Alpha - class Xg - 1 Star Wing The Cygnus Spaceworks " Alpha " - class Xg - 1 Star Wing , also known as the Xg - 1 Starwing or Assault Gunboat , was one of the Galactic Empire ' s first general - deployment starfighters to be equipped with deflector shields and a hyperdrive . Characteristics . The 10 - meter - long Xg - 1 was based on a tri - wing design similar to the " Lambda " - class shuttle , another craft that Cygnus Spaceworks designed . Like the " Lambda " shuttle , the Star Wing had a fixed dorsal wing flanked by a pair of lateral folding wings . When landing , the lower wings folded upwards . However , the Xg - 1 had a sleeker cockpit and warhead / engine pods along the side of the hull . It had two additional folding wings that protruded diagonally from the side pods , at an angle reflexive to the lateral wings . These secondary wings afforded the Xg - 1 significantly increased maneuverability over its shuttle counter - part . When in flight position , the wing configuration resembled a flatened five - point star , thus the name " Star Wing " . Its armament consisted of two chin mounted laser cannons , two ion cannons above the cockpit , and a pair of general purpose warhead launchers . The Star Wing could also carry the tractor beam weapon developed for the TIE Avenger and newer Imperial starfighters ; the only known use of this was during Maarek Stele ' s campaign in the Eva - T system to snare enemy craft . The standard payload was sixteen concussion missiles , eight per launcher , though depending upon the mission the Star Wing could alternatively carry twelve proton torpedoes , eight heavy rockets , or four heavy space bombs . Some Xg - 1s also carried Ion torpedoes . The Xg - 1 was a relatively large craft , which enabled it to accommodate a hyperdrive and deflector shields . However , it was not particularly fast and had an average level maneuverability , making it mediocre in space superiority . The starfighter also borrowed the standard reactor design from the TIE series , which , like those fighters , was mounted directly on the tail of the craft . Role . The Star Wing was equipped with a hyperdrive , which meant that it did not need the support of a Star Destroyer or other starfighter carrier . It proved very useful in conducting hyperspace raids against convoys and space stations , and also served in a reconnaissance capacity . The fact that it was armed with ion cannons made the Star Wing an ideal choice for capture operations or planetary customs duties . Its high magazine capacity made it a deadly bomber , as a squadron of Star Wings could penetrate most medium - sized capital ships ' shields with a single warhead salvo from each fighter . The Xg - 1 was famed for its resilience . Its powerful shields allowed it to engage foes at point blank range , enabling it more opportunity to inflict damage , whereas an unshielded craft would be forced to break off the attack . The Star Wing ' s reinforced hull could survive a direct hit from an advanced concussion missile , and several times these craft were able to return home safely despite being badly damaged . Pilots such as Maarek Stele , having previously flown TIEs whose best defense was speed and maneuverability , often took advantage of the Star Wing ' s defenses to press bold assaults . If the Star Wing was deployed into a combat zone directly by a Star Destroyer or carrier , its deflector shields enabled it to spearhead the attack and draw fire away from unshielded TIEs . One such rare deployment when Maarek Stele led other Imperial Navy starfighters at the final battle of the Conflict at Mylok IV . The Star Wing was designed and deployed to perform specific missions that standard TIE fighters were unable to complete . It was not planned for widespread production like TIEs , so it did not alter the Imperial doctrine of quantity over quality . ( The TIE Avenger and TIE Defender , however , were designed as high - quality alternatives to using swarms of cheap craft . ) History . The Star Wing did not prove overwhelmingly successful in its first independent deployments . As the Star Wing was the only hyperdrive - capable starfighter in the Imperial arsenal , there was initially no other space superiority craft available to escort it . The Xg - 1 was able to compare favorably against similarly heavy Alliance craft such as the Y - wing and the B - wing . However , against the more common X - wing and especially the nimble A - wing which it was often forced to engage , the Xg - 1 had a hard time . The Xg - 1 did have the advantage of stronger shields and armor to prolong its survival , but its comparative lack of speed prevented it from coming out on top . Consequently , Star Wings were often forced into lengthy dogfights with more maneuverable Alliance fighters , which detracted from their main mission