R3-series astromech droid

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R3-series astromech droid Production information Manufacturer Industrial Automaton Product line R-series Model R3-series astromech droid Class Astromech droid Chronological and political information Era(s) Rise of the Empire era Rebellion era Affiliation Galactic Republic Galactic Empire Alliance to Restore the Republic Various others [Source]

Flushed with the success of their landmark R2 launch, Industrial Automaton rushed to capitalize on their new dominance of the astromech droid market. The R3-series astromech droid was designed specifically for use by high-tech government agencies. The R3 was launched almost simultaneously with another niche product, the R4-series agromech droid.

Contents 1 Characteristics 2 History 3 Known units 4 Appearances 5 Sources 6 Notes and references

[edit] Characteristics

Outwardly, the R3 copied its popular predecessor right down to the bright, contrasting color trim on its metal chassis. The obvious difference in the factory unit was its head, a clear dome of durable plastex. The transparent hemisphere gave the droid's internally mounted sensor package greater range and showcased the R3's other major distinction, its newly updated Intellex V computer brain. Over time, however, some unit's original domes were replaced with opaque ones, or painted over carelessly.

The Intellex V housed an impressive database with detailed specifications on every vessel in the Republic Navy, and could be readily programmed with additional ship specifications easily. Armed with this information, the R3 worked in cooperation with gunnery crews, security troopers, and naval chiefs of operation aboard capital-scale warships. Though its primary function was as a capital ship astromech, it could still operate as a plug-in droid for starfighters, and could hold up to five hyperspace jump coordinates in its astrogation buffer.

[edit] History

Due to the sensitive nature of the R3's programming, the rather expensive model was sold only to recognized government militaries. The Galactic Republic purchased 125 million of the droids during IA's initial production run, and later the Empire would use R3s aboard Star Destroyers and the Death Star battle stations.

In 1 ABY Alliance Procurement and Supply purchased a shipment of R3 droids from one of their "procurement specialists". These R3 droids were then assigned to heavy cruisers and frigates of the Alliance fleet, freeing up many R2 units for use by local rebel cells and Starfighter Command.^[1] Following the fall of the Empire, in an effort to maintain friendly relations with the New Republic, Industrial Automaton's policy restricted it from knowingly selling to the Imperial Remnant or known Imperial factions.

[edit] Known units

• R3-A2
• R3-D3
• R3-S6
• R3-O1
• R3-T2
• R3-T6
• R3-T7
• R3-Y2
• R3-G0

[edit] Appearances

•  IA Pulls R5's Plug—HoloNet News Vol. 531 45
•  IA Caps Droid Rocket Warranty at 20 Years—HoloNet News Vol. 531 55
• Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones
• Changing Seasons
• Star Wars: The Clone Wars – "Downfall of a Droid"
• Star Wars: The Clone Wars – "Duel of the Droids"
• Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope (First appearance)
• Star Wars: Galaxies
• Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back

[edit] Sources

• Star Wars: Power of the Jedi
• The Essential Guide to Droids
• Star Wars: The Action Figure Archive
• The New Essential Guide to Droids
• "The History of R-Series Astromech Droids" - Star Wars Adventure Journal 7
•  "Look Sir, Droids!" - Star Wars Gamer 3
• Arms & Equipment Guide
• The DarkStryder Campaign
• The Official Star Wars Fact File 11 (AST3, Astromech Droids)

[edit] Notes and references