Eta-2 Actis-class interceptor

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

Following on from the success of the Delta-7 fighter, the Kuat Drive Yards subsidiary Kuat Systems Engineering designed the Eta-2 Actis-class light interceptor. Like its predecessor, the Eta-2 was forced to either dock with a larger ship or use a Syluire-45 Hyperspace Transport Ring for hyperspace travel; however, the frame of the starfighter had room for a full astromech droid instead of a truncated unit as was fitted into Aethersprites. The standard fighter complement of a Venator-class Star Destroyer included 192 Eta-2 interceptors. Many of these were piloted by clone troopers.

Thanks to its status as a war-time starfighter, the Eta-2 had more firepower at its disposal than the Delta-7&mdash;two heavy laser cannons and two light ion cannons&mdash;though the fighter's limited power systems restricted it's 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 did not have shields.



Some of these starfighters were customized by their pilots. While Obi-Wan Kenobi's red-hued fighter was more in line with the factory standard, Anakin Skywalker's craft was modified by the young Jedi Knight into a bright yellow color.

Following the Clone Wars, 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. The Alpha/Delta/Eta line was sold to Sienar some years after the Galactic Republic became the Galactic Empire.



During the Galactic Civil War, some Eta-2s still remained operational in the Imperial Starfleet and were reserved for skilled pilots. Others were captured and used by the Rebel Alliance, with similar requirements. Darth Vader himself piloted a black-hued Eta-2 during some of his early missions for Emperor Palpatine as the Great Jedi Purge continued, sometimes flanked by V-wing starfighters.

Behind the Scenes
Designed for Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith, the Eta-2 Interceptor was one of many aspects of the film designed to bridge the gap between Episode III and the Original Trilogy. Intended to be reminiscent of both TIE fighters and Darth Vader's TIE Advanced x1 from Episode IV, 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 Episode IV.

Appearances

 * Clone Wars Volume II
 * ''Labyrinth of Evil
 * Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith
 * Star Wars Republic 78: Loyalties
 * Dark Lord: The Rise of Darth Vader
 * Star Wars Battlefront II
 * Star Wars Galaxies: Rage of the Wookiees