TIE starfighter

TIE starfighter The TIE starfighter was the first upgraded model of the T.I.E. starfighter produced by the Galactic Empire.

Characteristics
A modest upgrade of the T.I.E. starfighter used by the Galactic Republic, the TIE starfighter had a centralized power generator running both the engine and the weapons, unlike the later TIE Line starfighter, which had separate generators. It was tougher than the final TIE/In version, but also costed more. It featured weak shields, a small hyperdrive and two one-shot concussion missile launchers, which allowed it to serve as a light bomber, long-assault craft or snub fighter. Unfortunately some of this systems were incompatible with Twin Ion Engine and required a secondary power supply to operate. The TIE model was slower than the TIE/ln, and its laser cannons were not as powerful.

History
The newly formed Galactic Empire required a cheap and efficient starfighter, that could be mass-produced. Sienar Fleet Systems especially imressed Emperor Palpatine with TIE starfighters, which costed only a fraction compared to other proposals. The Empire deicided to reduce the cost even further by removing secondary energy generators and respective systems, leading to the enormously mass-produced TIE/ln starfighter. The original model still saw some use during the first years of the New Order, but became less common later. By 0 ABY, the Line model had become the standard TIE fighter in the Imperial Navy, and most of the original TIE starfighters were replaced or scrapped

Behind the scenes
The Force Unleashed Campaign Guide features an entry for a previously unmentioned TIE series starfighter called TIE Prototype, which was said to be the predecessor of the standard TIE/ln starfighter. The closer inspection of the entry revealed that this starfighter's description was almost identical to the one of the prevously established TIE starfighter, and therefore it was simply another designation of it.

Notes and references
Caza estelar TIE