Starfighter A starfighter , also referred to as a fighter , was a small and maneuverable spacecraft designed for combat in the atmosphere or space . Certain models of bomber s , gunship s , transport s , light freighter s , shuttle s , trainers , and atmospheric fighter s could be considered starfighters as well , and often fulfilled many of the same functions . Although the term was most commonly applied to starships , it could also include certain low - altitude airspeeder s . Classifications . Starfighters often had some degree of overlap with other ship classes , as well as a few distinct sub - classes . Bomber s were starships designed to carry heavy ordnance payloads , often at the expense of maneuverability and straight - line speed . Interceptor s represented a range of starfighters that usually emphasized speed and agility over versatility and firepower , sometimes at the expense of ordnance payloads , life support , or hyperdrive capabilities . Gunship s were heavily - armed vehicles designed to deploy ground forces in landing zones created by their heavy weaponry . Their heavy armament often granted them considerable air - to - air or space - to - space combat capabilities , despite being optimized for air - to - ground combat . Certain classes of starfighters could be modified to trainers while still retaining combat capability . Certain classes of transport s , shuttle s , and light freighter s , although more commonly used to move cargo and passengers around , could also pack considerable armament and maintain a degree of maneuverability . The common trait possessed by all of these classes is their heavy armament in relation to their small size . History . Early years . Starfighters had been an integral part of space - based combat for millennia , seeing action as early as the days of the Old Republic . However , with the formation of the Galactic Republic and the millennium of relative peace that followed , large - scale battles between opposing space - based combatants were completely unheard of . Invasion of Naboo and Separatist Crisis . In 32 BBY , the Jedi Order operated the Delta - 7 " Aethersprite " - class light interceptor , but primarily used them for personal transport instead of space combat . That year , N - 1 starfighter s of the Naboo Royal Space Fighter Corps engaged and defeated the Trade Federation ' s " Vulture " - class starfighters during the latter ' s invasion of Naboo . A number of N - 1s remained combat capable all the way through the end of the Cold war . The Vulture droids also had a long lifespan , with some remaining operational in the Age of the Empire . Also around that time , Darth Maul operated the " Scimitar " , a customized Star Courier that was also a formidable starfighter . It remained in service of the Sith Order well into the Imperial era . Towards the end of the Separatist Crisis , Jango Fett owned and operated " Slave I " , a customized " Firespray - 31 - class patrol and attack craft " . After his death at the Battle of Geonosis , his son Boba took possession of the ship and continued using it until at least 3 ABY . Clone Wars . During the Clone Wars , the Jedi continued utilizing the old Delta - 7s , but also developed the Delta - 7B " Aethersprite " - class light interceptor and Eta - 2 " Actis " - class light interceptor . The clone trooper pilot s under their command flew Low Altitude Assault Transport / infantry gunship s , V - 19 Torrent starfighter s , Y - wing starfighter s , Aggressive ReConnaissance - 170 starfighter s , Clone Z - 95 starfighter s , and Alpha - 3 " Nimbus " - class V - wing starfighters . Grand Master Yoda operated his own customized " Actis " - class fighter . Skull Squadron , a Mandalorian unit serving the Republic , flew Fang fighter s . At the conclusion of the Clone War , some of the Republic starfighter classes would be inherited by the Galactic Empire , while others would be decommissioned and fall into the hands of the rebellion . Others would be discarded entirely , seeing almost no military service after the conclusion of the war . The Separatists , which opposed the Republic in the Clone War , mainly used " Vulture " - class droid starfighter s built for the Trade Federation . Later , to counter increasingly capable and diverse clone fighters , the Confederacy manufactured and deployed droid tri - fighter s , " Hyena " - class bombers , and HMP droid gunship s . The Separatists also built manned fighters for their organic commanders , such as " Rogue " - class starfighters , Belbullab - 22 starfighter s , and " Ginivex " - class fanblade starfighter . Geonosian forces , which allied themselves with the Confederacy , flew " Nantex " - class territorial defense starfighters , while