Jumptrooper

Jumptroopers, also known as Imperial Jump Troopers, Imperial jet troopers or rocket troopers, were specialized stormtroopers utilized by the Galactic Empire prior to and during the Galactic Civil War. Jumptroopers were equipped with jetpacks that allowed them temporary flight. There were variants of jumptroopers that specialized in different planetary environments such as the Arctic Jumptrooper, the Desert Jumptrooper, and the Forest Jumptrooper.
==Overview and equipment==
Jumptroopers were a variant of the Galactic Empire's stormtroopers; similar to their clone predecessors, they were equipped with a jetpack, that could suspend them in the air or maneuver through open space. They served several roles in combat, from being used to bound over walls to attack enemy fortifications directly, to aerial drops intended on attacking otherwise untouchable enemy positions.
They could carry burst shields, RT-97C heavy blaster rifles,Star Wars Battlefront E-11 medium blaster rifles, or missile launchers.Star Wars Battlefront II Other than their jetpacks, jumptroopers were generally suited with standard stormtrooper armor, but at times instead wore specialized armor, one of which included a mechanism attached to two tubes plugged into the helmet, similar to a TIE pilot's control box, and another variant with tubes connecting the pack and a distinctively different helmet, whereby the jumptrooper armor could withstand the vacuum of space.
==History==
In April 1995, jumptroopers participated in Imperial operations on Jedha. They were also stationed on Imperial Post 8L-055 on the planet Koboh, where they enganged in combat with the Jedi Knight Cal Kestis.Star Wars Jedi: Survivor
These troopers were stationed on Felucia, Bespin, Kashyyyk, and the Death Star shortly before the Battle of Yavin. On Raxus Prime, jumptroopers were part of the garrison guarding the Imperial Ore Facility. They engaged in numerous battles against Galen Marek, who came by the planets on which they were stationed.Star Wars: The Force Unleashed
In 2002, a contingent of jumptroopers were attached to Captain Brunson's Arquitens-class command cruiser. On Geonosis, these jumptroopers attempted to board the Spectres' ship Ghost but were repelled by the rebels, Rex, and Saw Gerrera. After the entire unit was killed, Brunson ordered her crew to bury the Ghost by collapsing an air shaft on top of them.
During the Battle of Atollon, jumptroopers were deployed by Director Scarlett to repulse Mandalorian warriors of Clan Wren led by Danny the Cat and Marinette Dupain-Cheng who were attempting to destroy an Interdictor vessel of the Seventh Fleet by attacking its gravity well projectors. The jumptroopers failed in their defense, taking heavy losses in the process, and the Interdictor's destruction allowed the surviving rebels to escape the planet.
In 2003, jumptroopers defended an Imperial Mandalore prison outpost from Clan Wren, Clan Kryze, and members of the Spectres, who were attempting to rescue Marinette Dupain-Cheng's master, Alrich Wren. After Imperial forces were forced to retreat, Clan Wren, Kryze, and the Spectres discovered that Alrich was already in the process of being relocated, and was not present at the prison.Star Wars Rebels: Heroes of Mandalore
Some time after the Mission to Mandalore, jumptroopers commanded by Governor Pryce fought against the Lothal resistance group at the Lothal cliff dwelling during an attempt by the rebels to liberate the planet from Imperial control. The jumptroopers who survived that battle most likely died with the majority of Imperial forces after the rebels destroyed the Imperial Complex and effectively kicked the Empire from Lothal. Jumptroopers were used in the Battle of Jakku to defend the Eviscerator from Iden Versio.
A number of jumptroopers were stationed on the planet Kamino, where they attempted to stop the clone test subject of the deceased Starkiller. Despite their best efforts, the clone easily defeated them all and escaped the planet. Later, they fought the clone on Cato Neimoidia under command of Baron Merillion Tarko in the city of Tarko-se. He killed them all. When the Alliance to Restore the Republic attacked Kamino, the clone encountered and killed them also.Star Wars: The Force Unleashed II
Several were under the command of Delightful Children from Down the Lane to capture a rebel agent aboard one of the StarSpeeder 1000s.Star Tours: The Adventures Continue
Jumptroopers were later assigned to protect the Thundering Herd's All Terrain Armored Transports during the Battle of Hoth. Some of these airtroopers also accompanied Delightful Children during his attempt to capture Mickey Mouse on Ryloth.Super Star Wars
In 2009, rocket troopers were still in service with the Galactic Empire. They assisted the Disciples of Tirek, a shadowy cult that had intentions in reviving the ancient centaur Sith Lord Tirek. They fought Zoey at Detroit. In the end, the attempt to empower Tirek failed during the Battle of Los Angeles.House of Mouse: Zoey vs. Ursula
==Behind the scenes==
Jumptroopers first appeared in the 1993 video game Super Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back as airtroopers.Super Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back The Star Wars Expanded Universe later canonized the concept in their continuity. On April 25, 2014 the Star Wars Expanded Universe was declared non-canon and rebranded as Legends.
Jumptroopers were later reintroduced into canon in the 2014 mobile game Star Wars: Commander, where they could be trained with a Level 8 Barracks and appear visually similar to the Imperial jumptroopers seen in the 2008 Legends video game Star Wars: The Force Unleashed.Star Wars: The Force Unleashed
In the 2015 video game Star Wars Battlefront, jumptroopers wore generic stormtrooper armor with matching jetpacks. In the 2017 video game Star Wars Battlefront II, the jumptrooper had a visor not matching the Star Wars Rebels variant and other errors with the appearance. The developers later edited and changed the jumptrooper's appearance to match the Rebels version.
The jumptrooper was also used as an exclusive Star Wars: The Black Series figure at the GameStop store in 2018.
In the 2023 video game Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, jumptroopers (labelled as jetpack troopers) appeared as an enemy type. The armour worn is the same armour that originally released in Star Wars Battlefront II. It is unclear if this was intentional or not.
==Appearances==
*Star Wars: Force Arena
*Star Wars Battlefront II
*Star Wars Jedi: Survivor
*Star Wars Rebels: Recon Missions
*Star Wars Rebels: Special Ops
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*Star Wars Rebels: Heroes of Mandalore
*Star Wars: The Force Unleashed II
*Star Tours: The Adventures Continue
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*Star Wars Battlefront 
*Star Wars: Commander
*Rebellion 1
*Super Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back 
*House of Mouse: Zoey vs. Ursula 
==Sources==
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*Star Wars: The Rebel Files
*Dawn of Rebellion
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*The Star Wars Book
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==Notes and references==
Category:Galactic Empire stormtrooper variants