 |  |
- "This is the design I'm most worried about. Dagger-shaped solar arrays feed an advanced ion-stream projector. It's incredibly agile. Only our A-wings are capable of matching it in dogfights."
- ―Antoc Merrick in The Rebel Files
The TIE/IN interceptor, also known as the TIE Interceptor, or TIE/in was a type of TIE fighter used by the Galactic Empire, most notably during the Battle of Endor. The interceptor was identifiable by the addition of four arrow-shaped panels tipped with laser cannons. They were nicknamed "Squints" due to their narrow shape.
Characteristics
- "Interceptors are a lot tougher than TIE fighters."
- ―Din Djarin
A TIE interceptor wing
The TIE/IN interceptor[17] or TIE/in[18] was a far deadlier opponent than the standard TIE/ln space superiority starfighter and featured four very recognizable pointed solar panels.[6] These panels, based on the "bent-wing" configuration used on the prototype TIE Advanced flown by Darth Vader, were given a dagger like design, which gave a TIE fighter pilot a wider field of vision.[19]
Engines and power
Lacking both shields and a hyperdrive, the TIE/in made up for its lack of defensive capabilities with a top speed of 1,250 kph[6] owing to enlarged[2] P-s5.6 twin ion engines[8] as well as an autothruster[7] providing considerably improved maneuverability and speed.[2] In order to achieve optimal performance and collect as much power from the enlarged solar panels, Sienar also equipped the TIE/in with an SFS I-a3a solar ionization reactor, whose extra power allowed pilots to overclock their engines and execute tight turns and rolls not possible in most other starfighters.[8]
Armament
The cockpit and controls of a TIE interceptor
Despite the LS-series hardpoints on the cockpit being intentionally left empty to reduce weight, four L-s9.3 laser cannons on the TIE/in's wingtips allowed for far more firepower to overload the shields on an enemy craft. Binocular scanner modules were also placed in the midline of the TIE/in's engines, creating an overlapping stereoscopic field for the targeting computer which ensured that the weapons were unlikely to miss once locked on.[8] With the Empire placing its elite pilots into Interceptor cockpits to maximize the craft's effectiveness, interceptors were ideally suited for their main function: chasing down and eliminating rebel starfighters.[2]
History
Time of the Empire
Development
The TIE Interceptor was developed by Sienar Fleet Systems as an alternative to the TIE Advanced x1, which was determined to be too costly to mass-produce.[20] Heavily influenced by other Sienar bent-wing prototypes, such as the TIE/ad v1[8] which was tested on Lothal by flight baron Valen Rudor,[21] the TIE/IN was stripped of the Advanced's hyperdrive and equipped with heavier weapons. To achieve an improved fight performance, Sienar also removed the L-s1 laser cannons from the standard hardpoints in the cockpit module and reduced the armor.[8] A prototype TIE/IN was developed by 14 BBY[9] and tested by the Inquisitorius' Second Sister[22] who also used it on Bracca to investigate reports of a surviving Jedi. Another TIE/IN was present on the Imperial-occupied planet Kashyyyk during that time.[23]
The TIE/IN soon entered production in the Sienar factories as the third full-production TIE fighter series variant after the TIE/ln and the TIE/sa.[8] In 3 BBY,[10] the Empire began to officially field TIE Interceptors[24] to serve as the Empire's direct response to the faster starships introduced by[20] the then-informal[25] Rebel Alliance.[20] Nonetheless, it was not as fast as the RZ-1 A-wing interceptor, being 50 kph slower.[6] The improved TIE units were distributed to elite starfighter squadrons, including the 128th Fighter Group and the 181st Imperial Fighter Wing, while some were offered to the commanders of TIE/ln squadrons as their personal starfighter.[8]
Operational history
Vult Skerris' TIE/IN featured red and grey markings.
