Wookieepedia:Featured article queue/Week 21, 2012/1

The TIE/D Defender, commonly known as the TIE Defender, was a high-performance TIE series starfighter developed for the Imperial Navy by Sienar Fleet Systems shortly before the Battle of Endor. Representing a shift in starfighter design from previous TIE models, the ship featured a hyperdrive as well as deflector shields to allow it to operate independent of Imperial capital ships. The ship's speed and agility, combined with its firepower, made it arguably the most advanced starfighter available at the time.

The ship's high cost, together with political factors, kept it from achieving widespread use in the Empire and units were assigned only to the most elite pilots. The starfighter played a major role in the Empire's campaign against rogue Grand Admiral Demetrius Zaarin and units participated in several other battles including the Battle of Endor. However, the advanced starfighter attracted the attention of several other factions and the Empire struggled to prevent the spread of the technology.

Following the death of Emperor Palpatine at Endor, the TIE Defender continued to see limited use by the Imperial Remnant up to at least 44 ABY, and was involved in numerous conflicts, including the Yuuzhan Vong War.