BTL-S8 K-Wing

The Koensayr BTL-S8, known to crews as the "K-Wing", was a heavy assault craft in service with the New Republic from 16ABY onwards. Though no longer in service with frontline New Republic squadrons, it has found a limited niche in private ownership, and in the Infiltrator Wing of the TIE Corps.

Overview

First introduced in 16ABY as a dedicated Heavy Assault craft, the K-Wing's primary mission profile was the precision bombing of planetary or orbital facilities, or the destruction of larger capital ships. It was also capable of undertaking armed reconnaissance or heavy escort missions as secondary roles, where required.

Built around a single wing that connected engine pods, cockpit and weapons systems, the K-Wing was powered by two powerful Ion Engines that accelerated it to speeds comparable to the Y-Wing despite its greater mass. A third engine, mounted above the wing, contained a Sublight Acceleration Motor (SLAM) much like that found on the Imperial Missile Boat. Early model K-Wings did not come equipped with Hyperdrives and required capital ship or carrier support to transport it on interstellar assignments.

Armed only with a twin laser cannon for self-defence, the K-Wing is not truly a starfighter. Its firepower is tailored to strafing or bombing large, armored or fortfied targets; a quad Turbolaser turret in the bow of the ship is the primary weapons system, with eighteen hardpoints for whatever ordnance is required for the mission. The K-Wing's weapons loadout is so complex that a dedicated Bombardier is required to handle the ordnance, and gunners for each of the turrets.

The only offensive use of the K-Wing by New Republic forces was during the Black Fleet Crisis of 16-17ABY. Since then, the K-Wing became something of a "Flimsi Nexu" in that while they existed, they were rarely deployed, with older but more tactically flexible B-Wings and (sometimes) Y-Wings conducting strike missions without requiring direct carrier support.