The A-9 Vilgilance Interceptor is a short range Imperial fighter that was introduced shortly after the defeat of Grand Admiral Thrawn, five years after the death of the emperor at the battle of Endor. Designed by Kuat Drive Yards, makers of the infamous Imperial Star Destroyer, the A-9 Vilgilance representedan attempt by Kuat to steal some of the lucrative starfighter contracts Sienar Fleet System had recieved for its TIE fighter series.
While some Imperial factions purched the A-9 Vilgilance, the ship also fell into New Republic hands. Oppressed workers on a Kuat factory world managed to depose their planetary governor and turn a few of these A-9 prototypes over to the New Rebublic forces just as the Empires offensive against Mon Calamari was heating up (a year after Thrawns death).
The A-9 is typical of many Imperial fighters- it has no shields and no hyperdrive. Instead, it is compact, light, and fast, and therefore was perfect for shock attacks against reinforced New Republic bases or slower capital ships and fighters. It is faster than the TIE interceptor and on a par with the New Republics A-Wing.
The hull is a simple affair, with essential control cockpit pod that contains the Carbanti sensor arrays, weapons arrays and all computer systems. Two wings connect to the powerful Kuat Drive Systems A9X thrust engines. TYhe engines are as long as the starframe and have self contained power generators. The laser cannons also have their own power generator, and the computer control systems can reroute power from any of these power generators to any other portion of the ship, allowing the pilot to cut power to the weapons and limp home even if the engine power generator fails.
The A-9's weapons consist of two foreward firing cannons that pack more punch than the X-Wing's laser cannons. While they are generally firelinked for simultaneous fire, a modification kit allows the lasers to be independenty targeted. This kit includes a survo-drive system that can depress the guns up to 90 degrees, making the A-9 capable of performing stafing missions against ground targets.
While Kuat Drive Yards promised the empire a superior fighter, combat results have been consistently dissapointing. While the ship is indeed faster than the TIE interceptor, it has been shown to be no more manueverable and its hull is significantly weaker. The Empire purchased a fighter that is limited in its utility as in the New Republics A-Wing. It is believed that Kuat designers are developing an improved A-9, which should be far tougher. New Republic technicians have throughly examined the A-9, and while not amazed by what they see, they intend to use some of its designs in future New Republic fighters.
