TIE / vn space superiority fighter The TIE / vn space superiority fighter , also known as the TIE silencer , was an angular variant of the TIE line starfighter s used by the First Order . A product of Sienar - Jaemus Fleet Systems , its aggressive design and equally impressive firepower was specifically crafted for use among the most elite members of the First Order . As such , the fighter was engineer ed for speed and handling , though lesser pilot s were still often overwhelmed and unable to maintain control of the nimble ship . Characteristics . As an advanced prototype starfighter , the TIE / vn incorporated the latest First Order military innovations , including experimental stealth gear meant to foil sensors and tracking . It featured a hyperdrive , a deflector shield generator and projector , and was powered by a starboard reactor . Twin ion thrust arrays at the rear of the ship acted as its engines . Along its wings were solar collector arrays , which featured a corrugated surface to maximize energy absorption . The ship itself featured a flight computer and could be modified to include customized flight controls for a single pilot , who entered the ship through a cabin access hatch at the top of the vessel . Working at hidden Sienar - Jaemus facilities , First Order designers reconfigured the weapons package of the TIE / sf to incorporate advances in power storage and energy conversion . For the TIE / vn , the TIE / sf ' s power cell spokes were replaced by a next - generation array protected beneath the hull , with shorter runs for trunk lines and converter coils . Rather than replicate the TIE / sf ' s ventral turret , the silencer relocated its missiles and heavy cannons to the wing apertures , giving the pilot superior targeting and a wider field of fire . Targeting sensors were also located in the wing aperture . Laser bolts were contained in a magnetic field bubble . History . The pedigree of the TIE silencer traced back to the Galactic Empire ' s TIE / D Defender , a hybrid fighter - bomber that never saw widespread use in the Galactic Civil War . The ship was revived by First Order technicians who saw it as a versatile attack craft to throw at New Republic forces . The TIE / sf space superiority fighter was an early attempt to bring heavier weapons to the battlefield along with the next - generation power capabilities needed to support them — improvements later incorporated into the silencer . It featured other design similarities to the Empire ' s TIE / IN interceptor and TIE Advanced x1 . Kylo Ren utilized his own TIE silencer . His detailed post - flight reports allowed Sienar - Jaemus techs to refine the onboard systems , with an eye towards the day when shipyards were to begin mass - producing silencers for the regime ' s frontline units . Another test pilot by the name of Blackout also flew the TIE silencer . Although instead of battle - field - testing , the pilot flew over a classified planet where the environment was the true enemy . Behind the scenes . The TIE / vn space superiority fighter was created and developed for , the eighth film in the " Star Wars " saga , which released on December 15 , 2017 . The ship was officially revealed on " The Star Wars Show " on July 19 , 2017 . The TIE silencer was named by the Lucasfilm Story Group ' s Pablo Hidalgo . Although Hidalgo initially considered the name " TIE vendetta , " he eventually decided on the name " TIE silencer , " but kept the old name ' s initials ( " / vn " ) in the full technical name . The TIE silencer first appeared in the non - canon video game " " on November 9 , 2017 . The TIE silencer was included in the video game " Star Wars Battlefront II " , which was released on November 17 , 2017 ( its canon ical debut in the " Star Wars " franchise ) .