Aurek-class tactical strikefighter

Aurek tactical strikefighter The Aurek tactical strikefighter, also known as an A-wing, was the primary Republic starfighter used in the Old Sith Wars and the New Sith Wars.

Characteristics
The Aurek fighter was a 9,2 meter-long delta-shaped starfighter armed with two heavy laser cannons and two proton torpedo launchers, capable of holding six torpedoes. The fighter was capable of considerable acceleration and maneuvering, and had variable-geometry wings. They were easily refuelable and rearmable, thus driving down costs.

Although the Aurek fighters saw combat throughout a timespan of 3,000 years, they underwent extensive upgrades and revisions from one era to the next. Hammerhead-class cruisers were capable of holding a squadron of Aurek fighters during the New Sith Wars era.

History
Following the Great Sith War, the Republic entered an era of restoration. During this period, the Republic Navy requested a "Generation Tomorrow Starfighter" to replace their aging Star Saber XC-01. The Aurek was the winning design.



Aurek fighters were used by the Republic during the Mandalorian Wars (3,976 BBY–3,960 BBY), the Jedi Civil War (c. 3,956 BBY), the First Jedi Purge (c. 3,951 BBY), and the New Sith Wars(c. 2,000 BBY–c. 1,000 BBY). They also saw service in the Onderon Navy and in civilian squadrons, due to a naval policy of reselling damaged fighters and buying new ones rather than repairing them.

Several squadrons of Aurek fighters comprised part of the Republic fleet that attacked the Star Forge during the Battle of Rakata Prime. A number of these ships were used by Jedi Knights to land on board the Star Forge during the decisive strike against Darth Malak's Sith Empire.

Later, General Vaklu's fleet, which blockaded Onderon during the Sith Civil War, included fighters of this type, several of which attacked the Ebon Hawk when it entered the Onderon system.

Behind the scenes
As with most craft seen in Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, this ship was initially unnamed. A number of fan sources speculatively named the ship as the W-wing interceptor and Delta-1 interceptor. Eventually, Knights of the Old Republic II: The Sith Lords: Prima Official Game Guide tentatively identified the ship as the "A-wing". However, with the release of Darth Bane: Path of Destruction, the ship was once again renamed to become the "Aurek fighter". As "Aurek" is the first letter of Aurebesh, the alphabet of Galactic Basic, the new name is considered to hold the same meaning.

It has been hypothesized that the Kuat Systems Engineering Delta-7 Aethersprite-class light interceptor used during the Clone Wars was derived in part from the Aurek fighter. The Delta-7 would go on to influence the design of the famous RZ-1 A-wing starfighter used by the Rebel Alliance.

The sound made by the Aurek fighter's engines is borrowed from that of the N-1 starfighter.

Appearances

 * Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic: Flashpoint
 * Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic: Days of Fear
 * Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic 31: Turnabout
 * Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic
 * Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II: The Sith Lords
 * Darth Bane: Path of Destruction