throughout the ''Star Wars'' expanded universe. Several TIE fighter replicas and toys, as well as a TIE flight simulator, have been produced and sold by many companies.

Origin and design

Colin Cantwell created the concept model that established the TIE fighter's ball-cockpit and hexagonal panels design for ''Star Wars'' (1977). ''Star Wars'' creator George Lucas liked the basic design consisting of two panels connected by a stick with a ball-shaped cockpit, but Cantwell's concept had few details. Joe Johnston created additional details, such as the cockpit window and the attachment points between the solar panels and the hull.

Initially given a blue color scheme, the TIE fighter models for the first film were grey to better film against a bluescreen; TIE fighters in ''The Empire Strikes Back'' (1980) and ''Return of the Jedi'' (1983) shifted back to being a muted blue. Sound designer Ben Burtt created the distinctive sound effect of TIE fighter gunfire by combining an elephant call with a car driving on wet pavement. In the book ''The Sounds of Star Wars'', the engine roar is likened to German Junker Ju 87 "Stuka" bombers, who used sirens to frighten civilians on raids. This could have been a possible inspiration for the sound. Combat scenes between TIE fighters and the ''Millennium Falcon'' and Rebel Alliance X-wing fighters in ''Star Wars'' were meant to be reminiscent of World War II dogfight footage; editors used World War II air combat clips as placeholders while Industrial Light & Magic completed the movie's special effects. Darth Vader's distinct TIE Advanced x1 in ''Star Wars'' was designed to make it instantly recognizable, and the TIE Interceptors featured in ''Return of the Jedi'' were designed to look fast, deadly, sleek and frightening.

The Jedi starfighter, created for ''Revenge of the Sith'' (2005)'','' was designed to bridge the appearance of the Jedi starfighter in ''Attack of the Clones'' (2002) and the TIE fighter design from the original trilogy. The V-wing starfighter, seen at the end of ''Revenge of the Sith,'' also makes the distinctive TIE fighter sound when flying by a Star Destroyer. Dark Horse Comics' Sean Cooke designed the TIE predator for '' Star Wars: Legacy'' (2006), set 130 years after the events of ''Star Wars'', to appear both reminiscent of and more advanced than the original TIE fighter.

Designers for ''The Force Awakens'' (2015) had numerous discussions about how much to "update" the TIE fighter for the first sequel film set 30 years after ''Return of the Jedi''. They retained the starfighter's design but altered its aesthetic to suggest improvements to the vessel's manufacturing process and materials.

Depiction

''Star Wars'' literature states that Grand Moff Tarkin commissioned Sienar Fleet Systems to design and manufacture the Twin Ion Engine line edition (TIE/ln) space superiority starfighter and most TIE variants. Tarkin specified that the TIE had to be fast, maneuverable, energy-efficient, and inexpensive; simply put they are meant to be easily mass-produced and engage in swarm tactics, with the expectation of being expendable assets that would be lost in combat. To meet these requirements, Sienar incorporated aspects of the V-wing and Jedi interceptor into the new starfighter.

TIE fighters have two hexagonal wings fitted with solar panels which power a twin ion engine (TIE) system that accelerates ionized gases at a substantial fraction of lightspeed along almost any vector, affording the ships tremendous speed and maneuverability albeit with limited fuel reserves.Windham (2019), pp. 15–27 These wings are also structurally sound enough to double as landing gear and feature repulsorlifts for take-off and landing, though TIE fighters are designed to be launched and recovered by cycling storage racks used by Imperial starships and garrisons. The TIE fighter's primary weapons are a pair of laser cannons tied to a secondary generator and mated with an advanced targeting computer which assists the pilot in hitting other fast-moving starfighters. The fighter does not possess deflector shields, and while its light armoring is proof against small arms and glancing micrometeoroids a direct hit from a laser cannon will destroy it, encouraging pilots to shoot first and make their shots count. The TIE fighter also lacks a hyperdrive, not only to save on weight and cost but to discourage defection. Although the TIE fighter's cockpit is pressurized and equipped with oxygen scrubbers to prevent corrosion, it doesn't contain any life-support systems, requiring pilots to wear special flight suits. TIE fighters are equipped with ejection seats, though in older ''Legends'' sources there was disagreement on this issue.

