Nantex - class territorial defense starfighter / Legends The " Nantex " - class territorial defense starfighter , also known as the beak - wing fighter or simply the Geonosian starfighter , was a model of starfighter that was manufactured by Huppla Pasa Tisc Shipwrights Collective and designed for the exclusive use of the Geonosians when guarding their territories against intruders . During the Clone Wars , these small , speedy craft would see service with the naval and land forces of the Confederacy of Independent Systems in a small number of key battles , including the campaigns of Sev ' rance Tann and the Battle of Muunilinst , as well as the First Battle of Geonosis itself that saw the opening shots of the galactic conflict . Characteristics . Design and construction . The " Nantex " - class starfighter was a lean , needle - nosed fighter craft that possessed great speed and a high degree of agility and was specifically designed for use by pilots of the Geonosian species , who were drawn from a specific pilot caste within their society . Designed and built by Huppla Pasa Tisc Shipwrights Collective , the starfighter ' s frame was , like many other types of Geonosian starship , made from thin strands of pliable laminasteel , a long metallic substance that was also used in constructing Geonosian hives . During the construction process , this material was heated , then wrapped around the assembled inner components of the fighter . When the laminasteel hardened , it produced a strong and flexible aerodynamic frame that could hold itself well against heavy impacts . Once the frame was complete , engineers would fit the craft with magnetic hardpoints to which were mounted the primary engines and weapon . These mounts were completely modular , which allowed for the addition of various other components that may be required to fulfill special missions ; these consisted of advanced sensor suites , booster rockets , or other additions . The primary engine orb was in a rotary socket , and in the center of this was an ignition chamber . High energy propellant particles were sent into the chamber and through a bottle field . The bottle field only allowed the highest velocity particles through the engine , leading to the ship ' s great speed . Avionics . The " Nantex " - class fighter possessed a complex set of multi - axis control yokes that required a Geonosian ' s considerable manual dexterity in order to properly handle . In addition to this , vital performance feedback and systems information were forwarded to the pilot via a scent - stimulator mask that took advantage of the Geonosians ' acute sense of smell ; this mask could also be used to fly the craft remotely . These design features made it all but impossible for members of other species to even fly the craft , let alone use it in a combat situation . A single Geonosian pilot sat within a small cockpit , his head protruding up from the main frame into a transparent bubble canopy , which allowed for an unobstructed 360 - degree field of vision . These pilots , raised in vast hives within their caste , were trained to hurl themselves at any enemy force with seemingly reckless abandon ; from birth , each pilot was melded with the systems of a specific beak - wing , ensuring a lasting counterpart - level relationship between the two . This allowed for vastly improved reaction time when in combat . Offensive and defensive systems . The fighter ' s main weapon was a turret - mounted laser cannon that was cradled between its forward needle - like mandibles and seated within a magnetic bracket . This turret shot amethyst laser bolts , and its emplacement was modular , allowing for other weapons , such as an ion cannon , to be switched in and out as circumstances dictated . In addition to the modular weapon assembly , the " Nantex " - class fighter was also lined with one hundred small , independently - aimed tractor beam and repulsorlift generators . These extra systems could be used to give the starfighter increased maneuverability while flying within an atmosphere , limit the mobility of enemy craft , or allow the laser bolts fired from the fighter ' s main weapon to be guided and fired off - axis . The " Nantex " - class ship was thought of as a " stealth " vehicle , since its engine and weapons systems emitted very little ambient glow for sensors to pick up . This was used to the Geonosians ' advantage when defending their home territory : whenever an intruding force threatened their homeworld , hordes of these craft would swarm out of the Geonosian asteroid field , ambushing any would - be attackers . History . Pre – Clone Wars roles . Prior to the onset of the Clone Wars , the Geonosians relied on the beak - wing starfighter as one of their primary defenses against unwelcome outsiders . The world of Geonosis was surrounded by a ring of asteroids that , while relatively stable , was made of many hundreds of thousands of individual rocks that ranged from the size of small pebbles to large bulk freighters , all of which served as superior positions from which to stage ambush raids . With their inherent maneuverability and the skill of their bonded pilots , Nantex fighters were able to negotiate the field in ways that other vessels could not . Battles during the Clone Wars . Many " Nantex " - class fighters were used during the opening stages of the First Battle of Geonosis . A number of these craft , accompanied by Vulture droid starfighters , were sent to intercept the " Acclamator " - class assault ship " Aken " , which was carrying thousands of clone troopers who were accompanying the Jedi Master Yoda ' s mission to rescue those Jedi fighting in the Petranaki arena in the wake of their attempt to rescue Obi - Wan Kenobi , Anakin Skywalker , and Padmé Amidala . As the battle wound down , a pair of these craft protected Count Dooku from the pursuing LAAT / i carrying Obi - Wan and Anakin , as he fled to his personal hangar ahead of the impending Confederacy rout . As the target of assassination by Delta Squad , the Geonosian lieutenant Sun Fac attempted to flee his homeworld aboard a " Nantex " fighter , but he was shot down by the clone commandos before he could get away . A large number of " Nantex " - class fighters served with the Confederacy forces that participated in General Sev ' rance Tann ' s campaign against the Galactic Republic , in which she was sent by her mentor , Count Dooku , to disrupt a secret project and acquire its results , the Decimator . On the worlds of Eredenn Prime , Tatooine , Alaris Prime , Sarapin , Aereen , and Krant , these craft would serve as air support for ground troops as well as a buffer force against the Republic ' s LAAT / is and Jedi - flown Delta - 7 interceptors . The campaign saw initial success for the Confederacy , but with the leadership of Jedi General Echuu Shen - Jon , the clone forces would ultimately triumph . This resulted in the death of Tann and the destruction of most of her forces . Though the Geonosians did not sell these fighters to outsiders , they were seen being piloted by InterGalactic Banking Clan - owned and operated OOM pilot battle droids during the Battle of Muunilinst in which swarms of them , deployed from orbital gun platforms , faced off against the clone - piloted V - 19 Torrent starfighters utilized by the Galactic Republic during the battle . " Nantex " - class starfighters were used to defend the primary droid foundry against the attacking Republic forces during the Second Battle of Geonosis . Late in the Clone Wars , " Nantex " - class fighters were part of General Grievous ' s task force during the General ' s attack on Belderone . By 3 BBY , a " Nantex " - class fighter had been abandoned on the scrapyard world of Raxus Prime . Behind the scenes . The " Nantex " - class starfighter was first created for use in , but it was first seen in the video game " " , which takes place just before and during the film . Within the game , these craft also mounted warhead launchers in addition to their laser cannons . Initially , the droid starfighter seen in Episode I was to be the primary air defense for the Separatists , but it was decided instead to give the Geonosians their own fighter craft . At one point , it was imagined that the fighter would be equipped with large sails , but that concept was instead folded into Count Dooku ' s solar sailer . When the air battle was cut , the fighter was instead slated to appear in a shot wherein a Republic attack gunship strafes a Geonosian airstrip , destroying the waiting craft . That shot was ultimately omitted . In the video game " " , the Nantex is presented as the " Fast Geonosian Fighter , " preceded by the Geonosian Fighter and succeeded by the Advanced Geonosian Fighter in the in - game tech tree for the Confederacy forces . The beak - wing , as featured in " " , is flyable by any class of in - game character ; this is likely gameplay mechanics . Although they are seen in " Attack of the Clones " and " Jedi Starfighter " flying upright , the Clone Wars series has depicted them as spinning constantly during flight rather than flying straight .