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Starfighter · Galactic Empire
TIE fighter
The Empire's mass-produced fighter: a ball cockpit between hexagonal panels, no shields, and a famous scream.
- Model
- TIE/ln space superiority starfighter
- Maker
- Sienar Fleet Systems
- Length
- 7.24 m
- Width
- 6.7 m
- Height
- 8.82 m
- Crew
- 1 pilot
- Top speed in atmosphere
- 1,200 km/h
- Speed in space
- 100 MGLT
- Shields
- no
- Armament
- 2 laser cannons
Galactic EmpireFirst OrderCompare on the scale
Overview
The TIE fighter is the starfighter of the Empire. A small round cockpit hangs between two large hexagonal panels, and the whole craft is built around a pair of ion engines — TIE stands for Twin Ion Engine[6]. Sienar Fleet Systems builds the standard model, the TIE/ln space superiority starfighter[7].
It is a fighter made to be replaced. A standard TIE has no shields, no hyperdrive and no life support, and the Empire treats its pilots as expendable[2][7]. What it offers instead is speed, numbers and a simple, mass-produced design[6].
TIE fighters turn up across Imperial history: guarding Lothal in Star Wars Rebels, defending the Death Star, chasing the Millennium Falcon, and fighting at Scarif and Endor. The First Order brings the type back in the sequel trilogy, with shielded TIE/fo fighters and the two-seat TIE/sf[1][2][8].
Length 7.24 m
Width 6.7 m
How it flies and fights
The layout is stripped to the minimum. The cockpit pod carries the pilot and the twin ion engines, the two hexagonal panels collect solar energy to feed them, and a pair of laser cannons sits on the front of the pod[7]. The cannons are L-s1 low-temperature lasers, replaced by the newer L-s7.2 by the time of the Battle of Endor[7].
Without shields, the Empire relies on numbers: Star Destroyers and the Death Star send their fighters out in swarms[1][12]. The First Order keeps the shape but fits its TIE/fo with deflector shields, and its two-seat TIE/sf adds a rear gunner and a hyperdrive[2][8].
Who flew it
Iden Versio
Pilot
Leader of Inferno Squad, who flew a modified TIE/ln through the campaign of Star Wars Battlefront II[10].
Wedge Antilles
Pilot
As an Imperial cadet in Star Wars Rebels, he tried to defect from the Empire with Hobbie Klivian, with Vult Skerris on his tail[4].
Hobbie Klivian
Pilot
A cadet at Skystrike Academy who defected from the Empire alongside Wedge Antilles in Star Wars Rebels[4].
Vult Skerris
Pilot
One of the Empire's best TIE pilots and later an instructor at Skystrike Academy; he flew a TIE interceptor and, later, TIE defenders[4].
Poe Dameron
Pilot
The Resistance pilot who stole a TIE/sf from the First Order's Finalizer with Finn and flew it to Jakku[5].
Finn
Pilot
A First Order stormtrooper, FN-2187, who freed Poe Dameron and helped him steal the TIE/sf, manning its rear gun[5].
Chronicle
Key moments in the ship's life, in story order. Spoilers stay hidden until you mark the title as watched in the timeline.
-
5 BBY
In Star Wars Rebels, TIE fighters operate from Lothal's Imperial airfield and chase the crew of the Ghost early in the series[1].
-
≈ 2 BBY
Cadets Wedge Antilles and Hobbie Klivian try to defect from Skystrike Academy, helped by Sabine Wren, while Vult Skerris gives chase[4].
-
0 BBY
TIE fighters from the Star Destroyers and the shield gate attack the rebel fleet over Scarif[1].
-
0 BBY
Spoiler from Episode IV — A New HopeShowyou've watched it
TIE fighters launch from the Death Star to stop the rebel X-wings and Y-wings. Darth Vader and his two wingmen hunt Luke Skywalker down the trench[1].
-
3 ABY
Episode V — The Empire Strikes Back
After the Falcon slips away from Hoth, TIE fighters pursue it into the asteroid field[1].
-
4 ABY
Episode VI — Return of the Jedi
Spoiler from Episode VI — Return of the JediShowyou've watched it
TIE fighters and interceptors swarm the rebel fleet at Endor. Most are destroyed when the second Death Star falls[1].
-
34 ABY
Episode VII — The Force Awakens
Finn frees Poe Dameron and the two steal a TIE/sf from the Finalizer. A missile hits it, and it crashes on Jakku[5].
-
34 ABY
Episode VII — The Force Awakens
First Order TIE/fo and TIE/sf fighters attack Maz Kanata's castle on Takodana, and later defend Starkiller Base against the Resistance[8].
-
34 ABY
Spoiler from Episode VIII — The Last JediShowyou've watched it
First Order TIE/fo and TIE/sf fighters attack the Resistance's last ships and then its base on Crait[8].
Where it flew
- LothalImperial TIE fighters are based at Lothal's airfield and defend the planet in Star Wars Rebels.
- JedhaTIE fighters fly over the occupied holy city of Jedha in Rogue One.
