J-type 327 Nubian royal starship

Naboo Royal Starship "This is not a warship! We have no weapons. We're a nonviolent people." "That is why the Trade Federation was brave enough to attack us."

- Captain Panaka to Qui-Gon Jinn

The Naboo Royal Starship was a J-Type 327 Nubian Starship that transported Queen Amidala and the Jedi Knights Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi to Coruscant during the Blockade of Naboo.

Characteristics
The craft was reserved for use only by the Naboo sovereign and is a shining example of the marriage between art and design. The starship was designed to embody the glory of Naboo royalty which represented the noble spirit of the citizens of Naboo.

Naboo engineers claim that the Royal Starship is actually composed of two major components: the spaceframe and all the other components. This spaceframe created by the skilled engineers of the Theed Palace Space Vessel Engineering Corps is a single, long supple hull. The frame is covered in chromium, formerly used to shield starships from radiation but now used as a time-honored tradition.



The rest of the ship's component's were provided by Nubian Design Collective including the impressive 327 Nubian hyperdrive which is powerful enough to take the ship from Naboo to Tatooine in a single jump even when damaged. The 327 Nubian hyperdrive is compact and accessible unlike most other hyperdrives. It can also be raised from a compartment in the floor to allow easy repairs, checks and even complete replacement.

It had no weapons since it was designed as a peaceful ambassadorial ship. The Headon-5 sublight engines, which have been modified by the Naboo for protecting the environment, can exceed the speed of most starfighters. Its powerful deflector shields can withstand a lot of punishment, including bombardment by turbolaser emplacements. Intricate sensors built into the craft report damage instantly, allowing the crew to locate trouble spots immediately. When the starship is damaged, 8 astromech droids rush to make repairs. These droids will even venture onto the ship's surface braving the vacuum of space and enemy fire to protect the ship.

Whenever the starship travels it is accompanied by a small wing of Naboo N-1 Starfighters. This elite squadron known as Bravo Squadron is handpicked from the most dedicated and talented pilots in the Royal Security Forces. During Queen Amidala's term in office, the Royal Starship was piloted by Ric Olié and a well-trained crew of technicians, engineers, navigators and diplomatic aides.

The ship was furnished to accommodate the Queen's entourage, including handmaidens and bodyguards. The vehicle also had large climate-controlled wardrobes that provided Padmé with clothes for all occasions.

History
This ship was used to carry Amidala on formal state visits to other planetary rulers and to the Galactic Senate in Coruscant. After Amidala retired her position, the Royal Starship was decommissioned and another craft was handcrafted for her successor Queen Jamillia.

By 25 ABY, it was quite the collector's item.

Behind the scenes
The design of this starship was based on the shape of the Lockheed SR-71 spy plane.

In the original drafts of Star Wars, the first space ship seen is described as follows:

"A small silver spacecraft emerges from behind one of the Utapau moons."

Interestingly, neither of these concepts appeared in the original trilogy, yet both were used in the prequels.

Appearances

 * Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace
 * Episode I: Qui-Gon Jinn
 * Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace game
 * Episode I: The Phantom Menace ½
 * Episode I: Obi-Wan Kenobi
 * Star Wars: Galactic Battlegrounds
 * Star Wars: Starfighter
 * Star Wars Republic: Twilight
 * The Artist of Naboo
 * Agents of Chaos I: Hero's Trial