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

The Alpha-3 Nimbus-class Starfighter ,also known as the  V-wing starfighter is a short-ranged figher deployed in the Clone Wars by the Galactic Republic. A hybrid of the Jedi starfighter and the ARC-170 starfighter, the V-wing is also the ancestor of the Imperial TIE Fighter. The Alpha-3 Nimbus fighter is a sturdy, wedge-shaped starfighter similar to the Delta-7 Interceptors employed by the Jedi Order. It was manufactured by Kuat Systems Engineering which was the company also responsible for the Jedi starfighters. The V-wings also feature folding wing radiators similar to those fitted to the later Eta-2 Jedi 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 provide protection for the V-wing's clone pilot.

In keeping with the design of the Jedi starfighter, the Alpha-3 features an astro-droid socket aft of the oval cockpit. V-wing pilots are often assisted by independent Q7-series astromech droids which provide in-flight navigation and maintenance skills that would otherwise require a copilot - whom the compact V-wing could not accommodate. As the V-wing starfighter is too small to feature an integrated hyperdrive, and requires either transportation into battle zones by carriers or warships such as the Venator-class Star Destroyers, or the use of a hyperspace transport ring also used in conjunction with Jedi fighters.

V-wing fighter are often unleashed from warship hangars in large swarms, and were one of the most numerous starfighters in the Old Republic. The V-wings lack the power of the ARC-170 fighter, though make up for strength 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 defence of Republic worlds during the Clone Wars.

V-wing starfighters flew into battle alongside ARC-170s and Jedi 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.