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BlasTech Industries was an arms manufacturer operating from the time of the Clone Wars (22 BBY) to the Cold War era (29-34 ABY). It notably produced the DC-15 family of blaster rifles and carbines for the Grand Army of the Republic, the E-11 medium blaster rifle used by the Stormtrooper Corps and the Imperial Army as well as the DH-17 blaster pistol, A300 blaster rifle, and the DL-18 blaster pistol used by the Alliance to Restore the Republic. Following the signing of the Galactic Concordance and the replacement of the Galactic Empire with the New Republic, BlasTech spun off a subsidiary with Merr-Sonn Munitions, Inc., the Sonn-Blas Corporation, to operate within the borders of the First Order. The Merr-Sonn corporation continued its operation throughout the Cold War and the First Order-Resistance War and supplied the stormtrooper corps of the First Order with F-11D blaster rifles and SE-44C blaster pistols.
History[]
Republic and Imperial Eras[]
BlasTech armed the Galactic Empire with designs, including the infamous E-11 used by the Stormtrooper Corps.
BlasTech Industries was a prominent weapons manufacturer in the galaxy during the time of the Galactic Republic. Following the creation of the Grand Army of the Republic by the Kaminoan cloners, BlasTech was selected to manufacture their weaponry, which it did with the DC-15 family of blaster weapons. This included the DC-15A blaster rifle and the DC-15A blaster carbine as well as more specialized weaponry.[16] In part due to BlasTech's importance to the Republic war effort, BlasTech's parent company, the Techno Union, was able to maintain its shaky claim of corporate neutrality[2] despite favoring the Confederacy of Independent Systems.[17]
During the Age of the Empire, BlasTech also secured numerous contracts with the Galactic Empire, manufacturing the notorious E-11 medium blaster rifle[18] and its specialized versions[7] for the Stormtrooper Corps as well as the Imperial Army and Navy.[19] The E-11 became the most successful small arm in the company's history, and the increased demand for BlasTech weapons resulted in the company expanding its operation with new factories, which were built on worlds the Empire had expanded to, such as Lothal.[20] The company established a weapons laboratory in the Easthills near Lothal's Capital City.[21]
New Republic Era[]
After the New Republic victory in the Battle of Jakku and the surrender or escape of all remaining Imperial factions still active in the galaxy,[22] acting Galactic Emperor and former Grand Vizier Mas Amedda, along with Chancellor Mon Mothma signed the Galactic Concordance in Chandrila to formally end the Galactic Civil War.[23] After the fall of the Empire, the Industries continued to be active. The BlasTech-produced EL-16HFE blaster rifle was used by the New Republic.[4] The IB-94 blaster pistol, one of which was used by the Mandalorian Din Djarin, was produced by BlasTech at some point.[24] Djarin's fellow Tribe member Paz Vizsla used the M-55 Medium Repeating Blaster[25] as a Heavy Infantry Mandalorian.[26]
Thanks to BlasTech and Merr-Sonn creating the Sonn-Blas Corporation to secretly supply the First Order, its military was armed with a new generation of blasters.
The New Republic-Imperial treaty prohibited the deployment of armed stormtrooper forces in the galaxy or the sale of arms to them. To circumvent this prohibition,[4] BlasTech, working with rival[20] munitions manufacturer Merr-Sonn Munitions, Inc., spun off a subsidiary, Sonn-Blas Corporation, to manufacture and supply weapons for the First Order's Stormtrooper Corps. This subsidiary operated from the time of the Cold War to the First Order-Resistance War,[4] manufacturing and supplying[20] blasters and other assorted weaponry for the First Order's militias.[4] Sonn-Blas would prove to be the young regime's primary weapons supplier and helped ensure Merr-Sonn and BlasTech profited off the First Order.[20] The First Order's rival, General Leia Organa's Resistance, used by-that-point outdated BlastTech EL-16s and EL-16HFEs.[4]
Weapons of BlasTech[]
Pistols[]
The DL-44 heavy blaster pistol was manufactured by BlasTech.
Over the lifespan BlasTech Industries, countless models and designs of blaster pistols were conceived and produced. From the hard hitting DL-44 heavy blaster pistol to the "light" EC-17 hold-out blaster along with countless other models designed for both state-owned and private use. The Automatic DH-17 blaster pistol proved so successful that army[8][27] and navy personnel of both the Alliance and Imperial Military used the model during the Galactic Civil War.[13] BlasTech also manufactured the DL-44 heavy blaster pistol favored by Han Solo.[4]
Rifles and carbines[]
Boba Fett fires an EE-3, a model of blaster carbine produced by BlasTech.
BlasTech also produced other blaster types, including blaster rifles and blaster carbines. One example of a blaster rifle produced by the company was the DC-15A blaster rifle,[8] which was identified as a heavy blaster rifle model.[2] The E-11 medium blaster rifle[28] was produced by BlasTech, with further "E-11" designs, such as the E-11s sniper rifle[29] and E-11D blaster carbine, also being manufactured by BlasTech.[7] Other blaster carbines produced by BlasTech included the EE-3 carbine rifle[8] and EE-4 carbine rifle.[14]
Other blaster models[]
BlasTech was also able to produce blaster cannons, such as the Z-6 rotary blaster cannon it produced,[2] with Merr-Sonn Munitions, Inc. also involved in its production.[30] BlasTech also produced sniper rifles, such as the E-11s sniper rifle[29] and DH-447 sniper rifle.[7]
Multi-purpose blasters[]
BlasTech industries manufactured and designed several blaster models which could be configured for a number of different roles. The Alliance to Restore the Republic used the A-180 and A280-CFE. Both blaster pistols could be configured into an sniper rifle and an assault rifle.[7]
The DL-44 heavy blaster pistol could be turned into a blaster rifle, with the addition of an extended barrel and a stock.[15]
The company also sold reconfigurable blasters such as the A-300 blaster rifle, which gave users the option to remove the long air-cooled barrel-shroud and the shoulder stock to allow for greater movement. A collapsing barrel could be pulled out to allow for greater accuracy without the need for previously mentioned heavy barrel. Note that the rifle could not reduced to a pistol.[7]
Vehicle weaponry[]
Apart from personal weapons, BlasTech also manufactured heavier weaponry that was equipped on vehicles. Ezra Bridger's speeder bike was equipped with twin JB-37 blaster cannons manufactured by BlasTech.[31]
State business[]
BlasTech maintained close relations with the galactic governments, frequently being favored as their armies' weapons manufacturer. Major state contracts included those for the:
Grand Army of the Republic[]
Galactic Empire[]
- E-10 blaster rifle
- E-10R blaster rifle
- E-11 medium blaster rifle
- E-11D blaster carbine
- E-22 reciprocating double-barreled blaster rifle
- EC-17 hold-out blaster
First Order (as the Sonn-Blas Corporation)[]
Appearances[]
- The High Republic: The Fallen Star (and audiobook) (Mentioned only)
- Catalyst: A Rogue One Novel (and audiobook) (Mentioned only)
- Servants of the Empire: Imperial Justice (First appearance)
- Thrawn: Alliances (and audiobook) (Mentioned only)
- Smuggler's Run: A Han Solo & Chewbacca Adventure (and audiobook)
- Star Wars: Return of the Jedi junior novelization (Mentioned only)
- Star Wars: Uprising (Mentioned only)
- Aftermath (and audiobook) (Mentioned only)
- Aftermath: Life Debt (and audiobook) (Mentioned only)
- Star Wars: Galaxy of Heroes (Mentioned only)
Non-canon appearances[]
- LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga (Mentioned only)
