Cardan - class space station The " Cardan " - class space station was a series of defense stations built by Kuat Drive Yards in five distinct sizes . Characteristics . The " Cardan " - class space station was an orbital defense structure , built near a planet or strategic point in deep space in order to provide defense against attacks from space . The stations could house squadrons of TIE Series starfighters in their internal hangars and deploy them for additional defense . The " Cardan " - class stations were given identifying levels ranked accordingly to their defensive capabilities . A Mark I space station , for example , was very weak , and thus could be easily destroyed by an enemy fleet . A Mark V space station , however , required a large military force to overcome it . Standard defenses on these space stations included ion cannons , laser cannons , proton torpedo launchers , concussion missile launchers , and turbolaser batteries . " Cardan " - class stations also came equipped with shield generators and hangars full of starfighters , which provided additional defenses . Areas facilitating the needs of starfighter pilots and technicians were located throughout each section . Security sections were located near every hangar bay , in the upper parts of the walls . From here , security officers could deal with a situation isolated from the other areas . The starship repair and maintenance facilities were good enough to provide care for capital ships up to " Imperial " - class Star Destroyers . The repair facilities could also construct space ships on their own . All these additional modules , meant that Imperial warships could operate far from the Core without requiring large travels to be maintained . Besides the drydocks , there was also parking spaces for four other warships . All these extra innovations made the " Cardan " - class more versatile than other defense stations , like the Golan space defense platform s . History . These stations were first designed towards the end of the Clone Wars , as a means of protecting Republic worlds against encroaching CIS fleets . Several prototypes were built , and production got underway , but deployment of these defense stations didn ' t happen before the Republic had been replaced by the Galactic Empire . Mark I " Cardan " s were built first and placed throughout the Empire to help it defend its rimward systems and maintain order in the new regime . As pirates and crime rings invaded and infiltrated the structures , newer , bigger models with increased defensive systems were created at KDY and the engagements and illegal takeovers decreased . The success of the stations led to an improvement in the plans for future constructions , such as the Super Star Destroyers and the second Death Star battlestation . During its operation , a " Cardan " - class station was important enough to be able to call in reinforcements such as " Acclamator II " - class assault ships or " Tartan " - class patrol cruisers that were kept on patrol nearby . The stations could be found throughout the galaxy , in places the Empire had some kind of vested interest in . " Cardan " s were placed everywhere from the Deep Core to the Galactic Rim , with special focus on systems in the Mid Rim and Outer Rim . Also important was the protection of the hyperspace lanes . Stations were positioned in deep space at crossroads , such as the one between the Perlemian Trade Route and the Hydian Way . Whenever the Empire moved into new systems , " Cardan " s were often established to help maintain the Imperial presence .