''Star Wars'' literature also holds that TIE fighter pilots are considered an elite group within the Imperial Navy, relying on their quick reflexes and fearlessness to survive multiple tours of duty. Training involves hundreds of flight hours learning to coordinate as a team and intense psychological conditioning to put the accomplishment of their mission above other considerations.Windham (2019), p. 120 As such most TIE fighter pilots have a life expectancy of less than a year. TIE fighter pilots wear self-contained flight suits with life-support systems connected to reinforced vacuum-sealed flight helmets. These helmets feature ship-linked communications and displays.

TIE variants

In addition to the standard TIE/ln fighter (also available as the TIE Light Duty training craft, as seen in the ''Jump to Lightspeed'' expansion pack to ''Star Wars Galaxies''), a variety of other TIE craft appear throughout the films.
;In ''Star Wars'' film and television
*TIE Advanced x1: Darth Vader flies a TIE Advanced x1 (or just "TIE/x1") in many media, most notably in the original ''Star Wars'' during the climatic Death Star battle. According to background material, the limited-run TIE Advanced x1 was designed to Vader's personal specifications and was only flown by himself and select Imperial pilots. Compared to the TIE fighter it is faster and more maneuverable with greater structural integrity, equipped with a deflector shield, hyperdrive, reinforced armor-plated hull and improved SFS L-s9.3 laser cannons. The "bent-wing" configuration was intended to improve energy collection while maintaining the same speed and maneuverability.

*TIE/sa bomber: Introduced in ''The Empire Strikes Back'', TIE/sa bombers are seen bombing asteroids in the hunt for the ''Millennium Falcon''. The design stems from an unused "TIE boarding craft" concept originally developed for ''A New Hope''. The TIE bomber's double-hull design led ILM's modelmakers to dub the ship a "double chili dog" fighter. The TIE/sa, or TIE Surface Assault Bomber, was designed within the Star Wars universe for the Imperial Navy to conduct surgical strikes against targets in space or on planetary surfaces. It features two cylindrical pods: the starboard-side pod housing the pilot in a pressurized cockpit with a pair of L-s1 laser cannons, and a port-side pod carrying two bomb bays that can launch a variety of ordnance including missiles, bombs and orbital mines. Its "bent-wing" configuration increased the energy-collection surface area to match the bomber's power requirements while a reinforced hull allowed the bomber survive back-blast during atmospheric bombing.
*TIE/sh shuttle: Also featured in ''The Empire Strikes Back'', a TIE/sh shuttle is seen ferrying Captain Needa (Michael Culver) to Darth Vader's Super Star Destroyer. Like the TIE/sa bomber, this shuttle design stems from an unused "TIE boarding craft" concept developed for ''A New Hope''. Known also within the setting as the TIE Command Shuttle, the craft was based on the TIE/sa bomber but replaced the bombardier pod with a luxurious cabin suitable for Imperial dignitaries and naval officers. In the event the vessel is attacked, the TIE shuttle carries a pair of laser cannons and deflector shields.

