T-70 X-wing starfighter

The T-70 X-wing fighter was a newer version of the classic design X-wing starfighter used by the Resistance in their fight against the First Order approximately 30 years after the Battle of Endor.

Characteristics
The T-70 X-wing starfighter was a cruciform starfighter. It was armed with four wing-mounted laser cannons and dual projectile launchers which could carry proton torpedoes, concussion missiles, or mag-pulse launchers in the quick-change weapons bay. An underslung blaster cannon could also be mounted. The weapons were aimed using a targeting computer. The craft had one pilot and an astromech droid, and was equipped with a hyperdrive and a spotlight on the ventral surface below the cockpit. The pilot had access to ejection systems in the form of a Guidenhauser Ejector seat, and was protected by an armored cockpit. The astromech fit into a socket which could be variably configured for different models. The long nose featured the projectile launcher in the bottom and a sensor in the cone. Along with the four advanced 5L5 fusial thrust engines, the craft featured retro thrusters with electromagnetic gyros for fine maneuvers. The newer version was faster and more heavily armed than the old T-65s. Compared to the new generation of First Order TIE fighters, the T-70s were more expensive and complex, but also more versatile, able to fight both starfighters and capital ships.

History
The Incom-FreiTek T-70 X-wing starfighter was in use by the Resistance 30 years after the Battle of Endor. By that time, it had been replaced in New Republic service by the T-85 X-wing. The Resistance was unable to build sufficient numbers of the T-70, and had to rely on covert New Republic support.

The craft were donated by sympathizing members of the Republic, and the Resistance operated a fleet of the X-wings out of their base on D'Qar. Blue Squadron had their X-wings stationed in a hangar at the base.

Under the command of Black Leader Poe Dameron, Black Squadron flew on a mission to find the explorer Lor San Tekka.

During the struggle against the First Order, the Resistance deployed their X-wings to rescue the astromech droid BB-8 carrying information about Luke Skywalker on Takodana.

Soon after, as the First Order prepared to fire their Starkiller Base superweapon at the Resistance base, one wing of the Resistance's starfighters consisting of Blue Squadron and Red Squadron attempted to destroy the weapon, which succeeded after Black Leader Dameron knocked out the thermal oscillator.

Behind the scenes
The T-70 X-wing fighter model was on display at 2015's Star Wars Celebration Anaheim, which gave its model name and that it was used by the Resistance. The fighter has appeared in both Star Wars: Episode VII The Force Awakens teaser trailers. The X-wing was one of the exclusive blueprints in Star Wars: Ships of the Galaxy, released on Force Friday on September 4, 2015.

For Episode VII, at least one full-size mockup was built. The design of the T-70 X-wing fighter strongly resembles the early design of the first X-wing seen in the original concept art done by Ralph McQuarrie for A New Hope, although the resemblance was only discovered after the design was finalized. At one point, the concept artist "Visualists" were thinking about a two-person craft.

Appearances

 * The Weapon of a Jedi: A Luke Skywalker Adventure
 * Before the Awakening
 * Star Wars: Poe Dameron 1: Black Squadron, Part I
 * Star Wars: Episode VII The Force Awakens
 * Star Wars: The Force Awakens novel
 * Star Wars: The Force Awakens junior novelization