The A-wing was the fastest starfighter in the galaxy at the time of the Battle of Endor.Designed by Alliance General Jan Dodonna and Rebel engineer Walex Blissex, the A-wing was intended to be a high-speed ship capable of outrunning anything in the Imperial Navy. At the Battle, a single A-wing destroyed the Super Star Destroyer Executor when pilot Arvel Crynyd rammed the Executor's bridge, causing the ship to crash into the Death Star.
The small, wedge-shaped ship continues to be the Alliance's main intercepter fighter. It is an exceptionally difficult ship to fly because it is constantly pushing the limits of performance. the A-wing is constanlty subjected to incredible stresses, and it's engines, hull, and weapons systems require constant maintance. Since it is only 9.6 meters long, each ship component is wedged into the cramped hull, and even the lightest hit can cause critical system failures. the piolot is almost totally exposed to enemy fire.
While fast, the A-wing is fragile and is easily damaged by enemy fire. One hit is often enough to destroy the vessel. A-wing piolots must rely on the ship's blistering speed ans their own willingness to take foolish chances to survive in combat.
The A-wing has two wing-mounted pivoting blaster cannons which can angle sixty degress up or down. This gives the fighter a far wider field of fire than starfighters with fixed weapon. A few A-wings have been modified to fire straight back. Each laser cannon has it's own power generator. A-wings sometimes are mounted with a pair ofconcussion-missle launchers; while these weapons are short-range, there destructive capability is superior to that of laser cannons.
The A-wing has an unusual sensor-jamming array which serves to disrupt enemy readings, although this unit is generally effective only against fighters. This array also jams communications, allowing A-wings to attack and get away before the enemy can summon help.
The A-wing gets it remarkable performance from two novaldex J-77 "Event Horizon" engines, and relies on centered thruster-control jets for maneurability, although the J-77 engines have ajustable thrust-vector controls for enhanced performance. Adjustable stabilizer wings assist the engine's thrust-vector controls, so the wings visibly adjust even in space.
The A-wing was originally designed to defend Rebel bases and merchant ships from Imperial raids. However, rebel tacticians eventually learned that it was far better for "hit and fade" assults against Imperial vessels, where it's superior speed allowed the A-wing to attack and flee before enemy fighters could be scrambled. The A-wing was also used in combination with other Rebel fighters: the "A-wing slash" was a devastating attack that used slower fighters to distract enemy TIEs while A-wings closed in on the Imperial ships and cut them to ribbons.
Alliance A-Wing Interceptor
- Class: Fighter/Interceptor
- Manufacturer: Dodonna-Blissex
- Crew: 1 pilot
- Hyperdrive: Yes
- Length: 10 meters
- Speed:120 mglt
- Shield Rating: 50 STB
- Hull Rating: 14 RU
- Weapons: Two light laser cannons. Warhead payload of up to 12 concussion missiles
