Ships

Delta-7 Aethersprite-Class Light Interceptor

(Jedi Starfighter)

During the height of the Old Republic, the Jedi Temple maintained a large fleet of vehicles for emergencies. When assigned a mission, members of the Jedi Order would requisition starships, airspeeders, and other craft as necessary. Shortly before the Battle of Geonosis, the Jedi Council sought to bolster this motor pool with a new starfighter. Commissioned from Kuat Systems Engineering, this starfighter was meant to serve as a medium-range reconnaissance vehicle. KSE quickly produced the Delta-7 Aethersprite for the Council's approval. 

The finished model of the Jedi starfighter was unveiled just a few weeks prior to the outbreak of the Clone Wars. Project Engineer Walex Blissex led the crack team of engineers that developed the Delta-7 Aethersprite starfighter at the Kuat Systems Engineering Facilities.

At a special ceremony at the Kuat Drive Yards, Kuati Senator Risi Lenoan and Jedi representatives Adi Gallia and Aayla Secura were on hand to officially launch the finished Delta-7 model. Earlier models were field-tested by Jedi Master Adi Gallia. A short time later, the vehicles were being flown on dangerous missions to far-flung systems.

The Jedi Temple maintained a well-stocked hangar of Jedi starfighters within one of its many spires. A retractable landing pad slid forth from the tower, extending to its length to allow the fighter clearance from the Temple. 

The original Delta-7 is a light, high-performance starfighter with a small profile and powerful engine systems. Offensively, it relies on a pair of forward-facing dual laser cannons. The weapons system has an impressive recharge rate and a state-of-the-art targeting computer. When combined with Jedi reflexes, it can prove devastating. The vehicle's shield system automatically distributes energy to areas that are under fire, strengthening the rear shields when the starfighter is being pursued or reinforcing the forward shields during a head-on assault. A standard astromech can be hardwired into the ship's frame to provide additional support. The Delta-7 is too thin to house a full astromech, so an astromech unit, such as Obi-Wan's R4-P17, must be hardwired directly into the starfighter. Although the astromech's dome remains intact, all of its internal components are plugged directly into the Delta-7's astromech socket.

As specified by the Jedi Council, the Deita-7 is not designed for deep-space flight, but KSE had enough foresight to contract a dedicated hyperdrive ring for the starfighter. TransGalMeg Industries provided KSE with the Syliure-31 long-range hyperdrive module, which KSE sold to the Jedi Council for a sizable profit. In order to travel between systems, the Delta-7 merely docks with a hyperspace transport ring that has its own dedicated Class 1 hyperdrive system. The Delta-7's interface has been specifically created with the Syliure-31 module in mind, allowing the Aethersprite to activate the hyperdrive manually. When the starfighter disengages from the ring, the device remains anchored in space until the Delta-7's return.

The Delta-7 was well received by the Jedi Knights. Several pilots, including Obi-Wan Kenobi, began using them immediately. Only Saesee Tiin, the Jedi Council's resident starfighter ace, was dissatisfied with the craft. He subjected the Delta-7 to rigorous testing, then personally modified a pair of the starfighters. Tiin increased the starfighter's firepower by adding four quad-pulse laser cannons. The additional weapons remain concealed behind breakaway panels until they are absolutely necessary. He also integrated a compact, Class 3 hyperdrive of his own design and replaced the standard pilot's seat with a more comfortable meditation chair. Adi Gallia took one of Saesee Tiin's modified Delta-7s to the Karthakk system shortly before the Battle of Geonosis. When her mission proved a resounding success, many of the existing starfighters were upgraded to Tiin's specifications.

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