Eta-2 Actis-class interceptor

Eta-2 Actis-class light interceptor The Eta-2 Actis-class light interceptor, sometimes referred to as the Jedi interceptor due to its popularity with Jedi pilots, was a Clone Wars-era Republic starfighter that shared design elements of the Delta-7 Aethersprite-class Jedi starfighter and the TIE/ln starfighter of the later Galactic Empire.

Characteristics


At 5.47 meters in length, the Eta-2 was significantly shorter than the already diminutive Delta-7. The new fighter's mass was further reduced by removing much of the forward space-frame, leaving the front of the ship in a forked shape. Like its predecessor, it was also too small to hold an onboard hyperdrive. Because of this, the Eta-2 had to rely on carrier vessels or hyperspace transport rings for long-distance travel. However, the Actis did have room for a full astromech droid, instead of a truncated unit as was fitted into the Aethersprite.

Like the simultaneously developed ARC-170 and Alpha-3 Nimbus-class V-wing starfighters, the Eta-2 incorporated S-foils to radiate excess engine heat in the thick of combat, reducing the likelihood of damage to the craft. Occasionally, though not always, the lifting panels were opened during normal flight to further reduce stress on the engines. This design element would be carried on through the radiator panels of later TIE fighters, which, though unlike the Eta-2's foils were locked in static positions, served the same purpose.



Thanks mostly to the fact that its development occurred in the midst of a galactic civil war, the Eta-2 had more firepower at its disposal than the Delta-7&mdash;two large laser cannons and two ion cannons. While the size of its guns provided it with respectable firepower, the fighter's limited power systems restricted its ability to fire continuously. Raith Sienar's twin ion engine design allowed the Eta-2 to achieve a maximum acceleration of 5,200 g. Unlike the Delta-7, the Eta-2 was not equipped with shields.

Eta-2s that were flown by the Jedi were stripped down for even faster performance. Heavy sensors and flight instruments were removed, since they were unnecessary for a pilot with precognitive Force abilities. While most Jedi pilots flew Eta-2s more in line with the factory standard, such as Obi-Wan Kenobi, whose fighters were red- or blue-hued against a white undercoat, some chose to customize theirs with unorthodox color schemes.

Anakin Skywalker's first craft was painted a bright yellow color against a metallic undercoat. He lost it in the Second Battle of Coruscant when Invisible Hand broke in half and temporarily flew under a more standard green and white paint scheme, which he used in the Mission to Mustafar, where he presumably left it. Saesee Tiin's was green, and Mace Windu's was purple, chosen presumably to complement the lightsaber glow of each Jedi.

When Anakin Skywalker became Darth Vader, he would receive a new black Eta-2. Vader piloted this Eta-2 during some of his early missions for Emperor Palpatine as the Great Jedi Purge continued, sometimes flanked by V-wing starfighters. Vader was assisted in the new fighter by R4-K5.

The standard fighter complement of a Venator-class Star Destroyer included 192 Eta-2 interceptors. The Eta-2 became one of the first starfighters in use by the Imperial Navy.

Clone Wars


The Eta-2 Actis was designed by Kuat Systems Engineering, following up on its success with the Aethersprite. Although it included and improved upon many design elements of the latter, it was much smaller and more practical than its predecessor, allowing far more Eta-2 ships to fit into hangars that could only hold a handful of Delta-7 craft.

This concept led to much wider production and use in the Republic Navy than the Delta-7 had seen, since it had been designed exclusively for the Jedi. It would also inspire the design and size rules that made the TIE fighters of the later Empire so cheap, modular, and effective.

Imperial era
The Alpha/Delta/Eta line was sold to Sienar some years after the Galactic Republic became the Galactic Empire. Elements of the Eta-2 Actis design were used in the creation of Sienar Fleet Systems's TIE Fighter&mdash;most notably the vertical radiator panels and twin ion engines, not to mention the spoked viewing port, which was expanded in its TIE successor to become the fighter's main viewport.



The greatest legacy of the Actis-class, however, was the philosophy behind it&mdash;that smaller, unshielded, and relatively under-equipped fighters, when mass-produced using cheap materials and methods, could be ultimately more effective than a lesser quantity of more expensive, high-quality starfighters. This opinion not only ushered in the dominance of the TIE series but spurred the phasing out of higher-quality fighters like the ARC-170. This decision would come back to haunt the Imperial Navy, however, when the ARC's successor, the T-65 X-wing starfighter, proved far superior to the TIE/ln swarms of the Empire and was pivotal in the defeat of the Empire in the Galactic Civil War.

During the Galactic Civil War, some Eta-2s still remained operational in the Imperial Navy and were reserved for skilled pilots. Others were captured and used by the Rebel Alliance and other various parties, with similar requirements.

Behind the scenes



 * Designed for Revenge of the Sith, the Eta-2 interceptor was one of many aspects of the film designed to bridge the gap between RotS and the original trilogy. Intended to be reminiscent of both TIE Fighters and Vader's TIE Advanced x1 from A New Hope, the designers of the fighter included the segmented cockpit window of the original TIE Fighter as well as the bent wing formation and targeting systems seen on Vader's personal starfighter in ANH.


 * The name "Actis" was inspired by the Greek mythological character of the same name. Actis was one of the sons of Rhodus and Helios and one of a group of four brothers who were masters of naval navigation and betrayed one of their other siblings.


 * Eta is the seventh letter of the Greek alphabet, in keeping with the naming pattern established by the Delta-7 interceptor. The name Eta-2 (seven-two), therefore, may be a reference to the fact that the Actis-class was a direct successor to the Delta-7.


 * In Labyrinth of Evil, Anakin's and Obi-Wan's Eta-2 interceptors are equipped with missile launchers. This discrepancy with official technical specifications has not yet been explained.

Appearances



 * Star Wars: Battlefront II
 * Means and Ends
 * Star Wars: Obsession
 * The Brink
 * Star Wars Republic: The Siege of Saleucami
 * Star Wars: Clone Wars
 * "Chapter 21"
 * "Chapter 22"
 * "Chapter 23"
 * "Chapter 25"
 * Labyrinth of Evil
 * Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith
 * LEGO Star Wars: The Video Game
 * LEGO Star Wars: Revenge of the Brick
 * Star Wars Republic 78: Loyalties
 * Dark Lord: The Rise of Darth Vader
 * Star Wars Galaxies: Rage of the Wookiees
 * Star Wars Rebellion: My Brother, My Enemy
 * Dark Nest III: The Swarm War