Three TIE Interceptors carried out the massacre near Teralov.[26] The first confrontations between the Rebellion's X-wing fighters and the Empire's TIE interceptors came with the Battle of Turkana.[27] General Weir flew a TIE interceptor.[28] When defecting Imperials Jon Melton and Bevelyn, who were both secretly agents of Crimson Dawn, sought to reveal the existence of the DS-2 Death Star II Mobile Battle Station by escaping aboard the Lambda-class T-4a shuttle Scopium, three TIE interceptors were deployed from the Death Star and chased after the defectors. However, they managed to escape.[29]
Some interceptors belonging to elite pilots featured additional red and dark grey markings.[30] In 2 BBY,[31] Vult Skerris flew one of these starfighters, when he was based at Skystrike Academy.[30]
TIE Interceptors also took part in the battle against Crimson Dawn[32] and the Battle at Amaxine Station. A group of crimson interceptors escorted the Lambda-class T-4a shuttle carrying Imperial leaders Sheev Palpatine and Darth Vader into the station.[33] By the time of the Battle of Endor, the TIE Interceptor made up one-fifth of the Empire's starfighter fleet.[34] Nash Windrider piloted a TIE Interceptor during the Battle of Jakku.[35]
Era of the New Republic
- "Something's coming up on us fast. It looks like a squadron of TIE Interceptors."
- ―Bo-Katan Kryze, to Din Djarin
Around 9 ABY,[36] Gideon's remnant of the fallen Empire possessed a massive force of TIE ships, including many interceptors, through the support of the Shadow Council.[13] An interceptor squadron supported the force of TIE/sa bombers that targeted Kryze Castle on Kalevala. Mandalorians Bo-Katan Kryze and Din Djarin, returning to Kelavala after their mission to the Mines of Mandalore, engaged the TIE ships until their true numbers were revealed. Faced with the many TIE ships and surpised, both retreated.[16]
Bo-Katan would eventually be able to reunite her forces and lead the Mandalorian resistance in an effort to retake their homeworld. This effort lead them into conflict with Gideon's Imperial Remnant where they discovered that they operated out of a secret base built on the planet which housed many TIE Interceptors. During the battle, these fighters saw action against the Mandalorians, including targeting their fleet in orbit.[13] Axe Woves would make to their stolen command ship and altered the fleet of the attack, allowing them to escape and bring reinforcements for the final effort to retake Mandalore while he commanded the light cruiser and engaged several TIE Interceptors and bombers. The cruiser sustained heavy damage and eventually fell from orbit hurling straight towards the Imperial Base with Axe Wolves escaping just before impact which saw the base's destruction, taking any grounded TIE Interceptors and other starfighters with it.[37]
Legacy
A TIE/ba interceptor during the Cold War.
By the time of the Cold War, the First Order used the TIE/ba Baron Space Superiority Interceptor, which served as its own version of a TIE interceptor.[38]
During the reign of Supreme Leader Kylo Ren, the First Order also fielded the TIE/wi Interceptor and TIE/wi modified interceptor.[39]
Behind the scenes
The Databank entry for the TIE interceptor on StarWars.com states that it was first deployed sixteen years after the fall of the Galactic Republic in 3 BBY.[40] Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order later showed the TIE interceptor being used by the Second Sister[23] in 14 BBY.[9] The mobile game Star Wars: Galaxy of Heroes later established that the Second Sister's craft was a TIE/IN Interceptor Prototype.[22] However, another TIE/IN is featured in Fallen Order on Kashyyyk.[23] The status of this second TIE/IN has not been clarified. However, the Electronic Arts website provided an explanation for[24] the 3 BBY[10] inconsistency, clarifying that year was only the ship's official deployment.[24]
Appearances
Non-canon appearances
- Star Wars: Battle Pod
- LEGO Star Wars: The Force Awakens
LEGO Star Wars: The Freemaker Adventures — "Return of the Kyber Saber"- LEGO Star Wars: The Freemaker Adventures — "Zander Freemaker, Superstar Pilot Guy!"
- LEGO Star Wars: The Freemaker Adventures — "A New Home"
- LEGO Star Wars: The Freemaker Adventures — "Return of the Return of the Jedi"
- "Vader Shows His Skills" — LEGO Star Wars 49
- Star Wars: Visions — "THE TWINS"
- LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga
- "The Rakanal Run" — LEGO Star Wars 110
- "The Juggernaut and the Scoundrel" — LEGO Star Wars 122
Sources
Non-canon sources
- LEGO Star Wars 67 (Free Gift)
Notes and references
External links
- Every Starfighter in Star Wars Explained By Lucasfilm on the official WIRED YouTube channel (backup link)
