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TIE Advanced x1

Craft: TIE Advanced x1 Prototype                      
Type: Starfighter
Length: 9.2 Meters
Weapons:
2 SFS L-s4 Laser Cannons
Crew: 1
Top Speed: 105 MGLT
Troop Capacity: N/A
Cargo Capacity: 150 Kilograms
Passengers: N/A

TIE Advanced x1 is the prototype starfighter used by Darth Vader at the Battle of Yavin and the basis for the frighteningly efficient TIE Interceptor. Vader was responsible for the death of many Rebel pilots in that assault. A well-placed shot from the Millennium Falcon's laser cannons destroyed one of Vader's wingmen. In the confusion that followed, the remaining wingman collided with Vader's ship, sending the Dark Lord spinning out of control into space.

The fighter flown by Vader was repaired when he reached an Imperial outpost. Vader had it with him on Terror, while overseeing the TIE Phantom project. When the Terror was destroyed by Rebel operatives, Vader escaped in his fighter. It was later stowed aboard Executor and was apparently vaporized when the ship collided with the Death Star II during the Battle of Endor, though at least one TIE Advanced x1 was involved in the space battle over the sanctuary moon. 

The TIE Advanced x1 is easily recognized due to its distinctive bent wings. Unlike all other TIE fighters, the prototype is equipped with a deflector shield generator and a modest hyperdrive system. The TIE Advanced is also armed with fixed twin heavy-blaster cannons, but has no life-support systems.

The target tracking system was also more sophisticated than the already formidable advanced targeting system on standard TIE craft, used to overcome the extremely powerful electronic jamming used by all combat craft to defeat target lock in battle. For best performance, the targeting system of the TIE Advanced x1 required frequent adjustment in combat.

Based on original Sienar designs and featuring a durasteel-alloy hull, elongated rear deck, and unique solar array wings, the TIE Advanced quickly became one of Darth Vader’s favored possessions. Like all TIE ships, the prototype’s propulsion system consisted of twin ion engines, although its solar ionization reactor was much more powerful than those of the standard TIE fighters. Despite the improved power supply, Vader’s TIE proved only slightly faster than the previous TIE models due to inefficient shield generators, which consumed a great deal of power, and the increased mass caused by the addition of heavy armor plating.

The TIE Advanced proved effective in battle because it could endure numerous direct hits. The pilot survival rate was also greatly increased by the addition of a hyperdrive system, allowing the ship to flee hopeless battles. Despite the starfighter’s success, the Empire decided not to order the TIE Advanced x1 in large quantities, claiming that the vehicles were far too costly. However, many Navy strategists theorized that Imperial officers feared a starfighter with a hyperdrive would give Imperial bureaucrats an excuse to deny requests for new capital starships. Unconcerned with the Empire’s rejection of the TIE Advanced, Sienar designers simply incorporated the ship’s best qualities into the TIE Interceptor. By the Battle of Endor, Sienar had ceased producing the TIE Advanced x1.

One of Vader's other TIE/Advanced models was discovered by Jaden Korr in a hangar at Darth Vader's former stronghold on Vjun. By the beginning of the Yuuzhan Vong War, enough TIE Advanced fighters had been produced to end up on the open market. Lando Calrissian, a private citizen of the New Republic, used a modified version of the fighter for spectator sports in the Dubrillion asteroid belt. During the Battle of Dubrillion, Jacen, Jaina, and Anakin Solo (Vader's grandchildren) flew three of these fighters against Yuuzhan Vong coralskippers.

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