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{{Top|sprot|canon=TIE line}}
[[File:TIEfighter-Fathead.png|thumb|right|250px|A [[TIE/LN starfighter]]]]
The '''TIE Series''' was a series of [[Starfighter/Legends|starfighters]] and vehicles designed by [[Sienar Fleet Systems/Legends|Sienar Fleet Systems]], consisting of several different designs.

==Characteristics==
===Design===
[[File:TieInterior.jpg|thumb|left|200px|Interior of a [[Twin ion engine/Legends|TIE]] series [[Starfighter/Legends|starfighter]]]]
TIE series starfighters shared a general design form of a roughly spherical or cylindrical cockpit pod attached to a set of solar panels, with their overall shape resembling a bow tie (thus acting as a partial namesake).<ref name="Rogue Leader guide">''[[Star Wars: Rogue Squadron II: Rogue Leader]]''</ref> The cockpit and panels could be supplemented by other modules for ordnance or other functions. Their overall design resembled the [[Human/Legends|Human]] eye, which led to several members of the [[Alliance to Restore the Republic/Legends|Rebel Alliance]], including those of [[Rogue Squadron/Legends|Rogue Squadron]], to give them nicknames relating to eyes (such as "eyeball" for [[TIE/LN starfighter]]s, "squints" for [[TIE/IN interceptor/Legends|TIE/IN interceptors]], and "brights" for the [[TIE Advanced x1/Legends|TIE Advanced]] series of starfighters).{{Fact}}

This design form carried over to the non-starfighter products, with the standard cockpit module used in the center of a land or sea vessel.

The cockpit of a TIE was neither spacious nor luxurious, even compared to those of other starfighters. A TIE fighter was designed with the bare minimum a ship needed to function, being essentially nothing more than a cockpit with weapons on the front and an engine in the rear. This simplicity in design made them both quick and inexpensive to build and replace.

===Technology===
[[File:TIE_Advanced_x1_starfighter.png|thumb|right|250px|A [[TIE Advanced x1/Legends|TIE Advanced x1]]]]
The TIE series derived its name from the [[SIE-TIE twin ion engine|SIE-TIE]] [[Twin ion engine/Legends|twin ion engine]], which was unveiled to the public by [[Raith Sienar/Legends|Raith Sienar]] in [[22 BBY/Legends|22 BBY]]. [[T.I.E. starfighter|Prototypes]] of TIE series starfighters may have been tested as early as [[29 BBY/Legends|29 BBY]]. TIE fighters were used on Imperial [[Victory-class Star Destroyer/Legends|''Victory''-class Star Destroyers]], such as the [[Strikefast/Legends|''Strikefast'']], as early as [[19 BBY/Legends|19 BBY]], one week after the [[Galactic Empire/Legends|Galactic Empire]] was formed. At first, the launching systems often failed and had to undergo several redesigns. Because of the nature of their engines, the TIE series also emitted a distinct sound whenever they flew.

All TIE series starfighters had two or more [[Ion drive|ion engine]] outlets, linked to a solar ionization reactor and solar array wings.

Except for advanced models, TIE series vessels were not generally equipped with [[Hyperdrive/Legends|hyperdrives]], but they could be added as an option. Early TIE models tended to suffer noticeably in sublight performance if given this upgrade, due to the added mass of the hyperdrive and [[Navigation computer/Legends|navicomputer]] systems. Apparently not all TIEs were equipped with a missile-lock warning sensor to warn a pilot of an enemy missile lock, though many were.

===Combat capabilities===
[[File:TIE_Fighter_SWGTCG.jpg|thumb|left|180px|[[TIE/LN starfighter|TIE fighters]] disabling a [[CR90 corvette/Legends|CR90 corvette]]]]
Ships in the TIE series were usually armed with one or more [[Laser cannon/Legends|laser cannons]], two being standard. More advanced fighters were equipped with a variety of warhead launchers, and the [[TIE/ad starfighter|TIE Avenger]] and [[TIE/D Defender|TIE Defender]] could be fitted with a small-scale [[Tractor beam/Legends|tractor beam]].

