Alpha-3 Nimbus-class V-wing starfighter/Legends

''This article is about the Old Republic starfighter. You may be looking for the V-wing airspeeder.''

The Alpha-3 Nimbus Starfighter, also known as the  V-wing starfighter is a short-ranged fighter deployed in the Clone Wars by the Galactic Republic. The V-wing is a predecessor of the Imperial TIE fighter.

The Alpha-3 Nimbus starfighter is a sturdy, wedge-shaped starfighter similar to the Delta-7 Aethersprite interceptors employed by the Jedi Order. It was manufactured by Kuat Systems Engineering which was also the company responsible for the Delta-7 "Jedi starfighter." The V-wings also feature folding wing radiators similar to those fitted to the later Eta-2 Actis interceptors. Nestled between each wing and the hull are two twin laser cannons. These deadly weapons swivel on the vessel's wing hubs to provide a wide range of fire. Aft of the starfighter's main hull are two deflector shield heat sinks, located above the two vertically stacked ion drive thrusters. These flaps also provide some protection for the V-wing's clone pilot.

In keeping with the design of the Delta-7, the Alpha-3 features an astro-droid socket aft of the oval cockpit. V-wing pilots are often assisted by spherical Q7-series astromech droids which provide in-flight navigation and maintenance skills that would otherwise require a copilot&mdash;which the compact V-wing could not accommodate. As the V-wing starfighter is too small to feature an integrated hyperdrive, it requires either transportation into combat zones by carriers such as the Venator-class Star Destroyer, or the use of a hyperdrive booster rings as with other Republic starfighters, including the Delta-7 Aethersprite.

V-wing fighters are often unleashed from warship hangars in large swarms, and were one of the most numerous starfighters in the Old Republic. While they lack the power of the ARC-170 starfighter, they make up for it in speed and agility. V-wings are speedy and evasive targets, even for the advanced Tri-Droid Fighters used by the Confederacy of Independent Systems. Mass-produced for Loyalist forces, V-wings participate in large-scale fleet operations or assist in the defense of Republic worlds during the Clone Wars.

V-wing starfighters flew into battle alongside ARC-170s and Eta-2 interceptors during the Battle of Coruscant, fighting off droid starfighters and deadly buzz droids. Following the end of the Clone Wars, V-wing squadrons flew under the banner of the Galactic Empire. Three V-wings, flown by elite pilots, escorted Emperor Palpatine's shuttle from Mustafar to Coruscant with a most important patient onboard requiring extensive treatment. These elite V-wings were modified for hyperspace travel without booster rings and were equipped with upgraded shields.

Appearances

 * Labyrinth of Evil
 * Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith
 * Star Wars Battlefront II