The TIE Defender is a fictional starfighter that appears in the Star Wars Expanded Universe, including several games in the X-wing computer game series and a few Star Wars novels.

The TIE Defender initially appeared towards the end of the computer game TIE Fighter, set in a time period somewhere between The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi. It was developed by Grand Admiral Zaarin who later attempted to use it to try to overthrow Emperor Palpatine. The Defender also made appereances in X-wing (series) novels Isard's Revenge and Starfighters of Adumar, the eighth and ninth volumes in the series. The craft are referred to as "trips" in New Republic fighter pilot slang due to their triple wing arrays.

According to canon, the high success rate of Rebel starfighters versus standard Imperial TIE Fighters caused the Imperial Navy to rethink its doctrine of preferring swarms of cheap craft over fewer high-quality ones (a possible legacy of the Clone Wars). As well, the inclusion of a hyperdrive in a high quality starfighter would enable the Imperials to conduct missions independent of Star Destroyers and other support vessels, similar in manner to Rebel operations.

Several shielded and hyperspace-capable Imperial starfighters existed before the initiation of the project which would lead to the TIE Defender; notable examples include the Assault Gunboat, and the Skipray Blastboat. However these were not agile like TIE fighters despite having better protection and weaponry, and Admiral Zaarin was determined to produce a new starfighter that combined the best traits of both. The TIE Advanced x1 (Darth Vader's TIE Fighter) and the TIE Avenger (also known as the TIE Advanced, causing some confusion with the former) were two fighters produced during the development process which would ultimately cumulate into the TIE Defender. The fighter was created shortly after the release of the TIE Avenger, but - like the TIE Avenger - never saw even limited production (most likely due to the extreme expense, and/or due to production facilities having been destroyed by rogue Grand Admiral Zaarin).

Unlike most standard TIE craft, the TIE Defender has both a deflector shield and hyperdrive. It carries a formidable array of weaponry, with four laser cannons, two ion cannons and two warhead launchers each capable of holding eight missiles (both proton and concussion). According to the novel Isard's Revenge, the Defender also sported a small tractor beam. (In the games, it could be equipped with a tractor beam which is used to snare enemy agile starfighters, although it was not standard equipment.) Its triple wing design and powerful engines make the craft faster and more agile than any other starfighter in Imperial service, even breaking the mark set by the preceding TIE Avenger. It was also very expensive, costing 300,000 credits for a single unit, which is five times the cost of a standard TIE fighter. Even an organization as wealthy as the Imperial Starfleet could not hope to mass-deploy such a fighter (or even the almost as capable TIE Avenger) so only elite pilots flew them, and then only for missions of the utmost importance (such as to prevent the rogue Grand Admiral Zaarin's coup d'état).

The craft featured 4 wingtip laser cannons, 2 wingtip Ion Cannons, and an adaptable Proton Torpedo/Concussion Missile launcher. Although the ship is very rare, it is rumored that a squadron of TIE Defenders fought in the Battle of Endor (named Onyx Squadron by the Decipher Star Wars CCG). In the years following the Battle of Endor, Ysanne Isard re-appeared with a few squadrons of TIE Defenders. Ironically, Wedge Antilles and Rogue Squadron piloted these to help Isard take down an Imperial Warlord threatening the New Republic. Further rumors state that even more of the fighters had been seen or used by Admiral Pellaeon, who at this time was the leader of the Imperial Remnant.

X-wing games

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TIE Fighter

In the games, the TIE Defender was first introduced in the TIE Fighter game. The Defender was far superior to any other starfighter, although the plot of the series rarely had the TIE Defender fighting Rebel craft. The A-Wing nonetheless could be a formidable opponent especially if it was armed with Advanced Concussion missiles. The closest match for the Defender in a straight dogfight was its predecessor, the TIE Avenger, which was almost as fast and agile. The Avenger however was less versatile because of its halved shield strength, no ion cannons, and a reduced warhead load. Grand Admiral Thrawn created the Missile Gunboat as a counter to TIE Defenders found in traitor hands, however the Missile Boat relies heavily on Advanced Concussion Missiles, a tractor beam, and its SLAM acceleration system instead of traditional dogfighting prowess.

According to the game specifications, the TIE Defender's two Novaldex shield generators provide four times the shielding strength of an X-wing, (whose shields are rated at 50 SBD). This is not mentioned in any other sources, but if true, makes the TIE Defender the most well defended ship of its size. Since the game first introduced the Defender, one could assume this information is true despite it not specifically being mentioned in the novel, as the authors of those materials may have not checked the specifications from the game. Also, having such powerful shields fits the name of the craft, and could be where the name is derived from in the first place.

Furthermore, in the game, it was also the fastest, clocking in at 155 MGLT, thanks to a pair of P-sz9.7 ion engines. It is also the most manoeuvrable, rated at 175 DPF in the TIE Fighter Official Strategy Guide. It outclasses all Rebel craft and almost all Imperial craft, (the TIE Avenger is a close second at 145 MGT while the Rebel's A-wing is distantly behind with a speed of 120 MGLT). Only the Missile Gunboat is faster when it uses its SLAM engines which grant only speed, not maneuverability, and is very limited in its use because the SLAM engines drain laser power.

The TIE Defender could carry either 16 concussion missiles, 12 proton torpedoes, 8 heavy rockets, 4 space bombs, or 4 mag (magnetic) pulse warheads; the mag pulse ordnance was only used in Tour of Duty Eight, Mission 6. The TIE Defender, along with the TIE Avenger, Assault Gunboat, and Missile Boat, could also be equipped with a tractor beam which is used to snare enemy agile starfighters, although this usually halved the Defender's warhead load. However, in Tour of Duty Seven, Mission 5 (where the player rescues the Emperor), the Defender is equipped with a full warhead load and a tractor beam.

X-Wing Alliance

Both the TIE Avenger and TIE Defender had their abilities downgraded in X-Wing Alliance where the player had to face the craft in standard Rebel Starfighters. The TIE Avenger's shields were decreased to less than an X-wing or A-wing, while the TIE Defender's shields were decreased to the level of an X-wing or A-wing. However, both Imperial starfighters had shields that recharged quite quickly. Both TIEs also had their speed decreased in Alliance.

References

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• Star Wars: The Essential Guide to Vehicles and Vessels, 1st printing, by Bill Smith (1996) ISBN 0590023616
• X-Wing: Isard's Revenge by Michael A. Stackpole (1999) ISBN 0553579037
• The TIE Fighter Official Strategy Guide by Rusel DeMaria, David Wessman, and David Maxwell (1994) ISBN 1-55958-519-6

External links

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• Article in the Star Wars Databank

Star Wars starfighters