Very few TIE starfighters were equipped with combat [[Deflector shield/Legends|shielding]], though they were included on the Avenger and Defender and could be retrofitted onto most TIE types. This lack of shielding contributed to the TIE's extreme speed. Retrofitting of this type was fairly common in the [[New Republic/Legends|New Republic]] era, as ships and manpower became more valuable to Imperial forces.

All TIE models had a common weakness during [[Atmosphere/Legends|atmospheric]] combat: their un-aerodynamic design severely restricted their speed and maneuverability (particularly under windy conditions), which was normally their greatest strength against most Rebel Alliance/New Republic fightercraft. Pilots trained to fly TIEs in atmosphere conversely often had difficulties making best use of the craft in space combat.<ref name="XWingSeries">''[[Star Wars: X-Wing]]'' novels, particularly ''[[X-Wing: The Bacta War|The Bacta War]]'' and ''[[X-Wing: Solo Command|Solo Command]]''</ref>

In [[40 ABY]], during the start of the [[Second Galactic Civil War]], the [[Aleph-class starfighter|''Aleph''-class starfighter]] was produced by Sienar for the [[Galactic Federation of Free Alliances|Galactic Alliance's]] [[Galactic Alliance Defense Fleet|Navy]]. Like its predecessors, the ''Aleph'' had a ball-shaped cockpit pod which was larger than that of a standard TIE variant. However, it was designed as a two-seater complete with an [[Astromech droid/Legends|astromech droid]] [[Astromech socket/Legends|socket]] and more weapons.

The reborn [[Fel Empire|Galactic Empire]] continued to utilize TIE designs such as the [[Predator-class fighter|''Predator''-class fighter]], also known as the TIE Predator, used around [[130 ABY]]. The TIE Predator itself was a successor to the TIE interceptors used over a [[Standard century/Legends|century]] prior.

==Behind the scenes==
Though the term "TIE Fighter" was coined because [[George Lucas]] thought they looked like bow ties, the [[Wikipedia:Ion engine|ion engine]] is a real-life type of spacecraft propulsion, and publicity surrounding the launch of the [http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/SMART-1/ SMART-1] spacecraft, particularly the shuttle [http://www.space.com/businesstechnology/technology/technovel Smart-1], likened its ion thruster to the propulsion systems of a TIE Fighter. Taking this comparison further, a number of canon sources describe the large vertical wings of a TIE as something like the [[Wikipedia:Solar panel#Solar panels on spacecraft|photovoltaic solar panels]] typically used to power real-life ion-drives: terms like "solar arrays" or "solar gather panels" are used to describe the TIEs' wings, and it is explicitly said that they draw on the energy of starlight and play at least a partial role in powering the engines.

Many fans have disagreed with this information, on the grounds that the power output of solar panels would not be sufficient to give TIEs the acceleration attributed to them, particularly given that TIEs have never been indicated to suffer reduced performance in interstellar space or when flying at night on a planet. Some seek to discard the "solar panel" idea altogether, and the wings of the [[Prequel trilogy|prequel]]-era forerunners of the TIE, [[Scimitar/Legends|''Scimitar'']], and Advanced Projects prototype, have been identified instead as radiator assemblages for waste heat from a conventional ''Star Wars'' reactor core.

Other fans are reluctant to dismiss any [[canon]] material, offering the alternative explanation that mass-lightening technology (which should be possible with the mastery of artificial gravity, [[Repulsorlift/Legends|repulsorlift]] devices, inertial compensators and gravity-well generators in [[The galaxy/Legends|the galaxy far, far away]]) may make such low-powered drives practicable, and suggesting that if the wings of production-model TIEs retain a radiator function, this operates alongside their primary role as solar arrays.

Yet other fans prefer different ideas&mdash;for instance, some speculate that the small nozzles at the back of the cockpit are simply heat exhausts, and the wing panels are themselves some sort of particle thrusters, with thrust in different directions from different sections giving them their incredible maneuverability.

Another widely questioned issue is the lack of shielding on TIE fighters, as it is felt that all TIE series starfighters must at least have some form of shielding against space debris. The most common explanation (and probably most logical) is that while all TIE fighters have [[Particle shield/Legends|particle shields]], most were not equipped with [[Ray shield/Legends|energy shields]].

