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- "Master Sifo-Dyas requested the most powerful army in the galaxy. We have worked with only the best shipbuilders to fulfill that request."
- ―Lama Su
Rothana Heavy Engineering was a subsidiary of Kuat Drive Yards, in operation prior to and during the Clone Wars. Its headquarters was located on the eponymous planet of Rothana.
History[edit | edit source]
After the mineral-rich planet Rothana was discovered in Wild Space in 800 BBY, its location was sold to Kuat Drive Yards. KDY dispatched Quiberon Kuat to the planet with thousands of workers and a fleet of ships, creating a network of mines, factories and shipyards that was the foundation of Rothana Heavy Engineering.
RHE became Kuat's primary subsidiary for pursuing secret projects. Far away from the Core Worlds, it was isolated from corporate espionage and only accessible by an incredibly-convoluted network of hyperspace routes, the locations of which were issued on a strictly need-to-know basis.

Rothana developed the AT-TE for the Republic
In 31 BBY, Rothana Heavy Engineering received an immense order from the cloners on Kamino to create war machines for the Galactic Republic's clone troopers and army. Working in absolute secrecy for nine years, Project Icefang oversaw the development of thousands of new assault ships, dropships, and walkers. Equipment was shipped to Kamino via the Quiberon Line, where the growing clone army tested and trained on their new machines. A handful of field tests were conducted elsewhere, but they were so few that sightings of AT-TEs and other new designs were dismissed as fantasies.
Smaller Rothana warship models were noted for their characteristic "arrow"-shaped command towers. As the Clone Wars progressed, the shipyards quickly supplemented its successful assault ships with larger and more advanced designs such as destroyers and battleships.
After the Clone Wars ended, Rothana would still design and produce weaponry and vehicles for the Galactic Empire, but would not be as prominent as they were before. Still, even during the Galactic Civil War, certain designs would still be influenced by their style. The Rothana yards were ultimately abandoned by the Galactic Empire just after the Battle of Endor in 4 ABY. Aside from vehicle development, they also bred various mounted creatures for use among Imperial Army forces in the event that the environment was such that the Empire's mechanized scout vehicles could not operate without being put in the repair bays for weeks.
As late as 10 ABY, vessels with similar design-attributes to the Republic-era ships saw use in the Imperial Navy.
Appearances[edit | edit source]
- Darth Plagueis (Mentioned only)
Mining Guild to Fine Exarga—HoloNet News Vol. 531 #52 (content now obsolete; backup link on Archive.org) (First mentioned)
- Equipment (Mentioned only)
- Republic Commando: Triple Zero (Mentioned only)
- Republic Commando: True Colors (Mentioned only)
- Order 66: A Republic Commando Novel
"Ord Vaxal: Prison Planet of the Empire"—Polyhedron 165
- The New Jedi Order: The Unifying Force (Mentioned only)
Sources[edit | edit source]
- Star Wars: Attack of the Clones Incredible Cross-Sections
- Star Wars Roleplaying Game Revised Core Rulebook
- Hero's Guide
"Republic Fighter Tank" on Wizards.com (original article link, backup link)
"Guide to the Grand Army of the Republic"—Star Wars Insider 84
- Star Wars: Empire at War: Forces of Corruption Expansion: Prima Official Game Guide
- Starships of the Galaxy, Saga Edition
- Star Wars: The Clone Wars: The Visual Guide
- The Force Unleashed Campaign Guide
- The Complete Star Wars Encyclopedia
- The Clone Wars Campaign Guide
The Battle of Turak IV on Hyperspace (content removed from StarWars.com and unavailable)
- Star Wars: The Clone Wars: Incredible Vehicles
Kamino in the Databank (content now obsolete; backup link)
Republic attack cruiser in the Databank (content now obsolete; backup link)
Self-Propelled Medium Artillery - Turbolaser (SPMA-T walker) in the Databank (content now obsolete; backup link)
All Terrain Anti Aircraft (AT-AA walker) in the Databank (content now obsolete; backup link)
All Terrain Tactical Enforcer (AT-TE walker) in the Databank (content now obsolete; backup link)
Republic attack gunship in the Databank (content now obsolete; backup link)
Self Propelled Heavy Artillery - Turbolaser (SPHA-T walker) in the Databank (content now obsolete; backup link)
All Terrain Attack Pod (AT-AP walker) in the Databank (content now obsolete; backup link)
Saber-class fighter tank in the Databank (content now obsolete; backup link)
Republic assault ship in the Databank (content now obsolete; backup link)
- The Essential Guide to Warfare
- Star Wars: Edge of the Empire Core Rulebook
- Star Wars: Complete Vehicles
- Star Wars: Imperial Handbook: A Commander's Guide