X-wing

Related Topics:
X-Wing_Series :: X-29_Forward_Swept_Wings :: X-Wing :: X-Wing_Alliance :: X-Wing_vs_TIE_Fighter

The Incom T-65 X-wing is a legendary starfighter in the fictional Star Wars universe, known as the main all-purpose craft of the Rebel Alliance. In A New Hope, the X-wing is the craft that Luke Skywalker uses to destroy the Empire's first Death Star at the Battle of Yavin.

History

The X-wing was originally designed by Incom Corporation for the Empire, but the entire engineering team defected to the Rebel Alliance with the prototypes. It is directly descended from the old Z-95 Headhunter, and shares design features with the Clone Wars era ARC-170, which were both built by Incom and Subpro.

The X-wing has been continually updated throughout its design lifetime. The original T-65AC1 fielded by the Rebel Alliance was a competent strike fighter for its time, but was soon supplanted by the T-65AC2, boasting improved acceleration. The T-65AC3 improved the avionics, shields and sensors; the T-65AC4 was primarily another engine upgrade, which made it nearly the equal of the A-wing in maneuverability. One notable design, the T-65D-A1, replaced the astromech droid with an internal computer core for hyperdrive jump calculations but was considered a failure (partially due to ease of sabotage).

Shortly before the Yuuzhan Vong invasion, the New Republic fielded the "XJ" series of X-wing. A third torpedo bay was added where previously a cargo bay was fitted; this increased proton torpedo payload to nine. Engines, lasers and avionics were also improved. The XJ could also utilize the new model R7 astromech droid, although some modifications to both the starfighter and droid had to be made. The "XJ" was greatly improved in all respects over the earlier designs and was initially issued to starfighter squadrons with Jedi pilots. The final realization of the XJ-series during the war was the XJ3.

Development continued after the war, resulting in the XJ6, as well as several specialized variants. One such variant was the StealthX, a compact model painted matte black and outfitted for stealth operations. Another was the ChaseX; based on the XJ5, it was presumably designed for interception duties. The Jedi owned and operated several StealthX fighters. Many older X-wings were later rebuilt into the T-65BR reconnaissance variant after being replaced by the newer combat models.

It had been intended that the X-wing series would be replaced by the E-wing approximately six years after the Battle of Endor but initial design issues relating to the weapons placement delayed wide-spread introduction into the New Republic defense forces. Wide-scale deployment of the E-wing did occur (most notably in Fifth Fleet) but X-wing production continued and may have equipped fighter squadrons not "at the tip of the spear". One notable exception is Rogue Squadron, the Republic's most elite fighter squadron, known for its almost exclusive use of the X-wing.

By the time of the Yuuzhan Vong invasion, the "XJ" series was in fleet service, supplementing the more advanced (and certainly more expensive) Series III E-wing. Some paramilitary groups were also equipped with earlier XJ-series fighters (probably T-65XJ or T-65XJ2); system-defense forces and poorer paramilitary groups may have had X-wings of varying age and capability.

There are two conflicting systems of identification for the X-wing. The basic "T-65" designation is constant, but the modifier is inconsistent. At least two systems were used. One of them uses the suffix "AC1" with the last number incrementing as the fighter is revised. A second system resembles that of the modern United States military in which a letter is appended to the end in increasing value (T-65B, T-65D, T-65J, etc.). These are usually thought of as different names for the same variations.

Specifications

Hyperspace capable, X-wings have pairs of wing-like strike foils, or S-foils, mounted at the rear of the craft; normally the foils on each side are locked flush against each other, but during combat the foils are folded out to increase the spread coverage of the laser cannons mounted at the tips of the foils, to improve maneuverability, and to better dissipate waste heat. This gives the craft its distinctive "X"-like profile when viewed from the front or rear. The cannons on some earlier models cannot be fired with the S-foils in locked position. An attempted jump into hyperspace with the S-foils folded out will cause extreme stress to the ship.

Weapons

Though it is reasonably maneuverable, the X-wing is better known for carrying four powerful laser cannons, along with tubes for proton torpedoes. Other warheads such as concussion missiles can be fired from the launchers, but this requires a considerable amount of time and effort on the part of the technical crews, and the overall versatility of the proton torpedo is ideally suited to the X-wing's varied mission profile. The X-wing's fire control systems provide various settings:

Single fire, where each laser cannon fires individually but in a constant sequence. This setting provides the pilot with the highest rate of fire but generally will lack the high impact of having all the X-wing's lasers strike at once. This mode was most likely the best for Rebel pilots when dealing with the agile Imperial TIE fighters, considering the TIE's well documented fragility and complete lack of shielding.

Dual fire, where two laser cannons, one on each side, pair up and fire in an alternating sequence. While decreasing the overall rate of fire, dual fire mode naturally increases the damage potential of each attack due to a damage intensifying effect all projectiles have when they impact at roughly the same location.

Quad fire, where all four laser cannons (one at each foil-tip) fire together. This fire mode greatly reduces the rate of fire but gives the X-wing's lasers their greatest punch. While the X-wing's laser cannons adjust for distance on every setting, it is most visible in this mode.

Stutter fire, where many underpowered bolts are fired. This modification was incorporated during the Yuuzhan Vong invasion, to overwhelm their singularity defenses. Presumably also useful for anti-personnel purposes.

The fighter has cockpit space for one pilot, assisted by an astromech droid (such as an R2 unit) in an external socket. The astromech monitors the status of the craft, can make limited emergency repairs and handles hyperspace calculations.

Popular culture

The X-wing pilots of Rogue Squadron are the subject of several series of novels and video games. The X-wing (series) book series is one such example. The craft is also used extensively in the X-Wing computer game series computer game series.

X-wing squadron examples

Red Squadron (T-65 X): Battle of Yavin
Ferry Squadron (Recon-X) aboard carrier Venture, Black Fleet Crisis
Wraith Squadron (various X-wings): elite fighter squadron/special forces group in New Republic
Rogue Squadron (various X-wings): elite fighter squadron in New Republic
Talon Squadron (various X-wings): a fighter squadron in the New Rupublic

Trivia

The Sikorsky X-wing, an experimental helicopter/fixed-wing aircraft hybrid developed in the 1980s, was likely named for the fictional craft.
The name "X-wing Class" is said only once in all of the Star Wars movies (by an Imperial officer on Cloud City near the end of The Empire Strikes Back).
An X-wing can barely be seen in the background in The Star Wars Holiday Special, when Malla and Itchy contact Luke when he is working.
The only "official" X-wing, according to Lucasfilm, is a 3/4 scale replica built in 1996 to promote the re-release of the original trilogy. It is currently on long-term loan to the Wings Over the Rockies Air and Space Museum in Denver, Colorado.
George Lucas has stated in an interview that he would rather, if they were real, have an X-wing over a variety of other Star Wars objects, including the iconic lightsaber.

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