The TIE series' trademark roaring sounds when in flight were derived from mixing an elephant's screams with a car driving on a wet road. The sound was also created by accident: [[Ben Burtt]] was initially tasked with creating a sound similar to those of Nazi rockets in a BBC documentary of the Battle of Stalingrad that George Lucas had watched, and resorted to drawing out an elephant's cry from the 1958 film ''The Roots of Heaven'' and then doing the aforementioned mixture. Joe Johnston also noted that it sounded similar to the Nazis' Junker JU-87 dive planes.<ref name="USO Project">http://usoproject.blogspot.co.uk/2011/02/ben-burtt-about-genesis-of-tie-fighter.html</ref>

==Appearances==
{{Incomplete list}}
{{Scroll_box|content=
{{Mediacat|imagecat=Images of TIE Series spacecraft}}
*''[[LEGO Star Wars: The Complete Saga]]'' {{Nc}}
*''[[Star Wars: Battlefront]]''
*''[[Star Wars: Jedi Starfighter]]'' {{Nc}}
*''[[Star Wars: Battlefront II]]''
*[[LEGO Star Wars: The Quest for R2-D2 (film)|''LEGO Star Wars: The Quest for R2-D2'']] {{Nc}}
*''[[Star Wars Battlefront: Elite Squadron]]''
*''[[The Last of the Jedi: Reckoning]]''
*''[[Star Wars: Visions of the Blade]]'' {{Nc}}
*{{Film|IV}} {{1st}}
*[[Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope (junior novelization)|''Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope'' junior novel]]
*''[[LEGO Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy]]'' {{Nc}}
*''[[Star Wars: Rogue Squadron II: Rogue Leader]]''
*''[[Star Wars: Rogue Squadron III: Rebel Strike]]''
*''[[Star Wars Battlefront: Renegade Squadron]]''
*''[[Star Wars Galaxies]]''
*''[[Mission to Lianna]]'' {{C|As "TIE-series"}}
*{{Journal|10|Galaxywide NewsNets}}
*''[[Operation: Shadowpoint]]''
*{{FFG|book=Strongholds of Resistance|story=Phantoms in the Dark}}
*[[Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back (junior novelization)|''Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back'' junior novel]]
*{{Film|V}}
*''[[Star Wars: TIE Fighter]]''
*{{Film|VI}}
*[[Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi (novel)|''Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi'' novel]]
*[[Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi (junior novelization)|''Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi'' junior novel]]
*''[[Luke Skywalker and the Shadows of Mindor]]''
*''[[X-Wing: Rogue Squadron]]''
*[[X-Wing: Rogue Squadron (unabridged audiobook)|''X-Wing: Rogue Squadron'' unabridged audiobook]]
*''[[X-Wing: Wedge's Gamble]]''
*''[[X-Wing: The Krytos Trap]]''
*''[[X-Wing: The Bacta War]]''
*''[[X-Wing: Wraith Squadron]]''
*''[[X-Wing: Iron Fist]]''
*''[[X-Wing: Solo Command]]''
*''[[Heir to the Empire]]''
*''[[Dark Force Rising]]''
*[[Dark Force Rising (unabridged audiobook)|''Dark Force Rising'' audiobook]]
*''[[The Last Command]]''
*[[The Last Command (unabridged audiobook)|''The Last Command'' audiobook]]
*''[[X-Wing: Isard's Revenge]]''
*''[[X-Wing: Starfighters of Adumar]]''
*''[[Fate of the Jedi: Backlash]]'' {{C|as simulator}}
*[[Fate of the Jedi: Backlash (audiobook)|''Fate of the Jedi: Backlash'' audiobook]] {{C|as simulator}}
}}

