B1-A air battle droid

B1-A air battle droid were battle droids in the Separatist Droid Army that utilized jetpacks.

Characteristics
Their design shared design characteristics with that of the B1 battle droids though were more bulky in appearance in a similar vein as the B2 super battle droid.

These droids were equipped with two short blades, arm-mounted blasters, and a shield that could block lightsabers. In addition, they possessed a built-in Repulsor pack allowing them to hover on the battlefield and gave them a high degree of mobility allowing them to either harass enemies from a distance or charge at them in close quarter combat.

There were high hopes for the design, but it was easy for clone troopers to shoot them down because they had a weak spot on their wings. If one was shot, then it lost control.

History
A number of air battle droids were present on the Invisible Hand during the Battle of Coruscant. These units were destroyed by Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi when they boarded the Providence-class carrier/destroyer to free Supreme Chancellor of the Galactic Republic Palpatine.

More units were present on the planet Utapau where they battled against Jedi General Obi-Wan Kenobi.

All further units of air battle droids were presumably deactivated when Darth Vader assassinated the Separatist Council on Mustafar.

Appearances

 * Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith video game

Notes and references
B1-A-Luftkampfdroide Droide de combate aéreo