The TIE Interceptor is the Empire's newest addition to its TIE series of starfighters. After the destruction of the Death Star at the battle of Yavin, Imperial commanders and pilots called a meeting with top Imperial designers to decide how best to counter the unexpectedly high level of Rebel daring and ingenuity as evidenced by the performance of Rebel Alliance pilots and machines during the combat. After much debate the panel concluded that the Empire needed a fighter that was faster, more maneuverable, and more lethal----a fighter, in short, that could far surpass the Rebellion's X-wings and Y-wings.
For economic as well as design reasons, they decieded to keep the basic TIE fighter design and modify it by drawing from the innovations included in Darth Vader's custom built "bent-wing" TIE fighter.
The maximum speed of the new TIE Interceptor was enhanced by increasing the size of the standard twin ion engines and providing the necessary additional power input by increasing the size of the solar panels. This was avoided in the original TIE series fighterrs to maximize pilot visibiliy, but in the Interceptor the panels have been streamlined and reshaped. They utilize the new bent-wing format found on Vader's prototype craft, but are dagger-shaped instead of rectangular to solve the visibilty problem. According to reliable Imperial sources, the new TIE Interceptor is the fastest starfighter in the galaxy. However, sources close to the Rebel Alliance claim that their A-wing is still on top.
Firepower was increased by forward-mounting four laser cannons on the tips of the modified dagger-like solar panels and dispensing with the twin chin-mounted cannon found on the standard TIE fighter. In addition, the targeting software of the fire-control computer was updated to allow faster response and more accurate tracing capability.
Maneuverability was hard to improve upon: the TIE series already is one of the most maneuverable craft available. But a new system of ion stream projection was developed that allows the pilot to execute tighter turns and rolls, and the bent-wing and larger panels compensate for any loss in stabilization.
The new ion stream projection system is perhaps the most interesting innovation of all those utilized in the redesign. Finely-tuned twin-port deflectors can be manipulated individually, often acting to balance each other in tight turns and prolonged roll and jinking maneuvers. The pilot, however, does not have to think about it because it is entirely controlled by the new updated ship maintenance monitoring software. This single innovation can be transplanted in the standard TIE series fighters; at this time, however, there is no evidence that Imperial production facilities are gearing up to undertake such a massive project.
Some of the Empire's top designers have criticized the decision not to go ahead and give the new ships hyperdrives, but Imperial Command has a long-standing commitment to Star Destroyer-based starfighters.
The number of TIE Interceptors that have actually come off the assembly line is unknown, but sources speculate that a sizeable force is ready to fly.
TIE Interceptor
Crew:1
Length:6.6 meters;21.78 ft.
Cargo Capacity:75 kilograms;165 pounds
Consumables:2 days
Atmosphere Speed:1,250kmh;775 mph
Weapons:4 Laser Cannons (fire-linked)
