R-22 Spearhead/Legends

R-22 Spearhead The R-22 Spearhead was a fast starfighter design. It was broadly similar in design and function to the earlier Republic Delta-7 Aethersprite-class starfighter and Eta-2 Actis-class interceptor, although it was an Hoersch-Kessel Drive design based off the Kuat Drive Yards designs. It would be the basis for the RZ-1 A-wing interceptor.

It was in use by the Tammuz-an defense forces, and later became an experimental testbed for the Rebel Alliance shortly before the Battle of Yavin. During one early operational test, the Rebels sent a lone R-22 to attack an unguarded Imperial repair dock. The fighter performed admirably, destroying the facility before the Nebulon-B Frigate Virulence could respond. The mission was later recreated as a simulation used in training new pilots.

At least two R-22s participated in the Battle of Yavin, one piloted by Jake Farrell. The Spearhead was nicknamed "A-wing" among Rebel pilots, possibly to keep it consistent with the names of other prominent Rebel fighters (the T-65 X-wing starfighter, BTL Y-wing starfighter, etc.)



The name "A-wing" persisted when the model was modified by General Jan Dodonna and Walex Blissex into the Rebel Alliance's fast RZ-1 A-wing interceptor.

What those modifications entailed and how they differed from the Spearhead is unknown, though it is known that Dodonna's decision to create the RZ-1 was largely driven by the Alliance's lack of a starfighter that could match the TIE/ln starfighter's raw speed. Additionally, the RZ-1 was also noted for its improved maneuverability, therefore the difference lies most likely in the engine-design.

In addition to better engines, the weapons-complement might have undergone a similar change, as early Spearhead-models were noted as using green laser-ammunition rather than the red/orange seen with most Alliance fighters.

Behind the scenes
Although the A-wing was created after the Battle of Yavin, EU sources that take place before that time, such as Star Wars: Droids, Star Wars: X-wing, and Star Wars: Rebel Assault, feature ships similar to A-wings.

Dan Wallace, who wrote The New Essential Guide to Characters, invented the Spearhead in order to explain their presence in earlier times. The name is similar to that of the R-41 Starchaser, and the Spearhead may, like the Starchaser, be a design of Hoersch-Kessel Drive, Inc.

Proper A-wings later appeared in Star Wars: X-wing Alliance, which takes place after the Battle of Hoth. However, its game stats are identical to that of the "Spearhead A-wing" appearing in the first game of the series. The canonical difference between the two versions is not known.

Even after the discrepancy was resolved with the retcon, sources such as Star Wars: Empire at War, still use the name "A-wing" when "Spearhead" would have been more appropriate for the era. A possible in-universe explanation could be that the name "Spearhead" was disfavored in the Rebel Alliance and that "A-wing" was used as a nickname, until the production of the RZ-1 interceptor.

Appearances

 * Prey
 * Star Wars: Droids
 * "The New King"
 * "The Pirates of Tarnoonga"
 * "The Revenge of Kybo Ren"
 * "Coby and the Starhunters"
 * Star Wars: X-wing
 * Star Wars: Rebel Assault
 * Star Wars: Empire at War