- ScarifTIE fighters attack the rebel fleet during the Battle of Scarif.
- Yavin 4TIE fighters launch from the Death Star to meet the rebel attack in the Battle of Yavin.
- EndorTIE fighters and interceptors fly against the rebel fleet around the second Death Star.
- JakkuFirst Order TIEs strafe Niima Outpost and chase the Falcon; Poe and Finn crash a stolen TIE/sf in the desert.
- TakodanaFirst Order TIE fighters attack Maz Kanata's castle on Takodana.
- CraitFirst Order TIEs hunt the Falcon and the Resistance's ships over Crait.
Where to see the TIE fighter
Films, series and games with the TIE fighter, in story order.
Obi-Wan KenobiSeries · 2022Ten years after the fall of the Jedi, Obi-Wan Kenobi leaves his exile on Tatooine to rescue young Leia.
AndorSeries · 2022–2025Cassian Andor goes from a thief to a rebel as the Empire tightens its grip — the story of how the Rebellion was born.
Star Wars RebelsAnimated series · 2014–2018The crew of the starship Ghost takes on the Empire, and young Ezra Bridger discovers the Force.
Rogue One: A Star Wars StoryMovie · 2016A band of rebels led by Jyn Erso sets out to steal the plans of the Death Star.
Episode IV — A New HopeMovie · 1977Farm boy Luke Skywalker, smuggler Han Solo and Princess Leia take on the Empire and its Death Star.
Episode V — The Empire Strikes BackMovie · 1980The Empire hunts the rebels across the galaxy, while Luke trains with Jedi Master Yoda.
Episode VI — Return of the JediMovie · 1983The rebels attack the second Death Star, and Luke faces Darth Vader and the Emperor.
Battlefront IIGame · 2017
Star Wars: SquadronsGame · 2020
Star Wars Resistance — Season 1Animated series · 2018–2019Young pilot Kaz Xiono goes undercover on an ocean refueling station to spy on the First Order.
Episode VII — The Force AwakensMovie · 2015Thirty years after the fall of the Empire, the scavenger Rey and the stormtrooper Finn are drawn into the war with the First Order.
Star Wars Resistance — Season 2Animated series · 2019–2020Kaz and the crew of the Colossus flee the First Order across the galaxy.
Episode VIII — The Last JediMovie · 2017Rey seeks out Luke Skywalker, while the Resistance tries to escape the First Order's fleet.
Episode IX — The Rise of SkywalkerMovie · 2019The final chapter of the Skywalker saga: Rey, Finn and Poe make their last stand against the First Order.
Variants
TIE/fo (First Order)
Looks like the Imperial TIE but adds deflector shields, improved solar cells and higher-capacity converters. It is 6.69 metres long[2].
TIE/sf (First Order Special Forces)
A two-seat version of the TIE/fo: a rear gunner works a heavy laser turret and missile launcher under the pod. It adds stronger shields, a Class 2 hyperdrive and an ejector seat[8].
Rebels-era TIE fighter
The TIE seen in Star Wars Rebels is drawn slightly bigger, at 8.99 metres long, and some carry extra torpedo or EMP equipment[1][11].
Behind the scenes
- George Lucas gave sketches of the ship to Ralph McQuarrie and Colin Cantwell. Cantwell's concept model set the ball cockpit and hexagonal panels, Joe Johnston added detail, and Lucas later called the final design 60% his own and 40% Cantwell's[6].
- ILM made the original models small and light so one person could handle several. They were first blue, then painted grey to film better against bluescreen, and kept clean on purpose because TIEs were meant to be mass-produced and replaceable[6].
- Sound designer Ben Burtt built the TIE scream from an elephant call blended with a car driving on wet pavement. The howl rises and falls as a fighter rushes past, then drops in pitch as it leaves[9].
Did you know
- A single standard Imperial Star Destroyer carries 72 TIE fighters of different models, which is why they appear in such swarms[12].
- TIE pilots wear sealed flight suits and helmets, because the fighter has no life support of its own[7].
- The First Order's TIE/fo adds shields because the First Order treats its pilots as key assets, where the Empire treated them as expendable[2].
TIE fighter: questions and answers
How big is a TIE fighter?
A standard Imperial TIE fighter measures about 7.2 by 6.7 by 8.8 metres, so it is smaller than a city bus (about 12 metres) in every direction[6][10]. The First Order's TIE/fo is similar, at 6.69 metres long[2].
Same fleet
Sources
- TIE Fighter — StarWars.com Databank
- First Order TIE Fighter — StarWars.com Databank
- Imperial Pilots — StarWars.com Databank
- Vult Skerris — StarWars.com Databank
- Poe Dameron — StarWars.com Databank
- TIE fighter — Wikipedia
- TIE/ln space superiority starfighter — Wookieepedia
- TIE/sf space superiority fighter — Wookieepedia
- The sound of the TIE fighters — Far Out Magazine
- Iden Versio's TIE — Wookieepedia
- Rebels TIE fighter — Wookieepedia
- Imperial I-class Star Destroyer — Wookieepedia