*TIE interceptor: TIE interceptors – faster TIE fighters with dagger-shaped wings in the forward profile of those of the TIE Advanced and four laser cannons – appear at various points in ''Return of the Jedi''. Two scales of TIE interceptor models were used during filming. Their in-universe origin was to meet the Empire's requirement for a fighter superior to the Rebellion's X-wing and Y-wing fleet when it was determined a full production run of the TIE Advanced x1 would be too expensive. Faster and more maneuverable than a standard TIE fighter, these interceptors are also better armed with wingtip-mounted L-s9.3 laser cannons with the option to carry two more under the cockpit.
*TIE Advanced v1: Meant to appear as the prototype precursor to Vader's TIE Advanced x1, the TIE Advanced v1 featured in ''Star Wars Rebels'' as craft piloted by the Empire's Inquisitors. The v1's variable-geometry wings, like Darth Maul's shuttle ''Scimitar'''s, were inspired by Ralph McQuarrie's original sketches for the x1. The fighters' fictional origin is inspired by the Jedi interceptor flown during the Clone Wars, as seen by its heavily-armored wings that fold inward. With laser cannons and ion engines more powerful than the TIE fighter, the TIE Advanced v1 also features a projectile launcher with a 20 missile magazine, deflector shields and pressurized cockpit. The TIE/v1 debuted in the ''Rebels'' Season 1 episode "Empire Day", which featured its maiden flight, but a very similar spacecraft (most likely intended to be the same) was described in the 2014 book ''Star Wars: Imperial Handbook: A Commander's Guide'', which has been confirmed to fall into the ''Legends'' continuity, which had by then been decanonized.
*TIE/d Defender: The TIE/d Defender made its television debut in ''Star Wars Rebels'', although it first appeared in the 1994 space flight simulator '' Star Wars: TIE Fighter'' as player-pilotable craft. In the previous Star Wars ''Legends'' continuity, the TIE Defender was originally designed by Admiral Zaarin, who in the 1994 game would betray the Empire and have to be defeated by the player character. Its background was later changed in ''Star Wars Rebels'' to being designed personally by Grand Admiral Thrawn. Classified as a fighter-bomber, its unique tri-wing design gives it better visibility than a TIE interceptor while making it faster than all previous TIE models. Each wing is equipped with maneuvering jets and a pair of L-s9.3 laser cannons, with another pair and twin projectile launchers fitted on the cockpit pod. The TIE/d Defender also carries deflector shields and a hyperdrive.
*TIE/sk x1 Striker: The TIE/sk x1 experimental air superiority fighter, also known as the TIE Striker, made its first appearance in ''Rogue One'' defending the Imperial base on Scarif. Background material on the model describes how it was specifically designed for atmospheric patrols of Imperial ground installations because of the standard TIE fighter's disadvantage in atmospheric combat. With its more aerodynamic design and specialized repulsorlift engines, the TIE Striker can fly faster than a TIE fighter or X-wing in an atmosphere and is heavily armed with four L-s9.3 laser cannons, two H-s1 heavy laser cannons, and a bomb bay. Its spacious cockpit can hold a pilot and an optional gunner/bombardier.
*TIE/rp Reaper: The TIE/rp Reaper Attack Lander also made its first appearance in ''Rogue One'' as support craft with a larger, more angular design that replaces the spherical cockpit found on most TIE fighters. Within the Star Wars universe, these craft were based on the TIE/sk x1 Striker with similar wing configuration but much larger to carry elite Imperial troops into battle. The TIE/rp Reaper features armor plating, deflector shields and electronic countermeasures to ensure it can survive hostile airspace to deliver its cargo. It also carries a hyperdrive for faster-than-light travel and a pair of L-s9.3 laser cannons.
*TIE Boarding Craft: The TIE Boarding Craft made its theatrical appearance in ''Rogue One''. The design was originally set to appear in the original ''Star Wars'' but was cut from the film and used as inspiration for the TIE bomber and TIE shuttle. Background literature states that the TIE Boarding Craft shared many of the same features as the TIE bomber but with seating for twelve passengers and a boarding hatch equipped with laser cutters. Other equipment included deflector shields, twin L-s1 laser cannons, twin H-s1 heavy laser cannons and missile launcher.
*TIE reinforcement battery heavy starfighter: The TIE/rb, known also as the TIE Brute, first appeared in '' Solo: A Star Wars Story'' chasing the ''Millennium Falcon'' during the Kessel Run scene. Star Wars literature states that the TIE/rb was commissioned to help deal with pirates, smugglers and other outlaws operating in the Outer Rim