Microraptor-class target drone

"Whoever destroys the most drones will become squad leader."

―Lieutenant Galek^[2]

Microraptor-class target drones, more commonly called X-wing drones, were training drones used by the TIE pilots of the First Order for live-fire training exercises, designed to imitate Resistance T-70 X-wing starfighters. Sometime after the evacuation of D'Qar, Lieutenant Galek deployed her cadets against a flight of drones, in which all of the target X-wing starfighters were destroyed.

Characteristics

X-wing drones were pilotless spacecraft built as pared-down replicas of X-wing starfighters. Featuring a red-and-gray–colored hull,^[2] the drones were equipped with four laser cannons that fired red lasers. Each of these cannons were mounted at the end of each wider S-foil wing,^[3] which were also attached to four smaller wings in a similar fashion to the Aggressive ReConnaissance-170 starfighters^[4] that inspired the X-wing line.^[5]

Role

"Pilots, this will be a live-fire exercise. There are no stun blasts in battle."

―Lieutenant Galek^[2]

The drones were used as target practice for TIE pilots of the First Order.^[2]

History

"But I downed the most drones and helped a fellow pilot."
"No, you risked the entire mission by breaking off the attack. Your job was to destroy the enemy, […]"

―Cadet Tamara Ryvora and Lieutenant Galek^[2]

Lieutenant Galek of the First Order deployed several drones for a training exercise.

Not long after the evacuation of D'Qar, Lieutenant Galek, a First Order flight instructor, deployed three X-wing drones for a live-fire training exercise for her pilot cadets around the Resurgent-class Star Destroyer Thunderer, all of which would be destroyed by the cadets’ TIE/fo fighters during the event.^[2]

Behind the scenes

"The First Order X-wing drones are a new design for Star Wars, made for this episode. They're pared-down replicas that the First Order TIE pilots use for practice."

―Amy Beth Christenson^[4]

X-wing drones were created and designed for "Live Fire,"^[2] the third episode of the second season of the Star Wars Resistance animated series that first aired on October 20, 2019.^[6] The drones were later identified by name in the episode's accompanying StarWars.com episode guide,^[7] as well as in the Bucket's List and "Bucket's List Extra" behind-the-scenes looks for "Live Fire."^[8]^[4]