The 10 Best TIE Fighters In Star Wars History

TIE Fighters are among the most iconic Star Wars starships in the entire franchise, and there are so many different variations. Used during the Dark Times, Galactic Civil War, and beyond, TIEs were most commonly used during space combat while also providing support to Imperial and First Order forces on the ground. However, not all TIEs are created equal, and some models are much cooler, more powerful, and more intimidating than others.

Developed by Sienar Fleet Systems, TIE stands for “Twin Ion Engines”, the source of the starship’s iconic ‘”screaming” sound as they soar overhead. An entire series of starfighters, some TIE Fighters were mass-produced while others never made it out of the prototype stage in the Star Wars timeline. Nevertheless, here are 10 of the best and most impressive TIE Fighter variants in Star Wars history.

10

TIE/ln Starfighter

The Classic Symbol of the Imperial Navy

The classic TIE/ln is the most standard version of Imperial starfighter to come from Sienar Fleet Systems. Following the fall of the Republic and rise of the Empire, this primary model would become a core symbol for the might of the Imperial Navy. However, its production was also extremely cost-effective as it offered little protection for pilots found with other starfighters like hyperdrive or shields.

Because they were so cheap, the Empire was able to mass-produce TIE Fighters, allowing them to often overwhelm enemies with sheer numbers. That said, the classic TIE/ln makes the list, if only because it’s the most classic model and the first one typically thinks of.

9

TIE/fo Space Superiority Fighter

The Upgraded First Order Model

During the age of the sequels and rise of the First Order, the standard TIE received an upgrade, becoming the TIE/fo Space Superiority Fighter. Now armed with shields and hyperdrive, the TIE/fo could also fit both a pilot and a secondary gunner, as was often piloted by First Order Special Forces. This was the same model used by Finn and Poe to escape the First Order Star Destroyer as seen in The Force Awakens.

8

Outland TIE Fighter

Used by the Imperial Remnant

During the rise of the New Republic following the Empire’s defeat, several factions of the Imperial Remnants fled to the Outer Rim and Unknown Regions. In the case of Moff Gideon’s forces, Outland TIE Fighters were used by pilots roaming the Outer Rim. While nearly identical to the standard TIE/ln, Outland TIEs had the unique feature of foldable wings. This allowed them to take off and land independently, as opposed to standard TIE Fighters, which had to be specially docked aboard Imperial Star Destroyers and larger Imperial cruisers.

7

TIE Crawler

A Rare Imperial Tank

A unique design from Sienar, the TIE Crawler was not actually a starfighter. Instead, it was a ground vehicle, having a cockpit inspired by a TIE but placed between two giant treads on either side. Still powered by twin engines, the TIE Crawler was far more prevalent in non-canon Legends materials, though it has made a single appearance in canon with 2018’s Choose Your Destiny: A Luke & Leia Adventure book. While it did have a similar weapons systems, pilots uses foot pedals to control the Crawler’s speed across uneven terrain.

6

TIE/es Echelon Assault Shuttle

Created by Rise of Skywalker’s Original Director

The TIE/es Echelon Assault Shuttle was created by Rise of Skywalker’s original director Colin Trevorrow before he was replaced by Lucasfilm with J.J. Abrams. Rather than being featured in Abrams’ version of Episode IX, the TIE Echelon was re-purposed and is now featured in Disneyland’s Star Wars-themed land known as Galaxy’s Edge. Given the Star Wars-themed land’s quasi-canonical status, the shuttle does still exist in the official Star Wars continuity, transporting First Order troops into battle, and is canonically the ship that brought Supreme Leader Kylo Ren to investigate Resistance activity on the planet Batuu.

5

TIE/in Interceptor

Flown by the Empire’s Best Pilots

TIE Interceptors were superior to the standard TIE model while still being relatively cheap to produce. Incredibly fast with enhanced maneuverability, Interceptors were piloted by the Imperial Navy’s most elite pilots, Inquisitors, and even Palpatine’s royal guard. On-screen, they were most notably seen during the Battle of Endor and were also used by the Imperial Remnant, as seen in The Mandalorian season 3. They also possessed extra firepower compared to the standard TIE, having laser cannons attached to each wingtip.

4

TIE/vn “Silencer”

Piloted by Kylo Ren

The TIE/vn Silencer was Kylo Ren’s personal TIE Fighter, as seen in The Last Jedi. A prototype model featuring additional features such as an array of impressive laser cannons and missile launchers, the Silencer had custom flight controls according to the specifications of Kylo Ren himself. While Kylo Ren would have the Silencer replaced by the TIE Whisper in Rise of Skywalker, the Silencer is arguably the cooler of the two, having a far more unique design compared to the Whisper (which barely looks different from a standard TIE Interceptor).

3

TIE Advanced x1

Darth Vader’s Signature Fighter

Darth Vader also flew a prototype TIE of his own during the Galactic Civil War. A TIE Advanced x1, Vader’s personal starship was inspired by and incorporated elements from Republic V-wings, Jedi Interceptors, and Darth Maul’s Sith Infiltrator. The TIE Advanced featured fixed-mounted twin blaster cannons and a cluster missile launcher, and was deployed during the Battle of Yavin when the Dark Lord personally flew down into the Death Star trenches to eliminate the Rebel ships attempting to blow up the battle station (only to be caught by surprise and flung off course by Han Solo and The Millennium Falcon).

2

TIE/d Defender

Originating From Grand Admiral Thrawn

An original design first envisioned by Morgan Elsbeth, the TIE Defender sought to correct the mistakes and flaws of previous TIE models that sacrificed pilot safety in the name of a cheaper bottom line. Having both hyperdrive and shields, the TIE Defender was also a multi-use fighter-bomber, armed with concussion missiles, six L-s9.3 laser cannons, and CLL-3 Ion Torpedoes. Supported by Grand Admiral Thrawn, the TIE Defender program was in direct competition with Director Krennic’s Project Stardust (The Death Star) in terms of funding. As such, the Grand Admiral’s initiative might have ultimately been chosen in favor of Stardust, were it not for the destruction of the TIE Defender’s primary factory on Lothal, as seen in Star Wars Rebels.

1

TIE Avenger

Another TIE Prototype Armed To The Teeth

Much like the TIE Defender, the TIE Avenger was developed in tandem with the Defender as a more aggressive variant of the original prototype model. While it did have a similar wing design to the Defender, the Avenger only had two wings positioned more like a standard Interceptor. Featuring shields, a hyperdrive, and a highly advanced tactical heads-up display, the TIE Avenger was heavily armored and armed with a crazy array of various weapons systems.

In total, the TIE Avenger had an externally-mounted starboard dual laser cannon, two anti-personnel rotary blaster cannons, eight wing-tipped laser cannons, twelve laser cannons embedded within the wings, and wing-mounted missiles and torpedos. It also carried a heavy retractable laser cannon. As seen in Andor season 2, the laser cannon in particular was capable of punching large holes through blast doors, as seen when Cassian Andor stole a prototype Avenger from Sienar Fleet Systems’ testing facility. Like the Defender and TIE Advanced, the Avenger was never mass-produced due to its immense cost, though it is one of the most impressive and intimidating TIES in the entire Star Wars canon.

New episodes of Andor season 2 release weekly on Tuesdays at 9 PM EST/6 PM PST on Disney+.

Andor

8/10

Release Date

2022 – 2025-00-00

Network

Disney+

Showrunner

Tony Gilroy

Directors

Susanna White

Writers

Dan Gilroy