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Predator-class fighter

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This article is about the Predator-class fighter. You may be looking for other uses of "predator".
Predator-class fighter
Production information
Manufacturer

Sienar Fleet Systems[1]

Product line

TIE series[1]

Model

Predator-class fighter[1]

Class

Starfighter[1]

Cost

Not available for sale[1]

Technical specifications
Maximum speed (atmosphere)

1,500 km/h[1]

Engine unit(s)

Equipped

Hyperdrive rating

Equipped[1]

Hyperdrive system

Class 1[1]

Shielding

Equipped

Targeting systems

Equipped

Navigation system

Navicomputer[1]

Armament

Medium laser cannons (4)[1]

Crew

Pilot (1)[1]

Cargo capacity

70 kg[1]

Consumables

1 week[1]

Usage
Availability

Military[1]

Role(s)
Era(s)

Legacy era[1]

Affiliation

The Predator-class fighter, also called TIE Predators[2] and nicknamed Eyeballs by the Galactic Alliance, was a starfighter produced by Sienar Fleet Systems and used by the new Galactic Empire as of 130 ABY.

Contents

[edit] Characteristics

Two Predators attack an Imperial Knight shuttle.

Considered a successor to the older TIE/In starfighter, the Predator-class fighter was still highly maneuverable and heavily armed, but unlike most previous TIEs, it was also equipped with hyperdrives and a deflector shield generated through its blade-shaped wings. As with the earlier Chiss Clawcraft, these wings could adjust to a variety of positions, aiding the starfighter's maneuverability. They folded back fully for docking mode.

Predator-class fighters with classic TIE-style cockpits were flown by squadron leaders. Other pilots flew fighters with horizontal slats across the front of the central fuselage.

[edit] History

In 130 ABY, Predator-class fighters were used by Moff Rulf Yage's forces in the Sith-sponsored attack on the Jedi Praxeum on Ossus.

Imperial Knights would also fly Predator-class fighters. In 137 ABY, Antares Draco and Ganner Krieg would take two of these fighters to Vendaxa to save Princess Marasiah Fel from the Sith.

The Outer Rim Third Fleet used these fighters at the Battle of Dac.

[edit] Behind the scenes

A Predator-class fighter launch rack.

The Predator-class fighter was designed by Sean Cooke, a designer/illustrator handpicked by Dark Horse Comics editor Randy Stradley for the job of designing Legacy-era Imperial spacecraft.

When the first images of the Predator appeared, some fans speculated that the fighters with a "slatted" central pod were pilotless droid starfighters, but this idea was ruled out by subsequent comments from the creators: in an online chat, Jan Duursema explained that the traditional cockpits were reserved for lead fighters, and in an interview for Star Wars Insider 89, Cooke discussed the redesign: "I wanted to make sure it didn't look so much like the classic TIE fighter, so I redesigned the front cockpit screen, taking that kind of octagonal design and putting more vertical lines through that to simulate jaws or even prison bar cells, giving it this angry look."

[edit] Appearances

Three Predators in flight.

[edit] Sources

Predator-class fighter blueprints.

[edit] Notes and references


TIE starfighter variants
Imperial starfighters
T.I.E. starfighter · TIE/ln starfighter · TIE Advanced x1 · TIE Advanced x2 · TIE Advanced x3 · TIE Advanced x7
TIE Aggressor · TIE/ad starfighter · TIE boarding craft · TIE/D Defender · TIE/D automated starfighter · TIE/fc starfighter
TIE/gt starfighter · TIE Hunter · TIE/In starfighter · TIE Interdictor · TIE lander · TIE Light Duty · TIE Oppressor · TIE Phantom
TIE/rc starfighter · TIE/sa starfighter · TIE/sh shuttle · TIE/sr starfighter · TIE starfighter · TIE Vanguard
Scimitar assault bomber · Predator-class fighter
Non-Imperial starfighters
Advanced Project ship · Aleph-class starfighter · Clutch · Y-TIE · X-ceptor · X-TIE · TYE-wing · Lone Scout-A · TIE/rpt starfighter · Nssis-class Clawcraft · TIE stealth
Non-starfighter models
Century tank · TIE ap-1 · TIE fighter boat · Lancet Aerial Artillery