X-Wing
- This article is about X-Wing. For other uses see X-Wing (disambiguation).
If the TIE Fighter is the most recognizable symbol of the Empire, the X-wing is its counterpart in the Rebel Alliance. Derived of the Republic era Incom Corporation’s Aggressive ReConnaissance-170 starfighter, the T-65BX-Wing was supposed to transition to the Imperial Fleet as its main starfighter. Tarkin’s influence with the Emperor and his proposal of a new military grand plan that matched his Majesties own designs switched the more reliable X-Wing to the mass produced TIE Fighter. Behind the scenes, Incom Corporation did not stop producing the units, selling to local defense forces that were secretly being diverted over the many rebel fleets.
The T-65b was armed with four lasers, positioned on the ends of its variable wings, that opened to the familiar X profile, providing more distance between the additional stabilizer surfaces and opening a bigger cannon targeting spread. It possess hyperdrives, shields, a tougher armor and more firepower than the TIE Fighters, the only offset being its higher cost. In the elongated cockpit, two general use launchers carried by default six proton torpedoes.
During the peak of its activity in the Galactic Civil War, the Emperor’s Hammer utilized the X-Wing starfighter in the fabled Infiltrator Wing. Nowadays its use is reduced to only four flights operating from the MC-90 Calamari Cruiser Renegade.