RZ - 2 A - wing starfighter The RZ - 2 A - wing starfighter , also known as the RZ - 2 A - wing interceptor , was a wedge - shaped starfighter manufactured by Kuat Systems Engineering after the success of the former RZ - 1 A - wing interceptor used by the Alliance during the Galactic Civil War . The RZ - 2 incorporated and standardized years of RZ - 1 field modifications by the Rebellion , along with making the chassis slimmer and longer to yield even more speed . As such , piloting the ultra - fast yet temperamental starfighter was a matter of pride for various Resistance pilot s regarding their skills and daring . Characteristics . The RZ - 2 was a single - seat starfighter manufactured by Kuat Systems Engineering . The ship featured a liquid - cooled flight computer , hyperdrive , deflector shield ing , and port gyro stabilizer . The two upright stabilizers at the rear of the ship were adjustable for atmospheric flight , and were made of corrugated carbo - plas , a strong but lightweight material . The front of the ship featured a small " slit , " which served as a towing slot used to maneuver the craft in hangar or on the ground . Manning the cockpit was room for a single pilot , who was protected by a reinforced canopy augmented with a cockpit deflector shield generator . A cargo storage area in front of the cockpit held survival gear and medical supplies . For armaments , the ship featured two Zija GO - 4 laser canon s attached to a swiveling cannon mount . This allowed pilots to target enemies behind them without having to worry that the finicky mounts would jam in the rear - facing position — a chronic problem that crippled many Rebel RZ - 1s until they returned to base for maintenance . Two concussion missile launchers , fired through depressed exits along both sides of the ship , held enough space to house six missiles per launcher , giving the pilot a total of twelve concussion missile s to use . Like its RZ - 1 predecessor , the RZ - 2 was ideal for missions requiring speed : hit - and - run raids , surgical strikes on capital ships , and intelligence - gathering missions . The RZ - 2 improved on its predecessors ' capabilities , with more powerful sensors for faster data collection and upgraded jammers to impede detection . However , one of the more noticeable changes from the RZ - 1 was a streamlined chassis , which not only delivered more speed but also made the starfighter ' s notoriously sensitive control system slightly more forgiving in flight . History . The RZ - 2 A - wing starfighter rose out of the stunning performance of the Rebel RZ - 1 during the Galactic Civil War . With the original RZ - 1 based on Kuat Systems Engineering ' s original R - 22 Spearhead , the company resurrected its forgotten prototype to create the RZ - 2 . The RZ - 2 incorporated and standardized years of Rebel field modifications , made the chassis slimmer for more speed , and featured generations of improvements to its many systems . By the time the RZ - 2 was used by the Resistance during their war with the First Order , it was already decades old . With the New Republic cutting A - wing production to a minimum , the Resistance acquired several fighters to be used for everything from reconnaissance patrols to bomber escort missions . As with the previous generation of Rebels , Resistance pilots took pride in proving they had the skills and daring to master the ultra - fast , yet temperamental , starfighter . One notable example of the RZ - 2 being used was during the evacuation of D ' Qar , in which they were pilot ed by Blue Leader Tallissan ' Tallie ' Lintra and Zizi Tlo . Behind the scenes . The first footage of the RZ - 2 A - wing was shown in the teaser trailer on April 14 , 2017 . They later appeared in the video game " Star Wars Battlefront II " .