Alpha - 3 Nimbus - class V - wing starfighter / Legends The Alpha - 3 " Nimbus " - class V - wing starfighter , often simply known as the V - wing starfighter or Nimbus fighter , was a short - ranged starfighter deployed late in the Clone Wars by the Galactic Republic . V - wings were some of the more recent spacecraft in the Republic Navy , and frequently filled the role as combat support ships . The small silhouette , high speed , and great agility of this fighter made it hard to target and a very effective ship despite its small size . They were later succeeded by the Imperial TIE Fighter and its variants , as well as the Rebel RZ - 1 A - wing interceptor , all of which incorporated aspects of the V - wing into their designs . Characteristics . The Alpha - 3 " Nimbus " - class starfighter was a sturdy , wedge - shaped starfighter similar to the Delta - 7 " Aethersprite " - class interceptors used by the Jedi Order . It was manufactured by Kuat Systems Engineering , the same company responsible for both the Delta - 7 fighter and its successor , the Eta - 2 " Actis " - class interceptor . Both the Delta - 7 and the Alpha - 3 models were designed by the engineer Walex Blissex , who would later co - design the Rebel Alliance ' s A - wing fighter with Jan Dodonna . The V - Wing featured folding wings similar to those fitted on the later Eta - 2 interceptors . But when landing , the wings fold downward to form as landing gear . On each wing was a radiator panel which helped aid in heat disposal during combat . Nestled between each wing and the hull were two twin laser cannons , which could swivel on the vessel ' s wing hubs to provide a wide range of fire . Some models were equipped with Flak gun s and Proton bombs . Aft of the starfighter ' s main hull were two deflector shield heat sinks , located above the two vertically stacked ion drive thrusters . These flaps also provided some protection for the V - wing ' s clone pilot . In keeping with the design of the Delta - 7 , the Alpha - 3 featured an astromech droid socket aft of the oval cockpit . V - wing pilots were often assisted by spherical Q7 - series astromech droid s which provided in - flight navigation and maintenance skills that would otherwise require a copilot — which the compact V - wing could not accommodate . However , later incarnations of the V - wing used by the Galactic Empire omitted the astromech , with the pilot as the only occupant . In addition , some later incarnations utilized a similar engine to the later TIE Series , resulting in it having a similar engine roar to its successors . The V - wing starfighter was too small to feature an integrated hyperdrive , and like their jedi - owned counterparts , it required transportation into combat zones by carriers such as the Venator - class Star Destroyers . Additionally , V - wing fighters were also capable of using Syluire - 45 hyperspace transport rings to go long distances like the Eta - 2 and both Delta - 7 models . The clone troopers who flew the fighter had specially adapted helmets . These helmets , along with their flight suits , were fully sealed due to the lack of a life support system . These suits allowed them to survive in space after ejection . History . V - wing fighters were often unleashed from warship hangars in large swarms , and were one of the most numerous starfighters in the Republic Navy late in the Clone Wars . They were most frequently deployed from Venator - class Star Destroyers and were typically the primary fighter aboard these vessels . While they lacked the power of the ARC - 170 starfighter , they made up for it in raw speed and agility . There were produced in limited numbers until 19 BBY . V - wings were speedy and evasive targets , even for the advanced droid tri - fighters used by the Confederacy of Independent Systems in the last days of the Clone Wars . Mass - produced for Loyalist forces , V - wings participated in large - scale fleet operations and assisted in the defense of Republic worlds during the Clone Wars . V - wing starfighters flew into battle alongside ARC - 170s and Eta - 2 interceptors during the Battle of Coruscant , fighting off droid tri - fighters , " Vulture " droids , and deadly buzz droids , with some even getting as far as the Separatist flagship , " Invisible Hand " , although many were lost to enemy fire . Following the end of the Clone Wars , V - wing squadrons flew under the banner of the Galactic Empire . Three V - wings , flown by elite pilots , escorted the self - appointed Emperor Palpatine ' s shuttle during his voyage from Coruscant to Mustafar and again on the return trip , culminating at the Emperor Palpatine Surgical Reconstruction Center . These elite V - wings were modified for hyperspace travel and equipped with upgraded shields . In the early stages of the New Order , new V - wing models were commissioned . The new models of the V - wing star fighter were repainted with a black stripe . These craft featured Imperial livery and lacked an astromech droid . The pilots wore a completely black jump suit and a black helmet . These star fighters usually escorted the Emperor ' s shuttle and imperials of importance . At least several V - wings would fall into the hands of the Rebel Alliance during the Galactic Civil War . Eventually , private organizations , such as the Hutt Cartel , used V - wings after salvaging them . They were also used by the Mandalorians around the Battle of Yavin during a skirmish with the Zann Consortium . In 13 ABY , they were one of many Clone Wars - era vehicle used by the Restored Empire faction of the Empire . Behind the scenes . Rob Coleman originally considered showing TIE Fighters at the end of " " , but Lucas decided to show V - wing starfighters instead , pointing out that the Empire would have nineteen years to build TIEs . As a reference to TIE fighters , however , they have very similar engine sounds , as can be heard towards the end of the film when two V - wings escorting Palpatine ' s shuttle fly to his medical center , or when several pairs of V - wings are seen patrolling the area where construction of the Death Star is beginning . In the games " " and " " , the V - wing is depicted as a heavy bomber with shock cannons and proton bombs rather than the fast interceptor craft that it has been established as in other sources . Although this portrayal of the ship is likely considered non - canon , it was done regardless as the fighter and interceptor roles for the Republic faction were already filled , leaving the V - wing to take on the bomber ship class . Surprisingly , the ARC - 170 , which has a role of bomber in other sources , does not have that same role in " Battlefront II " — it is given the multi - purpose fighter role , likely for the purpose of creating continuity with its better - known descendant . The V - wing was also a ship in which players of the now closed MMO " Star Wars Galaxies " could fly as their personal ship . However , it was a very rare ship as it was only available as a loot card in the " Squadrons Over Corellia " trading card game booster packs . Due to the rarity of this ship in " Star Wars Galaxies " it was highly sought after by pilots who actively took part in player versus player content in space . A V - wing can be found on Raxus Prime in " " on the Nintendo DS version of the game . In the video game " " , V - Wings are used by pirate space forces , however their icon is the same of that of the Z - 95 Headhunter ' s . This is fixed in the sequel . In " " , during the Mission to Mandalore , there are V - wings used by the Mandalorians that have ion cannons . The LEGO set " 6205 V - Wing Fighter " was released in 2005 as part of the " Star Wars Episode III : Revenge of the Sith " line . It included a clone pilot and Q7 - series astromech droid Minifigures . In the newer line of LEGO Star Wars products in January of 2011 , a new set called the " 7915 Imperial V - Wing Starfighter " was released . This set includes a black version of the V - wing fighter , and Imperial Pilot and R2 - Q2 minifigures . Another LEGO release of the Republic V - wing came out in January 2014 , with a clone pilot and an unnamed astromech droid as Minifigures included in the set . When Hasbro designed the V - wing action vehicle , the folding wings were not fully incorporated into use as landing gear as was shown in " Revenge of the Sith " .