BTL - A4 Y - wing starfighter The BTL - A4 Y - wing starfighter was the one - man version of the BTL - S3 starfighter model . Characteristics . The Koensayr BTL - A4 Y - wing starfighter was crewed by a single pilot . The 16 - meter - long attack starfighter had an ArMek SW - 4 ion cannon turret which was preset to one of four arcs and was typically locked forward , although some pilots chose to lock it facing aft for extra cover . Easily modifiable , the variant boasted much greater endurance ( as much as three times greater ) over its earlier predecessor , but was penalized with less powerful deflector shields and loss of accuracy in the ion cannons . The loss of shield power provided a boost in engine power , but the combination proved insufficient and the Y - wing variant developed a poor reputation among its pilots , and the starfighter was said to move like a " sleepy Hutt . " Although slow for ship - to - ship combat , it was still capable of engaging other craft , and the Y - wing was excellent when used for planetary bomb ing runs . The wedge - shaped cockpit and Guidenhauser ejection system was placed on the front of the craft , with the central spar containing the Novaldex power generator extending behind it . Thiodyne 03 - R cryogenic power cells and ionization reactor supplemented the Novaldex generator . Two 2 Koensayr R200 ion jet engines , rated at 250 KTU and capable of 100 MGLT were attached to either side of the spar . The engines had exhaust nacelles and support pylons , and the Fabritech ANx - y long - range sensor array with PA - 9r long range phased tachyon detection array and PG - 7u short range primary threat analysis grid were placed in protective composite domes on the front of the nacelles . The craft also had a Fabritech ANc 2 . 7 tracking computer with SI 5g7 " Quickscan " imaging system , and a Subpro NH - 7 flight control avionics package . Y - wings also carried supplies for one week in 110 kilograms of weight . The R300 - H Class 1 hyperdrive was at the rear of the spar . The Chempat shield generator was also located on the spar . Three repulsorlift engines aided in maneuvering . The weapons were located in the cockpit : two Taim & Bak IX4 or KX5 laser cannons along with two Arakyd Industries Flex Tube proton torpedo launchers each with a magazine of four torpedoes . The Y - wing could also carry 20 proton bombs . The factory - fresh starfighters featured armor - plating around the central spar and the engines . Technicians eventually kept the panels removed to facilitate repairs . Squadron markings were placed on the cockpit and the forward tips of the engine nacelles . History . Development . The BTL - A4 Y - wing attack starfighter traces its lineage back to the Clone Wars and the BTL - B Y - wing starfighter used by the Galactic Republic . After the war , the starfighter was put into service by Planetary Security Forces . As the resource - strapped Rebel Alliance started to grow its resistance against the Galactic Empire , Y - wings started to be used more often , becoming the Rebel ' s primary starfighter . The starfighters were brought into use by defecting Planetary Security Forces pilots , liberated from Imperial storehouses , or outright bought from pirates or unscrupulous governors . Y - wings were used since the earliest battles of the Galactic Civil War . A squadron joined in the assault on the major Imperial cloning centers on Kamino in 1 BBY . During the battle , Starkiller rode on the outside of one piloted by the future ace Wedge Antilles for a short time . Battle of Yavin . As the BTL - S3 became the primary Y - wing variant of the Rebel forces , the A4 was still kept in many units as a supplementary craft . Despite the existence of the BTL - S3 , the BTL - A4 variant of the Y - wing was favored by Red and Gold Squadrons , and served with distinction in many major battles . They were the starfighter intended to destroy the first Death Star during the Battle of Yavin . Flown by Gold Squadron , a trio of Y - wings were the first to launch a run into the trench to their target , an exhaust port leading to the main reactor , although the pilots were all shot down . Eventually , Luke Skywalker , in an X - wing , succeeded in hitting the target . After the Battle of Yavin , the starfighters were assigned to less dangerous missions . Height of the Galactic Civil War . Members of Rogue Squadron flew the BTL - A4 on strikes against Imperial targets , including the Kile II spaceport assault and the destruction of the capacitor on Sullust . After the Battle of Hoth and between 3 ABY and 4 ABY , Rogue Squadron used Y - wings on a mission to The Maw , and Antilles used one to bomb the Imperial ground forces and the hull of the crashed " Imperial " - class Star Destroyer " Motivator " that was holding the CR90 corvette " Razor . " Antilles also flew one during a battle at Dubrillion to destroy a superlaser threatening a Rebel fleet . During that same time period , Rebel pilot Ace Azzameen also flew the A4 Y - wing on missions , including a mission along with the Bothans Blue Squadron . The Bothans , sympathetic to the Rebellion and flying S3 Y - wings , participated in the capture of the Imperial freighter " Suprosa " during the raid to capture a supercomputer containing the plans to the second Death Star . More Y - wings were destroyed than any other Rebellion starfighter . The Y - wing was supplanted as the Rebellion , and later New Republic ' s , assault starfighter by the B - wing and K - wing starfighters . Behind the scenes . The Y - wing is based off concept art made by Ralph McQuarrie . The starfighters seen in the first " Star Wars " film , " " , were models produced by Industrial Light & Magic and filmed against bluescreens . There is a discrepancy between two sources concerning the internal size of the main laser cannons . Y - Wing blueprints created during production of Star Wars : Episode IV show the internal laser cannons ending before the pilot ' s feet , whereas in " " they continue throughout the entire cockpit . " " erroneously labels the A4 as the S3 version , as does " . "