Ship TIE/D "Defender" Fighter/Bomber

[Noctyr]

TIE/D "Defender" Fighter/Bomber

AFFILIATION
Open Market

MANUFACTURER
Sienar-Jaemus Fleet Systems

CLASS
Starfighter/Bomber Hybrid

ROLE
Interceptor/Fighter Bomber/Attack Craft

COMPOSITION
Titanium, Quadanium, and Transparisteel

DIMENSIONS
Length - 9.2 meters
CREW
1 Pilot

PASSENGER CAPACITY
N/A

CARGO CAPACITY
95 kilograms

HANGAR CAPACITY
N/A

CONSUMABLES
1 Standard Week

SPEED/MANEUVERABILITY
The TIE Defender has a top speed of 115 MGLT and excellent handling characteristics.

ARMAMENT

• 6x Medium Laser Cannons
• 2x Medium Ion Cannons
• 2x General Purpose Warhead Launchers (4x Proton Torpedoes or 4 concussion missiles each)

EQUIPMENT

• 1x ejection seat
• Class 2 Hyperdrive
• 1x ejection seat
• 1x light deflector screen generator

DESCRIPTION​

"If they're actually building these in numbers, our pilots won't stand a chance."
"And neither will the Rebellion."
―Hera Syndulla and Kanan Jarrus

The TIE/D Defender, commonly known as the TIE Defender and referred to as the TIE Defender project when it was in development, was an advanced experimental TIE line starfighter manufactured by Sienar Fleet Systems for the Imperial Navy of the Galactic Empire. Unlike previous TIE models, the starfighter featured a hyperdrive as well as deflector shields, and was easily recognized by its three wings mounted around an aft section of the cockpit. These specifications made the fighter much more difficult to destroy than standard TIE fighters.

The TIE Defender was considered a fighter-bomber; it was armed with heavy cannons and missiles. The ship was introduced as a result of Grand Admiral Thrawn's new fighter initiative at the Imperial Factory on Lothal in the year 2 BBY, launched to deal with the growing rebel threat, and was supported by both Grand Moff Wilhuff Tarkin and Emperor Palpatine. As the project was to be less expensive than Project Stardust, and due to the constant delays of Director Orson Callan Krennic, many Imperials started to consider using the fundings of Project Stardust for Thrawn's TIE/D Defender instead. However, after Governor Arihnda Pryce destroyed Lothal's fuel depot to kill Jedi Knight Kanan Jarrus, the project was halted indefinitely.

Although it never saw widespread use during the Galactic Civil War, many of its design features were later incorporated into the TIE/sf space superiority fighter and TIE/vn space superiority fighter of the First Order, the Empire's successor.

Reintroduced into the galactic market in an attempt by Sienar-Jaemus Fleet Systems to regain market share with it's advanced features and to serve as a sort of "halo model" for the rest of the current TIE lineup still in production, the TIE/D is now being manufactured in a slightly watered down state, the expensive and powerful heavy laser cannons having been replaced with medium ones, and the tractor beam generator having been removed.

LEGALITY​

Restricted. Civilians are generally not permitted to own starbombers such as the TIE/D without extensive licensing. Even with this, the type receives heavy scrutiny from most authorities. Recognized military and paramilitary organizations may have an easier time of it.

INTENT​

To create a high-end fighter/bomber.

 

[AutoFox]

So, the TIE/D does not have bomb chutes or tractor beams in either canon or legends. Canon tech must match canon specifications as closely as possible.

Also, you do not have to list engines in the equipment.

 

[Pippa]

@AutoFox The TIE/D canon Wookipedia page does list a "Tractor beam projector" as the last of it's armaments in the armaments section. You are correct that despite being listed as a Fighter-Bomber it has never been listed as having bombs. I believe its warhead projectors and what they are armed with that make it a "bomber".

 

[Noctyr]

Ok! I’ll remove the bomb chute.

As for matching canon as closely as possible...wookiepedia states it has 6 HEAVY laser cannons, and judging by how easily it was able to shrug off laser cannon fire in SW Rebels, likely a medium class deflector shield. Shall I make those edits as well?

 

[Pippa]

Ok! I’ll remove the bomb chute.

As for matching canon as closely as possible...wookiepedia states it has 6 HEAVY laser cannons, and judging by how easily it was able to shrug off laser cannon fire in SW Rebels, likely a medium class deflector shield. Shall I make those edits as well?

The heavy classification is because of 1 line ezra says, the ls9.3 are also on the TIE/IN and are not heavy there, bear in mind we are nearly 150 years since this ship was made, what may have been heavy once may not be any-more. (The lazer cannons on the First order TIEs are several versions later than the LS9.3 and are also still medium).

 

[AutoFox]

For balance reasons, I would like to limit fast starfighters like this to medium laser cannons. And, while it may be canon (good catch, @Pippa ), I'm honestly not sure of the feasibility of a tractor beam on a starfighter, either. I would write it off as something the prototypes had, not anything that made it into the final production version. For the same reason, I'd prefer if you changed the warhead launcher to a concussion missile launcher.

Also, for uniformity with other starfighter profiles, I ask that you change the maneuverability to "excellent."

 

[Noctyr]

Removed the tractor beam generator and made the laser cannons medium. Maneuverability was changed to excellent.

I looked more closely at Wookieepedia, and added the following in an attempt to remain close to canon. Removing the tractor beam generator was actually technically in line with canon, as the Wookieepedia entry states that it was an option add-on.

The warhead launchers have been specified to take either 3x proton torpedoes, or 4x concussion missiles, just like the canon version. I know it isn't exaaaactly as you wanted it, but would this be okay?
2 x medium ion cannons have been added to be in-line with the canon depiction

 

[AutoFox]

I'm fine with the ion cannons, however I'd be happier if you had the warhead launchers use a uniform number of projectiles with either load-out, 4 torpedoes or 4 missiles.

 

[Noctyr]

Altered the warhead launchers to be uniform in projectile capacity.

 

[AutoFox]

Approved.