TIE/D Defender

"*If they're actually building these in numbers, our pilots won't stand a chance.*"
"*And neither will the Rebellion.*"
―Hera Syndulla and Kanan Jarrus - Rebels Episode An Inside Man
The **TIE/D Defender**, commonly known as the **TIE Defender**, was an advanced experimental TIE line starfighter manufactured by Sienar Fleet Systems for the Imperial Navy of the Galactic Empire. Unlike previous TIE models, the starfighter featured a hyperdrive as well as deflector shields, and was easily recognized by its three wings mounted around an aft section of the cockpit. These specifications made the fighter much more difficult to destroy than standard TIE fighters.

The TIE Defender was considered a fighter-bomber; it was armed with heavy cannons and missiles. The ship was introduced as a result of Grand Admiral Thrawn's new fighter initiative at the Imperial Armory Complex on Lothal in the year 2 BBY, launched to deal with the growing rebel threat, and was supported by both Grand Moff Wilhuff Tarkin and Galactic Emperor Palpatine. As the project was to be less expensive than Project "Stardust", and due to the constant delays of Director Orson Callan Krennic, many Imperials started to consider using the fundings of Project "Stardust" for Thrawn's TIE/D Defender instead. However, after Governor Arihnda Pryce destroyed Lothal's fuel depot to kill Jedi Knight Kanan Jarrus, the project was halted indefinitely.

Although it never saw widespread use during the Galactic Civil War, many of its design features were later incorporated into the TIE/sf space superiority fighter and TIE/vn space superiority fighter of the First Order, the Empire's successor.

## Characteristics

"*Looks like some kind of new TIE Interceptor, but this one has shields.*"
"*But TIE fighters never had shields before.*"
―Sabine Wren]] and Hera Syndulla - Rebels Episode An Inside Man

Like the rest of the TIE line starfighters, the TIE/D Defender featured a ball-shaped cockpit module and solar array wings. However, while the standard TIE/ln space superiority starfighter and many other TIE variants, including the TIE/IN interceptor and the TIE Advanced x1, had two parallel wings to either side of the pilot module, the TIE/D Defender had three wings mounted around an aft section of the cockpit. It also included deflector shields and a hyperdrive, new features for TIE fighters. The fighter was too fast for Y-wing starfighters and armed with six heavy laser cannons and concussion missiles—causing high damage over a moderate area. Some TIE/Ds featured six additional missiles and red markings on their wings, similar to some elite TIE interceptors.

As development of the TIE Defender progressed, a new, faster and stronger variant was produced, which was classified as the TIE Defender Elite, with the prototype being tested by Commander Vult Skerris. The speed and maneuverability of this craft was drastically increased compared to the earlier Defender prototypes, along with stronger shields, better hyperdrive, and the addition of six missiles mounted onto the wings.

***Details of the TIE/D Defender's history can be found on it's Wookiepedia entry.***

## Sources

1. ↑ Databank: TIE defender
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 Star Wars: Commander
3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Ultimate Star Wars
4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 Rebels Episode Secret Cargo
5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 5.6 5.7 Star Wars Encyclopedia of Starfighters and Other Vehicles
6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Star Wars: The Rebel Files
7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Rebels Episode An Inside Man
8. ↑ Star Wars: The Last Jedi: Incredible Cross-Sections
9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 Rebels Episode Flight of the Defender
10. ↑ Rebels Episode The Antilles Extraction