Lambda - class T - 4a shuttle The " Lambda " - class T - 4a shuttle , also known as the Imperial Lambda , Imperial Transport or the Imperial Shuttle , was a multi - purpose transport with a trihedral foil design used by the Galactic Empire during the Galactic Civil War , and was considered an elegant departure from the standards of brutish Imperial engineering . The shuttle s were often used by high - ranking Imperial officer s and such dignitaries as Darth Vader and Emperor Sheev Palpatine , but were more commonly found ferrying stormtrooper s or cargo . Description . A hyperdrive - equipped multi - purpose transport , the " Lambda " - class T - 4a shuttle was developed by Sienar Fleet Systems for use in the Imperial Navy . Measuring 20 meters in length , the " Lambda " - class could attain a max speed of 850 kph , and was one of the more common Imperial ships found throughout the galaxy — along with its nearly - identical counterpart , the " Sentinel " - class landing craft . It had three wings : one tall , dorsal stabilizer that remained stationary , and two lower articulated flanking wings . While in flight , the wings would fold outwards for greater stabilization , while during landing procedures the wings would fold inward , reducing the vessels silhouette . This triangular shape was considered elegant and a departure from the Empire ' s usually crude designs . Although " Lambda " - class craft could be flown by a single pilot , the presence of a copilot / navigator made it much easier , especially when traveling through hyperspace . Additionally , in order to prove that the shuttle crew was working for the Empire , " Lambda " - class T - 4a shuttles utilized special transponders to transmit secret codes to Star Destroyer s . Despite the elegance of the " Lambda " - class ' s outer design , the inside of many shuttles often reeked of stale sweat owing to the numerous perspiring stormtrooper s they hauled across the galaxy . Moreover , bored troopers were known to scratch their operating number s on every available surface . A well - armed vessel , the " Lambda " - class T - 4a shuttle was equipped with two forward - facing double laser cannons , two forward - facing wing - mounted double cannons , and a retractable rear - mounted double laser cannon . History . The Imperial " Lambda " - class shuttle was the conceptual and engineering offspring of the " Nu " - class transport , a versatile craft that saw use during the Clone Wars . Even the top members of the Empire ' s hierarchy , including Emperor Palpatine himself and his Sith apprentice Darth Vader , traveled in their own private " Lambda " - class T - 4a shuttles ; with the Emperor ' s shuttle distinguished by a gray stripe on its nose . During the Battle of Jakku , " Lambda " - class shuttles acted as evacuation shuttles from downed Imperial vessels , as well as troop transports to deliver Imperial ground forces to firefights across the surface . During the battle , New Republic pilot Norra Wexley and the former Grand Admiral Rae Sloane used a " Lambda " - class shuttle while tracking down Gallius Rax . Decades later , the Empire ' s first true successor state , the First Order would borrow design philosophies exuded from the " Lambda " - class T - 4a shuttle into their newer " Upsilon " - class command shuttle .