BTL - S8 K - wing assault starfighter The BTL - S8 K - wing assault starfighter , commonly known as the K - wing , was a heavy starfighter / bomber . Characteristics . The K - wing assault starfighter was produced by Koensayr Manufacturing , the same company responsible for producing the venerable Y - wing . Like many other New Republic starfighters , the K - wing was designed to excel in a specific primary role in combat while retaining the flexibility to serve secondary functions if needed . The K - wing starfighter ' s primary missions included precision bombing of planetary targets , slow - moving capital ships , and spaceborne installations . It also performed secondary missions as an escort or reconnaissance ship . The hull design of the K - wing consisted of two primary wings attached to a fixed stabilizer . The two main ion engines located at the junction between the wings and stabilizer allowed the K - wing to achieve a sublight speed similar to the Y - wing , despite its larger size . An additional engine mounted along the centerline on the aft dorsal section of the stabilizer allowed the fighter to accelerate rapidly in short bursts , much like the SLAM system found on the Imperial Missile Boat . Unfortunately , the K - wing had no hyperdrive capability , and was always deployed from a capital ship . To fulfill its role in the New Republic Defense Fleet , the K - wing carried an unusually large arsenal for a vessel of its size . The hull had a total of 18 hard points , five on each upper wing and four on each lower wing , to allow technicians to arm the ship with a large variety of weapons including flechétte and concussion missiles , proton and other sublight torpedoes , thermal and other inertial bombs , small space mine s , and T - 33 plasma torpedo es . When attacked by enemy fighters , the K - wing could return fire with a short - range quad turbolaser turret with multi - stage lasers located at the fore and a medium - range twin laser cannon turret mounted on the top of its command module . Also , the K - wing could be outfitted with slugthrower cannons on the hardpoints for additional short - range firepower . Like most New Republic fighters , it was also equipped with a deflector shield . Due to its large weapons loadout , the K - wing required a bombardier . The pilot and gunner sat in cockpits on either side of the command section . In case of emergency , this module was able to detach from the rest of the ship to serve as an escape pod . History . K - wings were first deployed in combat by the New Republic during the Black Fleet Crisis . Throughout their service years , they were generally deployed in outsize squadrons , with three flights of six bombers a piece . Some " Viscount " - class Star Defenders were known to have K - wings in their hangar complements as an alternative to B - wings . During the Second Galactic Civil War , Commenor deployed K - wings for defense during the Battle of Commenor . Behind the scenes . Source discrepancies . While " The New Essential Guide to Vehicles and Vessels " describes the K - wing as mounting laser turrets for self - defense , in " The Black Fleet Crisis " , it is indicated that the fighter has no built - in armament whatsoever , and instead relies entirely on its wing hardpoints to carry weaponry . " The Black Fleet Crisis " also lists the K - wing ' s third engine as being below the other two and at a slight angle to help the K - wing pull out of a dive , making its placement in " The New Essential Guide to Vehicles and Vessels " unlikely . Other discrepancies include the arrangement of the wings and cockpit , with most visual sources using a pair of side by side cockpits , while the " Black Fleet Trilogy " refers to the pilot and bombardier sitting one behind the other . Starships of the Galaxy ( Saga Edition ) addresses all of these issues , with the laser armaments and side - by - side cockpit arrangement being identified as later modifications to the vessel , and the " turbolaser " designation being a non - technical use of the term .