ATL Interceptor

The ATL (Air-to-Land) Interceptor was a starfighter developed by the Incom Corporation prior to the Galactic Civil War. It was the predecessor of the New Republic Defender starfighter.

History

The ATL Interceptors were used by the Fromm Gang to defend Trigon One^[3] in 15 BBY,^[4] in addition to use in short-range planetary defense.^[1]

The design of the ATL Interceptor was later used by the Republic Engineering Corporation to create the Defender starfighter for the New Republic as part of the Defender program.^[1] The Defender starfighter entered service relatively quickly in the years after the Battle of Endor^[5][1] and was used for atmospheric and short-range space defense.^[6]

Behind the scenes

The ATL Interceptor from the animated television series Star Wars Droids was based on one of the last toys of the Kenner Star Wars toy line, the ATL Interceptor. However, it had originally been designed as the Death Star Defender, which was intended for use in the Return of the Jedi toy line. The same design was later used in West End Games RPG adventure The DarkStryder Campaign to create the Defender starfighter.^[2]

Appearances

• Star Wars: Droids: The Adventures of R2-D2 and C-3PO — "Escape Into Terror" (First appearance)

Sources

• Star Wars: Droids toy line (Pack: ATL Interceptor)
• "Scouting the Galaxy" — Star Wars Insider 27
• "Scouting the Galaxy" — Star Wars Insider 30 (Picture only)
• Star Wars: The Action Figure Archive
• "Toy Vehicles Price Guide" — Star Wars Galaxy Collector 5
• "A State of Nelvana: Droids & Ewoks Adventure Hour Revisited" — Star Wars Insider 73 (reprinted in Aliens, Creatures, and Droids)
• "Ask Lobot" — Star Wars Insider 113
• The Essential Guide to Warfare (Indirect mention only)
• Offscreen, but Not Forgotten: Mini-Rigs, Body-Rigs, and Other Kenner Vehicles on StarWars.com (backup link) (original link is obsolete)
• The Vintage Vault: Exploring Kenner's Droids and Ewoks Toys on StarWars.com (original link is obsolete)

Notes and references