R5-series astromech droid

"A meter-tall stack of the worst business decisions you could possibly want."

- Mechtech Illustrated

The R5-series astromech droid was a line of low cost astromech droids built by Industrial Automaton. Based upon the success of prior astromech models, such as the wildly popular R2-series, Industrial Automaton intended the R5 series to cater to budget buyers at the cost of some functionality.

Because of their inexpensive construction, however, droids of this series were plagued by a number of design flaws&mdash;most obviously, a sullen demeanor and sharp attitude resulting from deficiencies in the machine's personality matrix. Media outlets soon picked up on these errors: Mechtech Illustrated called the launch of the R5 model "a meter-tall stack of the worst business decisions you could possibly want."

During the Clone Wars, members of the R5-series were used by the Republic for a variety of roles, including use aboard starfighters like the ARC-170.

After a particularly poor sales year, Industrial Automaton discontinued the R5 series in 22 BBY. To cover losses, the droid manufacturing firm repackaged R2-AG-series and R4-series droids in excess R5 shells.

Known units

 * R5-A2
 * R5-A7
 * R5-D2
 * R5-D4
 * R5-D8
 * R5-G8
 * R5-H6
 * R5-J2
 * R5-K6
 * R5-L4
 * R5-M2
 * R5-X2

Appearances

 * Podracing Tales
 * Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace


 * Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones
 * Star Wars: The Clone Wars
 * Republic Commando: Hard Contact
 * Sandstorm
 * Star Wars Empire: The Short, Happy Life of Roons Sewell
 * Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope
 * Star Wars: Rogue Squadron II: Rogue Leader
 * Star Wars: Rogue Squadron III: Rebel Strike
 * Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back
 * Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi
 * X-wing: Rogue Squadron
 * X-wing: Wedge's Gamble
 * X-wing: The Krytos Trap
 * X-wing: The Bacta War
 * Crimson Empire II: Council of Blood
 * Star Wars: Jedi Knight II: Jedi Outcast
 * Dark Tide I: Onslaught
 * Betrayal