==Sources==
*''[[Star Warriors: Starfighter Combat in the Star Wars Universe]]''
*''[[The Star Wars Sourcebook]]''
*''[[Star Wars Campaign Pack]]''
*''[[Imperial Sourcebook]]''
*''[[The Rebel Alliance Sourcebook]]''
*''[[Galaxy Guide 8: Scouts]]''
*[[The Rebel Alliance Sourcebook (Second Edition)|''The Rebel Alliance Sourcebook'', Second Edition]]
*[[Star Wars Sourcebook (Second Edition)|''Star Wars Sourcebook'', Second Edition]]
*''[[TIE Fighter: The Official Strategy Guide]]''
*''[[TIE Fighter: Defender of the Empire: Official Secrets & Solutions]]''
*''[[Alliance Intelligence Reports]]''
*''[[TIE Fighter Collector's CD-ROM: The Official Strategy Guide]]''
*{{Journal|10|Alliance Intelligence Report: TIE Fighters}}
*''[[Wretched Hives of Scum & Villainy]]''
*''[[Pirates & Privateers]]''
*''[[Star Wars Trilogy Sourcebook, Special Edition]]''
*[[Star Wars Customizable Card Game|''Star Wars'' Customizable Card Game]]
*''[[Star Wars: Rebellion: Prima's Official Strategy Guide]]''
*''[[Star Wars: Rogue Squadron: The Official Nintendo Player's Guide]]''
*''[[Star Wars: X-Wing Alliance: Prima's Official Strategy Guide]]''
*{{Hnn|51|business/13411_1.html|Successful Engine Tests Cause Sienar Stock Surge|https://web.archive.org/web/20130728124624/http://www.holonetnews.com/51/business/13411_1.html}}
*''[[The New Essential Guide to Vehicles and Vessels]]''
*''[[Star Wars: Empire at War: Prima Official Game Guide]]''
*''[[Star Wars: Empire at War: Forces of Corruption Expansion: Prima Official Game Guide]]''
*[[Star Wars: Age of Rebellion Beginner Game|''Star Wars: Age of Rebellion'' Beginner Game]] {{1stID}}
*[[Star Wars: Age of Rebellion Core Rulebook|''Star Wars: Age of Rebellion'' Core Rulebook]]
*<!-- 2014/10/20 -->''[[Star Wars: Imperial Handbook: A Commander's Guide]]''
*<!-- 2014/12/23 -->[[Stay on Target (sourcebook)|''Stay on Target'']]
*''[[Lords of Nal Hutta]]''
*''[[Fly Casual]]''
*{{Armada|Star Wars: Armada Core Set|Core Set|cardname="Howlrunner"|link=https://starwars-armada.fandom.com/wiki/%22Howlrunner%22_TIE_Fighter_Squadron}}
*{{Armada|Star Wars: Armada Core Set|Core Set|cardname=Nebulon-B Support Refit|link=https://starwars-armada.fandom.com/wiki/Nebulon-B_Support_Refit}} {{C|Reissued in ''[[Nebulon-B Frigate Expansion Pack]]''}} {{Po}}
*{{Armada|Star Wars: Armada Core Set|Core Set|cardname=TIE Fighter Squadron|link=https://starwars-armada.fandom.com/wiki/TIE_Fighter_Squadron}} {{C|Reissued in ''[[Imperial Fighter Squadrons Expansion Pack]]''}}
*{{Armada|Star Wars: Armada Core Set|Core Set|cardname=''Victory I''-class Star Destroyer|link=https://starwars-armada.fandom.com/wiki/Victory_I-class_Star_Destroyer}} {{C|Reissued in [[Victory-class Star Destroyer Expansion Pack|Victory''-class Star Destroyer Expansion Pack'']]}} {{Po}}
*{{FFGXW2|TIE/D Defender Expansion Pack|link=https://xwing-miniatures-second-edition.fandom.com/wiki/Elusive|cardname=Elusive}} {{Po}}

==External links==
*{{WP|TIE fighter}}
*[http://theforce.net/swtc/tie.html TIE Fighters] at [[Curtis Saxton]]'s [[Star Wars Technical Commentaries]]

==Notes and references==
{{Reflist}}

{{More sources}}

{{TIE}}

{{Interlang
|bg=TIE
|de=TIE-Serie
|es=Serie TIE
|pl=TIE/Legendy
|fi=TIE-sarja
|ru=Серия TIE
}}

[[Category:TIE fighters| ]]
[[Category:TIE Series| ]]