Delta-7 Aethersprite-class light interceptor/Legends

Delta-7 Aethersprite-class light interceptor "She is a remarkable vessel. With the engineering breakthroughs we tackled developing her, she's just the start. She's a real sign of things to come."

- Walex Blissex

The Delta-7 Aethersprite-class light interceptor, more commonly known as the Jedi starfighter, was a starfighter from around the time of the Clone Wars.

Design
"Beautiful ship."

- Jango Fett

Due to their visual similarities, the Delta-7 appeared to be an evolutionary descendant from the ancient Aurek fighter; it was a small, sleek interceptor used by the Jedi Knights for reconnaissance missions. However, the starfighter was fitted with two twin-barrel laser cannons allowing the pilot to fight when necessary. As part of the Republic's Judicial Department, the starfighters owned by the Jedi Order were colored in the red and white hues that represented the diplomatic immunity that the Jedi enjoyed.

Designed by engineer Walex Blissex, who would later design the Alpha-3 Nimbus-class V-wing starfighter and work on the Rebel Alliance's RZ-1 A-wing interceptor with Jan Dodonna, the Aethersprite was originally too small for a hyperdrive and instead relied on other spacecraft or an external hyperdrive ring for faster-than-light travel. The Aethersprite had very powerful sublight engines, driving it to a maximum acceleration of 5,000 G.

The size of the craft also would not allow for a factory model astromech droid navigator, as future starfighters such as the T-65 X-wing starfighter used. Instead, astromech droids were integrated directly into the starfighter, with only the droid's truncated heads visible. There were at least two models of these droids, the R3-T series, which was used primarily for targeting, needed because the starfighter was so fast that most pilots would not be able to fire correctly, and the R4-P series, which was used more for navigation than targeting.

History


The Delta-series predated the Jedi's use of the Delta-7, which began testing at around 27 BBY, and came into service shortly before the Clone Wars. The Delta-6 starfighter was used around the time of the Battle of Naboo, and the Delta-12 Skysprite was released on the civilian market following the launch of the Outbound Flight project; it would seem that this starfighter was also tested by the Jedi as Obi-Wan Kenobi flew one himself just before the launch.

Saesee Tiin, not pleased with vessel's already impressive performance, modified a pair of the starfighters to better suit his needs. He managed to increase the starfighter's weaponry by adding four quad-pulse laser cannons to its usual complement of two dual cannons, which were fitted behind breakaway panels until the pilot chose to enter "fight mode"; this was only done when it was deemed absolutely necessary. In addition to these weapons, Tiin also managed to fit a small class 3 hyperdrive of his own making, negating the need for a hyperdrive ring unless time was of the essence. He also replaced the regular pilot seat with a more comfortable meditation chair, allowing for a Jedi to enter into their meditations much more easily during long hyperspace journeys.

Jedi Master Adi Gallia flight-tested one of these Delta-7 prototypes when faced with Captain Cavik Toth and his Trihexalon fleet, taking it to the Karthakk system shortly before the Battle of Geonosis; the resounding success of this mission meant that many of the existing Delta-7's were modified to Tiin's specifications. It was here that she also learned to use several Force powers in conjunction with the starfighter, both offensive and defensive. Obi-Wan flew the other of these prototypes on his mission to Albecus, also shortly before the Battle of Geonosis, and was attacked by Jango Fett in his Slave I en route. He managed to fight him off thanks to the hidden weaponry and continued on his journey; it seems that the next time Kenobi faced Fett, he was in a regular Delta-7. It is possible that the result would have been very different if he had been in the same prototype.

Stationed in the hangar bays of the Jedi Temple on Coruscant and other facilities, Aethersprites were assigned to all field Jedi. General-use starfighters were colored in turquoise, and starfighters coded for use by specific Jedi were colored red. Other hues emerged due to individual customization during the Clone Wars. Anakin Skywalker extensively modified his Delta-7, adding large turbine engines, an internal hyperdrive, and a paint scheme reminiscent of that used on his podracer on Tatooine. Plo Koon also flew a customized Delta-7. Some Delta-7s even included a bomb chute in the rear or a forward seismic charge launcher.

Towards the end of the Clone Wars, manufacturer Kuat Drive Yards developed a more refined starfighter&mdash;the Eta-2 Actis-class interceptor&mdash;based on experience gained from the Delta-7 Aethersprite. These fighters were used in large numbers during the Clone Wars, including the Second Battle of Coruscant. A number of Delta-7 starfighters remained in use by the Jedi after the introduction of the Eta-2, including Plo Koon's personal starfighter. Several years after the Clone Wars ended, Kuat sold the entire Delta line to Sienar Fleet Systems.



Wedge Antilles would later use a Delta-7 after crashing on Geonosis sometime after the Battle of Hoth in the Second Battle of Geonosis during the Galactic Civil War. What happened to this Delta-7 following the battle is unknown.

The design of the Delta-7 later evolved into the R-22 Spearhead and the RZ-1 A-wing interceptor of the Galactic Civil War.

Appearances

 * Puzzle Peace
 * Star Wars: Battlefront


 * Star Wars: Jedi Starfighter
 * Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones
 * LEGO Star Wars: The Video Game
 * Star Wars: The Clone Wars
 * Star Wars Republic 50: The Battle of Kamino
 * Star Wars Republic 53: Blast Radius
 * Star Wars: Clone Wars
 * "Chapter 1"
 * "Chapter 2"
 * "Chapter 4"
 * "Chapter 10"
 * "Chapter 11"
 * "Chapter 16"
 * Storm Fleet Warnings
 * Rather Darkness Visible
 * Star Wars Republic 61: Dead Ends
 * Star Wars Republic 62: No Man's Land
 * Star Wars Republic 64: Bloodlines
 * General Grievous
 * Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith
 * Star Wars Republic: Into the Unknown
 * The Last of the Jedi: Death on Naboo
 * Star Wars Rebellion: My Brother, My Enemy
 * Star Wars: Rogue Squadron III: Rebel Strike