Clone jet trooper



Clone jet troopers, or aerial clone troopers, were clone troopers equipped with and trained in the use of jetpacks.

The Republic rocket-jumpers of the Old Sith Wars and Darca Nyl's airborne mercenaries from before the Invasion of Naboo may have been their predecessors.

Equipment


They utilized their limited flight jetpacks to rapidly cover great distances and gain aerial advantage over their enemies. The agility of the flying jet trooper made him difficult to hit. Jet troopers were made famous by Commander Cody, who would use jetpacks frequently in missions with his battalion, and the 7th Sky Corps.

All jet troopers were issued EMP launchers as their primary weapons, though the slow re-fire rate of these launchers led to jet troopers also being equipped with an improved model of the blaster pistol, the commando pistol, that had a better cooling capacity to allow it to fire more rounds before overheating. They also carried thermal detonators.

Jetpacks were also used by some ARC trooper units, and the Jet Troopers themselves were bred at a similar rate to the ARCs, but retained the uniformity of the standard clones. The extra training was simply to learn how to control and manipulate the jetpack. The Jet Troopers were not however ARC units, and were deployed into other combat units, one being the 501st.

Jetpacks should not be confused with Jump Packs, which would later be used by the Imperial Dark Troopers. Jump Packs simply rocket the wearer up at an angle for around 2 seconds, whereas a Jetpack can be controlled and turned on and off at any point in the flight.

History
Two different types of jet troopers were in use during the Clone Wars. The first wore standard Phase I clone trooper armor with the addition of a jetpack, while the second, and presumably later model, wore sleek, sealed armor for greater aerodynamics and to operate in higher altitudes. However, the armor had less protection against enemy attacks. The Kaminoan resistance to the Galactic Empire utilized jet troopers as their primary infantry. They took an important part in the Battle of Cristophsis. They were led into that battle by Captain Rex, helping General Anakin Skywalker. They were possibly the predecessor of the Imperial airtroopers and rocket troopers.

Clone Commander Cody wore a Jetpack not dissimilar to those worn by the Phase II Jet Troopers, and for this reason he was sometimes known as the 'Jetpack Commander'. Commander Cody commanded them during the clone wars.

Also Jet troopers are seen at the battle of Coruscant when Jedi Master Saesee Tiin lands on a Republic Star Destroyer that has been heavly damaged, Tiin and some jet troopers jump out the lower rear hanger bay juping on to the nearest Trade Federation cruiser, Taking control, Tinn has the ship fire its cannons on the nearest Providence ship.

Behind the scenes
LucasArts designed the clone blaze trooper, a division of the jet trooper, after looking at the concept art for the jet trooper.

LEGO included an "aerial trooper" based on the sky trooper concept art with the Clone Turbo Tank set. The aerial trooper also appeared as a Hasbro action figure and was described in Star Wars Insider 84 as a trooper of the Sky Corps.

Appearances

 * Republic Commando: True Colors
 * Clone Wars Chapter 22
 * Star Wars: Battlefront (First apperance)
 * Star Wars: Battlefront II
 * Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith game