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An X-wing targeting computer
- "Luke, you switched off your targeting computer! What's wrong?"
"Nothing. I'm all right." - ―Yavin Base controller and Luke Skywalker, the former not anticipating the latter's Force abilities during the Battle of Yavin
A targeting computer, sometimes called target computer, targeting synchronizer, or a fire-control system,[2] was a device used aboard starfighters to aid pilots in targeting their weapons. A target was considered vulnerable when it was aligned with the electronic crosshairs of a targeting computer's gun-sights. During the Galactic Civil War, the targeting computers used by the Alliance to Restore the Republic indicated the distance in meters.[1]
Targeting computers were necessary in a dogfight as all combat craft were equipped with some form of sensor jammer to avoid being hit. The more sophisticated the targeting computer, the quicker it could achieve a "target lock" on the enemy.[3]
A targeting computer was also necessary in order to shoot down missiles, particularly very fast ones.[4] Even with a targeting computer, some targets could be very difficult to hit: during the Great Hyperspace Disaster, Galactic Republic Longbeam cruisers had a one-in-three chance of hitting debris from the Legacy Run traveling at close to light speed.[5]
