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Bomber · Rebel Alliance
B-wing
A blade-thin Rebel heavy assault fighter with a gyro-stabilised cockpit and a bomber's firepower.
- Model
- A/SF-01 B-wing heavy assault starfighter
- Maker
- Slayn & Korpil
- Length
- 16.9 m
- Crew
- 1 pilot
- Shields
- yes
- Armament
- 3 ion cannons · 1 heavy composite-beam laser cannon · 2 twin auto-blasters · 2 proton torpedo launchers
Rebel AllianceNew RepublicCompare on the scale
Overview
The B-wing is the Rebel Alliance's heavy assault starfighter. It has no ordinary fuselage: the whole craft hangs from one very long main airfoil, 16.9 metres from end to end, with a cylindrical cockpit at one end, an engine cluster in the middle and a weapons pod at the base[1].
Hand-built first as the Blade Wing prototype in Star Wars Rebels, it later goes into production at Slayn & Korpil as the A/SF-01[3]. A single pilot flies it from a gyro-stabilised cockpit[2]. B-wings join the attack on the second Death Star in Return of the Jedi and turn up again in Skeleton Crew[4].
Length 16.9 m
How it flies and fights
Firepower is the B-wing's job. Its weapons pod holds a heavy composite-beam laser cannon, and the rest of the load is three ion cannons, two twin auto-blasters and two proton torpedo launchers[2]. That is a bomber's armament for a single-seat ship, and deflector shields help it survive the approach[2]. The gyro-stabilised cockpit keeps the pilot steady while the rest of the craft manoeuvres[2].
Who flew it
Chronicle
Key moments in the ship's life, in story order. Spoilers stay hidden until you mark the title as watched in the timeline.
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≈ 4 BBY
Hera Syndulla goes to Shantipole, wins Quarrie's trust and flies the experimental Blade Wing through an Imperial blockade. Quarrie then gives it to Phoenix Squadron[3].
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4 ABY
Episode VI — Return of the Jedi
B-wings are among the Rebel fighters that attack the second Death Star over Endor, though they get only a short appearance on screen[4].
-
—
Spoiler from Skeleton CrewShowyou've watched it
Several B-wings and X-wings defend At Attin against the pirate invasion in the Skeleton Crew finale, the second live-action appearance of the B-wing[4].
Where it flew
Where to see the B-wing
Films, series and games with the B-wing, in story order.
Star Wars RebelsAnimated series · 2014–2018The crew of the starship Ghost takes on the Empire, and young Ezra Bridger discovers the Force.
Episode VI — Return of the JediMovie · 1983The rebels attack the second Death Star, and Luke faces Darth Vader and the Emperor.
Skeleton CrewSeries · 2024–2025Four kids from a quiet planet get lost in the galaxy and try to find their way home with a mysterious stranger.
Variants
Blade Wing prototype
Hand-built by the Mon Calamari engineer Quarrie on Shantipole, then tested and given to Hera Syndulla and Phoenix Squadron. Bail Organa later has Slayn & Korpil build the production A/SF-01[3].
Behind the scenes
- Joe Johnston and Bill George designed the B-wing at ILM for Return of the Jedi, where the crew called the two new Rebel ships the 'A fighter' and the 'B fighter'. George contributed so much that colleagues nicknamed it the 'Bill-Wing'[4].
- The thin shape disappeared against the blue screen used for the star field, so many planned shots were cut[4]. The name Blade Wing, and its builder Quarrie, a nod to concept artist Ralph McQuarrie, first appear in Star Wars Rebels in 2015[5].
B-wing: questions and answers
How big is a B-wing?
A B-wing is 16.9 metres long, longer than a city bus[1]. Most of that is its one long main airfoil, with the cockpit at one end and the engines and weapons pod slung from it[1].
Why is it called a B-wing?
It was the second of two new Rebel fighters designed at ILM for Return of the Jedi. The crew called them the 'A fighter' and the 'B fighter', and the names became A-wing and B-wing[4].
