AAL - 1971 / 9 . 1 Troop Transport The AAL - 1971 / 9 . 1 Troop Transport , also know as an Atmospheric Assault Lander ( AAL ) or First Order Transporter , was an armor ed troop carrier operated by the First Order , designed to ferry up to twenty stormtroopers from orbit al vessels to planet ary surfaces . Characteristics . The Sienar - Jaemus Army Systems ' s Atmospheric Assault Lander was a combat - zone rapid - deployment transport designed to ferry twenty stormtroopers into combat in less than thirty seconds . Measuring 17 . 83 meters in length , it carried an additional gunner and veteran TIE pilot . It featured a disembarkation ramp at the front of the vessel , where two squads of stormtroopers in a low - light troop compartment ( to preserve trooper ' s night vision ) would disembark as a bright spotlight above the ramp brightened the landing zone , dazzling the enemy in the process . Located directly behind the searchlight was a forward deflector augmenter and sensor array . On top of the front section of the craft , there was a troop compartment emergency hatch . The cockpit was located near the stern , and was so narrow that the pilot was required to stand when operating the lander . The transport was maneuvered by a single veteran TIE pilot in a small , rectangular space above the vessel to provide maximum visibility , but could be controlled via consoles in the crew compartment below — albeit with less precision . Assault lander pilots were not generally concerned by the exposed vantage point , but complained of the ship ' s lack of maneuverability compared to that of a starfighter . The lander had two pairs of robust landing gear underneath for hard landings , and had one ramp actuator on either side of the front to stabilize the craft when the ramp was lowered . The lower sides of the craft included atmospheric ducting , heat exchanger fins , atmospheric processing and life support systems , as well as the forward repulsor array used during landing . On the outside were two pairs of terrain sensors near the stern . Armament and defenses . A single stormtrooper gunner protected the lander during its final approach to the drop zone , scanning the terrain from an elevated dorsal turret mounting a F - Z0 antipersonnel blaster cannon . The turret provided a 240 - degree field of fire and could also be maneuvered from the crew compartment , while an elevating footplate raised the gunner into position . The blaster turret power cells were located in front of and beneath the gunner . A deflector shield generator was located on top of the craft , with a main forward deflector projector located slightly in front of it . Inside the prow was a forward deflector augmenter and sensor array for extra protection further up the front of the vessel , located behind the spotlight . Each lander had a smooth , armored hull that used voids of inert gas to dampen blaster bolt impacts , with additional external armor used to protect the engines from incoming fire . Stormtroopers were deployed the moment the boarding ramp was lowered , with a first group of troopers rushing out to establish a perimeter . To do this , the soldiers often used FWMB - 10 repeating blaster s , which offered a good cover fire . Two squads , consisting of 20 soldiers , would disembark in standard two - abreast formation , and could begin combat operations in as little as 30 second s , allowing the lander to evacuate the drop zone . The gunner would maintain his or her position until the drop zone was secured by the deployed troops , while the pilot acted as spotter to identify any threats . Propulsion systems . Each craft was powered by a reactor located in a sturdy reactor compartment in the rear , and featured four SJAS - 210 sublight ion engine s that were kept powered up during landings in the event rapid extraction was required . These engines required numerous reactant ducts and pumps and an acceleration compensator to function fully . Furthermore , to give the pilot greater control of the craft , electromagnetic thrust vectoring fins were stationed over the engines exhaust , and ion drive thrusters , an ion collision bar and ion acceleration chambers further improved the assault landers maneuverability . Additionally , several power cells were located underneath the engines , sheltered under the frame of the vessel . History . The Atmospheric Assault Lander was used by the First Order 30 years after the Battle of Endor . They were used to deploy stormtroopers to restore order to the Pressy ' s Tumble refinery complex in the Pressylla system . Two of the transporters were deployed on an assault platform during the search for the famed explorer Lor San Tekka . Commander Poe Dameron of the Resistance had access to one , labeled 226 , and he used it on the mission to discover Admiral Gial Ackbar ' s location after the admiral had been captured by the First Order . Dameron diverted to a planet to rescue the protocol droid C - 3PO . Just after the mission to Pressey ' s Tumble , four Assault Landers and Kylo Ren ' s command shuttle departed from the " Resurgent " - class Star Destroyer " Finalizer " and arrived at Tuanul , a village on Jakku , to discover information about Jedi Master Luke Skywalker ' s exile . The landers deployed multiple squads of stormtroopers , who proceeded to engage in combat with the villagers . The landers were also used to deploy strormtroopers to Maz Kanata ' s castle on Takodana in an attempt to secure BB - 8 , an astromech droid which had been given the information leading to Skywalker . Behind the scenes . The First Order Transporters appear in the 2015 " Star Wars " saga film . The shuttles appear in the LEGO short series " Poe to the Rescue " . After picking up C - 3PO , Poe Dameron uses it to travel to the " Finalizer " and rescue Admiral Ackbar .