the Umbaran Militia flew their indigenous Zenuas 33 Umbaran starfighter s . The Zygerrian Slave Empire , which allied itself with the Confederacy , had a small force of Hutt ese HH - 87 Starhopper s , which saw action against Republic forces on Kadavo . Death Watch , a Mandalorian splinter group allied to the Confederacy , operated " Kom ' rk " - class fighters , which doubled as transports and bombers . After falling out of Count Dooku ' s favor , Death Watch would pledge their loyalty to Darth Maul ' s Shadow Collective , but would continue to use the ships in battle . After the conclusion of the war , many of the starfighters used by the Confederacy ' s regular forces survived the Clone War and were used by rebels fighting against the Empire . Age of the Empire and Rebellion . At the conclusion of the Clone War , the Imperial Military inherited some of the starfighter classes of the Republic Navy . By the time of the Galactic Civil War , however , it was reliant on the TIE line . This new generation of vehicles , powered by twin ion engine s , were developed from technology used in the older Republic starfighter and transport classes . These craft included the famous TIE / ln space superiority starfighter , TIE Advanced v1 , TIE / sa bomber , TIE Advanced x1 , TIE / IN interceptor , TIE / D Defender , TIE / sk x1 experimental air superiority fighter , and TIE Reaper . The Empire also deployed VT - 49 Decimator s on occasion as bomber s . In addition to Imperial use , numerous TIE / LNs were given to the Mining Guild and converted to Mining Guild TIE fighter s . Imperial TIEs would occasionally fall into rebel hands , and the rebellion made good use of these opportunities . Out of sheer desperation for any equipment they could obtain , the rebellion operated numerous starfighter classes from a variety of sources . Bail Organa ' s rebel network operated RZ - 1 A - wing interceptor s as early as 18 BBY . The Free Ryloth movement used old Separatist droid starfighters in 14 BBY . Berch Teller ' s rebel cell also used Separatist fighters , in addition to Z - 95 Headhunter s . Beginning around 5 BBY , the Spectres made use of the " Phantom " , a customized Corellian VCX - series auxiliary starfighter that doubled as a shuttle and scout craft . The Spectres eventually joined Phoenix Cell , which utilized A - wings and a small number of RZ - 1T trainer s , which were A - wings converted into two - seat trainers . Jan Dodonna ' s unit made use of decommissioned Republic Y - wings , which served as multi - role fighter - bombers . Later , the loose - knit network of rebel cells morphed into the better - organized Alliance to Restore the Republic , which continued to operate a fairly rag - tag collection of whatever equipment they could acquire . The Rebel Alliance Starfighter Corps made use of A / SF - 01 B - wing starfighter s , E - 50 Landseer s , converted HWK - 290 freighter s , T - 47 airspeeder s , T - 65B X - wing starfighter s , T - 65C - A2 X - wing starfighter s , UT - 60D U - wing starfighter / support craft , V - 4X - D ski speeder s , and at least one YT - 1300 light freighter , in addition to some of the older classes . Additionally , the rebellion made use of stolen TIE fighters in desperate situations . Many starfighter types used by the various rebel groups continued to see action with the New Republic . A number of starfighter classes were used by private security forces , such as the Storm IV Twin - Pod cloud car s used by the Bespin Wing Guard . Post - Endor . In its early days , the New Republic continued to operate the rebellion ' s old starfighter classes , and even continued stealing TIEs when the need arose . Beginning in 5 ABY , the New Republic operated the T - 70 X - wing fighter , which was an upgraded version of the T - 65 . They also operated RZ - 2 A - wing starfighter s . By the time of the cold war , the New Republic Defense Fleet had retired all of the older starfighter classes ( as well as some of the newer ones , such as the B - wing Mark II ) in favor of the T - 85 X - wing . The Resistance ' s Starfighter Corps continued using T - 70s donated by sympathetic senators . They also made use of a small number of single - seat A - wings and a few Z - 95 Headhunters for covert opertions . On occasion , Resistance personnel would steal First Order TIEs , just like their Rebel predecessors had 30 years before . The First Order Navy continued the TIE line that the Empire had begun , with the new models upgraded to modern combat standards . This new generation of TIEs included the TIE / fo space superiority fighter , the two - seat TIE / sf space superiority fighter used by the Special Forces , and the TIE / vn space superiority fighter used by Kylo Ren .