Z-95 Headhunter

"I'm going to be sitting in a Z-95 cockpit wearing an EVA suit, and you want to sit on my lap? Worry less about being left behind and more about making certain the concussion missles are fitted with the proper warheads, okay, buddy?"

―Resistance pilot Poe Dameron, to BB-8.^[src]

The Z-95 Headhunter was a multi-purpose starfighter manufactured by jointly the Incom Corporation and Subpro. Despite being considered outdated, the Z-95 was durable and adaptable to a variety of different roles, causing many to recognize it as a versatile and respectable snub-fighter. Countless variants of the Headhunter were produced, including a variant designed specifically to be piloted by the Grand Army of the Republic's pilots during the Clone Wars. It was the forerunner of the popular T-65B X-wing starfighter.^[3]^[1]

CharacteristicsEdit

The Z-95 Headhunter lacked astromech assist, forcing its pilots to preprogram hyperspace routes or force-feed its navicomputer jump coordinates provided by data chips. The ship was also noted for its cramped cockpit. Despite these drawbacks, it featured internal environmental controls, and high powered blaster canons. It could also be modified to feature a single ion cannon along with concussion missile launchers.^[2]

HistoryEdit

Entering production during the Clone Wars, the Z-95 headhunter would see extensive use by clone pilots throughout the conflict.^[3] A specialized version was even manufactured for use by the Republic Navy. It would later be considered the forerunner of the later T-65B X-wing starfighter.^[3]

Even after the end of the Clone Wars, Z-95 Headhunters were, according to Wilhuff Tarkin, common enough to "have come from anywhere." Several were used by Berch Teller's rebel cell in their fight against the Galactic Empire.^[5]

They were used by the Alliance to Restore the Republic during the Galactic Civil War. Although slightly slower and less maneuverable than its successor, these craft were armed with center-mounted ion cannon that was capable of penetrating shields and give damage to targets under its cover. The Z-95 Headhunters were also a close air support staple of the Rebel Alliance Starfighter Corps.^[2] The TIE fighter pilots of the Imperial Navy referred to Z-95s as "skulls".^[6]

Long retired from military use, Z-95s were still present in the galaxy over 30 years later,^[7] and were a favorite among smugglers, gangsters, pirates, and a variety of others seeking to do both legitimate and illegitimate business.^[3]

Resistance pilot Poe Dameron was able to acquire three of them for the covert mission Operation: Sabre Strike.^[3]