Aggressive ReConnaissance-170 starfighter/Legends

ARC-170 starfighter The Aggressive ReConnaissance-170 starfighter, also known as the ARC-170 starfighter, was a heavy starfighter/bomber that saw widespread use by the Republic Navy in the later days of the Clone Wars.

It was a predecessor of the T-65 X-wing starfighter, which would be mainly used by the Alliance to Restore the Republic.

Design


The ARC-170 was jointly produced by Incom and Subpro Corporations. Like their other starfighter designs of its time, such as the Z-95, PTB-625, and NTB-630, the ARC-170 had a narrow spaceframe flanked by large engines. The ARC-170 also possessed an S-foil system, which helped to radiate heat, something that aided the fighter's shielding. They also provided additional stability during atmospheric flight.

The ARC-170 was a departure from other starfighter designs of the Clone Wars era. Fighters such as the Alpha-3 Nimbus and the Eta-2 Actis were built to be small, fast, and maneuverable, at the cost of heavy weapons, shields, and hyperdrives. On the other hand, the ARC-170 was large, rugged, and capable of long independent operations.

Military role


It was often sent on dangerous scout missions and raids deep in enemy territory. To allow the ARC-170 to perform these missions, the fighter was equipped with a Class 1.5 hyperdrive, and its nose was filled with powerful sensors, scanners, and jammers.

These ships carried enough consumables for five days of operation. However, all these supplies and additional equipment had a price, and the ARC-170 was quite slow. Durable armor and shielding, as well as two tail guns, helped the ARC-170 to survive when surrounded by swarms of smaller, faster enemy fighters.

Weaponry
The ARC-170 possessed powerful weaponry. It carried 6 proton torpedoes, and its wingtip-mounted medium laser cannons were unusually large for a starfighter. ARC-170s were often used as the heavy-hitters in strike forces, escorted by V-wings and Eta-2s.



The ARC-170 was crewed by three clones: a pilot, a co-pilot who operated the wingtip-mounted lasers, and a tail gunner who operated the rear-mounted cannons. The fighter also carried an astromech droid to perform onboard repairs and navigation.

Customization
Elite pilots would often customize their vessels during the Clone Wars such as painting their fighters with markings similar to the ones on predatory animals.

Service in the Clone Wars
During the Second Battle of Coruscant, the ARC-170-filled Clone Flight Squad Seven covered for Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker as they made their way to Invisible Hand. Although Squad Seven suffered many casualties, they allowed the two Jedi to successfully board the ship and rescue Supreme Chancellor Palpatine. Large numbers of ARC-170s were destroyed in the battle by the nimbler and deadlier droid tri-fighters.

Under the Empire


Later, after Palpatine issued Order 66, ARC-170s flying over the skies of Cato Neimoidia under the command of Clone Captain Jag turned on Jedi Master Plo Koon. They fired upon his Delta-7 starfighter, destroying the fighter's engines. Plo Koon could not regain control of his ship and plunged to his death as he and what remained of the forward part of the fighter crashed into a building on one of Cato Neimoidia's bridge-cities.

During the Galactic Civil War, ARC-170s could be found in both Imperial and Rebel fleets, where they were considered elite craft. Incom would go on to produce the T-65 X-wing starfighter, the successor to the ARC-170.

Behind the scenes



 * The ARC-170 was named after "ART-170", the title of the artwork form by concept artist Ryan Church that inspired the finalized design. Originally, it was referred to simply as a "clone fighter" in the script for Revenge of the Sith.


 * The joint development of the ARC-170 by Incom and Subpro Corporations seems to contradict a HoloNet News report that claims the companies severed their partnership shortly before the onset of the Clone Wars. This issue may possibly be retconned by the fact that most of the design for the ship took place before the split. Even so, it was released as an Incom/Subpro design, and it is extremely unusual for design credit to continue to be shared between companies who have broken off relations.


 * In Star Wars: Battlefront II, the ARC-170 fighter is considered a medium starfighter, and equivalent to a T-65 X-wing starfighter. The game also only allows one individual to board it, rather than three to fill all the positions.


 * In Labyrinth of Evil, the ARC-170 is stated to be equipped with "multiple" missile launchers. This, however, may be attributed to General Grievous's limited knowledge of the vehicles at the time, as the ships are described from his viewpoint.

Appearances



 * Secrets of the Jedi
 * Heroes on Both Sides
 * Star Wars: Battlefront II
 * Star Wars: Clone Wars
 * "Chapter 22"
 * "Chapter 23"
 * "Chapter 25"
 * Routine Valor
 * Star Wars: Obsession
 * Star Wars Republic: The Siege of Saleucami
 * Labyrinth of Evil
 * Evasive Action: Reversal of Fortune
 * LEGO Star Wars: Revenge of the Brick
 * Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith
 * LEGO Star Wars: The Video Game
 * Star Wars Republic: Into the Unknown
 * Star Wars Dark Times: The Path to Nowhere
 * Dark Lord: The Rise of Darth Vader
 * The Last of the Jedi: Death on Naboo
 * Star Wars: Galaxies: Rage of the Wookiees