goals . When the tractor beam weapon was developed , while it would have helped the Xg - 1 ' s chances against other starfighters , most flight officers opted to install what limited beam weapons they had on the TIE Avenger and other newer faster craft , where it would be even more effective . At some point , several Star Wings underwent servicing at the Naval Station " Validusia " . As a stopgap , Imperial flight officers decided that hyperspace raids should be conducted in two groups , with a squadron of missile - equipped Star Wings being pressed into the space superiority / escort role , and another group tasked with delivery of the warheads to their target , usually proton torpedoes , heavy rockets , or heavy space bombs . An example of this was the assault on the Rebel Mon Calamari Light Cruiser " Lulsla " , in which the Imperials succeeded . Once available , Star Wings were escorted by TIE Avengers — another class of Imperial fighter equipped with shields and hyperdrive . Because of the hyperspace capability of both classes , they could arrive in a system at the same time , catching Rebel patrols by surprise . As the Avengers proved excellent at space superiority , this enabled Star Wings to concentrate on their intended roles , whether that be capturing craft or assaulting capital ships . Successful Star Wing - Avenger partnerships included the capture of Admiral Harkov and the seizure of Galactic Electronics ' mag pulse weapons . The Xg - 1 was eventually overshadowed by the fast and versatile TIE Defender , which was virtually equal or superior in every aspect save for armor and cost . However , due to the traitor Admiral Demetrius Zaarin who threatened loyalist Avenger and Defender facilities , the loyalists were forced to resort to older craft . The Star Wing made a comeback in the Eva - T system to combat the rogue TIE Defender threat . The first was during the " trade " with the Rneekii pirates for the TIE Defender scientist ; the mutual exchange was actually an Imperial trap , but sending a newer starfighter would be provocative , and also because the Rneekii would underestimate the Gunboat . The Xg - 1 , however , was piloted by ace Maarek Stele , and it carried a full load of advanced concussion missiles and the new tractor beam weapon . In the following mission , Stele would take the Xg - 1 into battle against the Zaarin ' s TIE Defender and TIE Advanced fighters , where Stele used the tractor beam in conjunction with advanced proton torpedoes to great effect against much faster and more agile craft . Stele ' s ability and the inclusion of the latest technology in the Star Wing proved that it could prevail against overwhelming odds . The follow - up to the " Alpha " - class Xg - 1 Star Wing was the Missile Boat . Despite several innovations , notably a much larger warhead capacity and a sublight acceleration system , it lacked ion cannons so it was not a direct replacement . Three Xg - 1s participated in the disabling and capture of the " Strike " Cruiser " Nuance " , escorted by two Missile Boats . Other noted Star Wing - Missile Boat partnerships included the successive captures of the MC80 Mon Calamari Rebel cruiser " Link " and the rogue " Victory " Star Destroyer " Zeplin " . Behind the scenes . The Star Wing first made an appearance in " " , where it was known as the Assault Gunboat or simply Gunboat . It appeared midway through the main game ' s second tour of duty — in order to give the Imperial Navy a fighter with deflector shields . However , two ships had previously appeared in the cutscene after the first tour of duty , assisting AT - AT Walkers attacking a Rebel base on Orion IV . In " " , like the preceding " " , the craft is commonly named Assault Gunboat or Gunboat ( and abbreviated to GUN ) , although the official Xg - 1 Star Wing name does show up in the Combat Chamber introduction . Gunboats and Missile Boats were assigned squadron names " Tau " , " Mau " , " Mu " , " Nu " , and " Rho " , in contrast to TIEs which received the squadron names " Alpha , Beta , Gamma , Delta , " and " Theta . " In " Star Wars : Essential Guide to Vehicles " , Imperial Star Destroyers are stated to carry five " Alpha " - class Xg - 1 Star Wings , in addition to their standard complement of TIEs , shuttles , and landing barges . Possibly because of its equivalence to typical Rebel Alliance fighters , the Star Wing has received little to no mention outside of the " X - wing " computer game series . While exceptional Imperial fighters such as the TIE / D Defender have shown up increasingly in later Expanded Universe novels , the Star Wings are rarely depicted in such works . The Alpha - class Xg - 1 Star Wing is playable in Fantasy Flight Games ' . In the game , it has capabilities similar to the Missile Boat , particularly in its ability to use a SLAM .