TIE/rb heavy starfighter

The **TIE/rb heavy starfighter**, more formally known as the **TIE reinforcement battery heavy starfighter**, and simply known as the **heavy TIE fighter**, **TIE Brute**, or the **Infiltrator** was a variant of the TIE line starfighters used by the Galactic Empire, distinguished by its extra pod housing more powerful laser cannons.

## Characteristics

 File:TIE Heavy Starfighter.png
The TIE/rb heavy starfighter was an Imperial craft of the TIE line.

Unlike the regular TIE/LN starfighter, it was equipped with life support and a pressure controlled cockpit. As the fighter was theorized to be a larger target, the viewport was made of extra-reinforced transparisteel.

## History

The prototype was created by Sienar Fleet Systems in response to the Empire's expansion into the Outer Rim Territories. A designer at SFS led a team in trying to arm the standard TIE model with the heavier H-s9.3 cannons, which it could not handle. The weapons were then placed in an outrigger pod, becoming the basis for the TIE brute.

Some Imperial admirals were wary of its development, believing it would reduce the need for larger support vessels. Like all TIE models, they were manufactured by Sienar Fleet Systems, and featured twin ion engines and micro-corrugated solar collector panels, with the power being transferred via a conduit located between the panel and the engine systems. The pilot was assisted by a droid intelligence system, which acted in a similar manner to an astromech counterpart.

At least three of the starfighters were assigned to the Kullgroon garrison. They were deployed during the uprising on the planet led by Captain Lando Calrissian and the natives. They were all shot down by L3-37 flying the starship *Millennium Falcon*.

 File:TIEBrute-SaS.png
Cadet Han Solo, during his time at the Carida Academy, was assigned to fly a TIE Brute aboard a *Cantwell*-class Arrestor Cruiser as part of Onyx Squadron. His ship was damaged during a fight with pirates and crashed in the landing bay, leading to a tribunal.

In 10 BBY, one such fighter was again deployed to chase the *Millennium Falcon* inside the Akkadese Maelstrom and was the last surviving TIE Fighter pursuing the *Falcon* until Solo, now an outlaw, used a maneuver he learned from a street racer on Corellia, causing the TIE/rb to crash.

Following the Galactic Civil War, the Imperial successor state known as the First Order used a similar model of fighter during their own war with the Resistance.

## Behind the scenes

The TIE/rb was first revealed in the very first look at the *Star Wars Anthology Series* film *Solo: A Star Wars Story*, the "Big Game" TV spot released during Super Bowl LII.

Its design, done by James Clyne, was originally proposed for *Star Wars*: Episode VII *The Force Awakens*. It was added to *Solo* when the crew decided they needed a "leader" TIE fighter. One of its nicknames was the "Bubba" TIE.

## Appearances

* *Solo: A Star Wars Story*
* *Solo: A Star Wars Story: Expanded Edition* Template:1stID
* *Solo: A Star Wars Story: Expanded Edition* audiobook
* *Solo: A Star Wars Story Adaptation* 5
* *Han Solo - Imperial Cadet* 1
* *Han Solo - Imperial Cadet* 2 Template:Hologram
* *Han Solo - Imperial Cadet* 3
* *Lando - Double or Nothing* 5
* *Star Wars: Starfighter Missions*
* *Star Wars: Commander* Template:1st
* *Star Wars* (2020) 1

## Sources

* Template:SW
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* Template:SWYoutube
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* *Solo: A Star Wars Story The Official Guide*
* *The Art of Solo: A Star Wars Story*
* *TIE Fighter Owners' Workshop Manual* Template:1stID
* *Ultimate Star Wars, New Edition*
* Template:BuildXWingCite
* *The Star Wars Book*
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* Template:ShipsandVehiclesCite
* Template:Databank Template:1stID

## External links

* Template:Youtube

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1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Cite error: Invalid `<ref>` tag; no text was provided for refs named `Databank`
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Cite error: Invalid `<ref>` tag; no text was provided for refs named `TIE Manual`
3. ↑ *Starships and Speeders*
4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Cite error: Invalid `<ref>` tag; no text was provided for refs named `TOG`
5. ↑ Cite error: Invalid `<ref>` tag; no text was provided for refs named `USW`
6. ↑ *Lando - Double or Nothing* 5
7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 *Solo: A Star Wars Story: Expanded Edition*
8. ↑ *Starships and Speeders*
9. ↑ Cite error: Invalid `<ref>` tag; no text was provided for refs named `Solo`
10. ↑ Template:SW
11. ↑ *The Art of Solo: A Star Wars Story*