Low Altitude Assault Transport The Low Altitude Assault Transport ( LAAT ) , also known as the " LAAT " - series gunship nicknamed " Larties " by some clones , was a gunship series used by the Grand Army of the Republic during the Clone Wars . The series was produced by Rothana Heavy Engineering . Development . The LAAT was an engineering masterpiece that took years to produce . The Kaminoans had to overcome many tasks that faced them from new weapon designs to stability . They used repulsorlift turbines located in the wings and base of the transport to provide stability against the anti - aircraft weapons deployed by the CIS . They also created a new weapon that would bring mass damage to the battle field , an ion repeater that created a beam to slice through buildings and people . The problem with this was that it constantly overheated . However , the Kaminoans developed a solution consisting of side mounted and wing mounted turrets that were controlled manually with their own mass drive engine . This meant that the weapon wouldn ' t overheat the main engine . Characteristics . Uses . The LAAT series of gunships was designed to transport and support up to 30 clone troopers in combat . It also had a rear hangar that could hold up to four speeder bikes for reconnaissance operations or search - and - rescue missions . Early LAAT were in - atmosphere - only vehicles , requiring their transporting cruisers to land somewhere on the planet or at least enter its atmosphere in order to launch . Later versions allowed the gunship to fly through space and actually be used for boarding in ship - to - ship battles . Some versions of the gunship included bacta tanks for medical transportation . Sometime after the First Battle of Geonosis , an Alpha - Class Arc Trooper / Special Ops gunship was introduced with a new paint style , increased maneuverability and more flight time . Weapons . The gunship ' s many weapon systems were designed for both air - to - air combat and air - to - surface support . Against long - range or slow / fixed targets the LAAT used two mass - driver missile launchers ( atop the craft ) which held a variable payload depending on the mission . Four light air - to - air missiles hung below each wing ( eight in total ) for any in - flight targets . Four composite - beam pinpoint laser turrets - two manned by clone troopers , two remotely controlled by the co - pilot / gunner ( one on each wing ) - had a wide field of rotation and could serve in both air - to - air and air - to - ground operations . Three anti - personnel turrets ( two at the front , one in the rear ) supported further ground operations by ensuring a clear path for the deployment of troops or vehicles . Performance . The LAAT proved excellent in its performance . It was so maneuverable , in fact , that only the most mobile of enemy craft could keep one in its sights . Even experienced pilots found it impossible to avoid its numerous weapons . These gunship made their debut at the First Battle of Geonosis , where they proved critical in gaining air superiority and securing victory for the vastly outnumbered Grand Army of the Republic . Throughout the Clone War , the LAAT was used in countless battles for transportation and air support . Variants . The most common LAAT - series model was the LAAT / i , an infantry transport and mobile gun platform used throughout the Clone Wars . The LAAT / i could carry up to 30 clone troopers into combat , although they were also used to deploy recon scouts in advance of a battle . Variants were modified to carry additional military speeders or deploy larger war machines , such as walkers , onto the battlefield . Later versions of the LAAT / i replaced the door - side gunnery balls in favor of larger doors to maintain pressurization of the interior . This allowed the gunships to be dropped from an orbital cruiser and fly in space , rather than needing the cruiser to enter the atmosphere . This allowed for much faster and stealthier troop deployment . In addition to the LAAT variants , there were several other gunship models that both pre - and post - dated them and were designated with similar acronyms . Most notable were the AIAT / i gunship , the VAAT / e transport , and the HAET - 221 gunboat . LAATs continued to be used well into the era of the Galactic Civil War ; for example , during the Kamino Uprising , where clone anti - Imperial troopers and Kaminoans attempted to escape the planet in these transports . It was also used in small numbers by the Alliance to Restore the Republic as a troop transport . Behind the scenes . In " " , an Odionate gunship appears that is very similar to a LAAT ( nearly 1000 years before the Clone Wars ) . In the beginning of " Dark Empire " , a crashed vehicle that resembles an LAAT can be seen in the panel where the hyperspace wormhole first touches down on Coruscant . In " " the LAAT / i Gunships were misidentified as " Gunship Fighters . " In " " , the LAAT was classified as a space drop ship , probably modified . The design for the LAAT is largely based on that of the Soviet / Russian helicopter gunship . The real - world gunship also fulfills the dual role of ground attack and troop transport . The fighting style of these gunships appears similar to that of another real - life helicopter , the in the Vietnam War . In Star Wars Galaxies , players can obtain one as a part of the TCG Expansion released on March 16th , 2010 . It comes in the form of a Speeder in the game .