Zenuas 33 Umbaran starfighter

The Zenuas 33 Umbaran starfighter was a technologically advanced starfighter produced by Ghost Armaments. Its shielded cockpit surrounded the pilot with touch-sensitive holographic displays that react instantly to touch. It was used heavily during the Battle of Umbara, a conflict that occurred during the Clone Wars between the Galactic Republic and the Umbarans who had sided with the Separatist Alliance.

Description[]

The Zenuas 33 Umbaran starfighter, produced by Ghost Armaments,^[1] was a uniquely powerful and capable starfighter used by the Umbaran Militia. It's spaceframe had variable geometry and in normal flight, it had a roughly triangular shape. The unique spaceframe allowed the starfighter to stand on its wingertips or be stored in racks around the walls in hangers such as the hangars inside the Umbaran airbase.^[5]

It did not have a typical fighter cockpit: instead, the pilot sat in a ray shielded command chair surrounded by touch-sensitive holographic controls and displays^[6] with the chair itself being equipped with repulsorlifts. The controls utilised hand gestures that were very sensitive^[5]- much different to those of an average starfighter, making it difficult for new pilots to learn how to operate it.^[4] It was highly maneuverable where it could change orientation almost immediately.^[5] Armed with chin-mounted electromagnetic plasma cannons and wing-mounted missile pods, the Umbaran starfighter packed a tremendous punch.^[6] These wing- mounted missile pods could be detached by a single Umbaran Technician.^[5]

When in flight mode, these starfighters were almost quiet giving the element of surprise and did not contain a hyperdrive.^[5]These starfighters were one of the few weapons that could combat the Umbaran mobile heavy cannon.^[7]

History[]

SpaceBattleOfUmbara2-PoD — Umbaran starfighters over Umbara

When the Clone Wars came to Umbara, the Umbaran Milita combated the clone troopers of the Galactic Republic with their unique weaponry, with the Zenuas 33 serving as their main aerial support. During the battle, clone troopers Hardcase and Fives disobeyed orders from Jedi General Pong Krell and infiltrated the Umbaran airbase to steal two Umbaran fighters, which they used to save their fellow troopers, who were being assaulted by Umbaran mobile heavy cannons.^[7] Hardcase, Fives, and Jesse would again disobey orders and fly these ships to destroy a Separatist supply ship.^[4]

Behind the scenes[]

Umbaran starfighters first appeared in "Darkness on Umbara," the seventh episode in the Star Wars: The Clone Wars' fourth season.^[6] The design of this starship was inspired by the cervical vertebra of the dinosaur Apatosaurus.^[8]