Star Wars Starfighters: Designing the Most Iconic Ships in the Galaxy Far, Far Away

Summary

Doug Chen and Amy Beth Kitchinso from Lucasfilm discuss the design process of various Star Wars starfighters, including the famous TIE Fighter and X-Wing and lesser-known ships like the Y-Wing and B-Wing. They also talk about challenges faced with designing ships for different eras in the Star Wars universe and mention the ARC-170 Starfighter as a precursor to the X-Wing.

X-Wing, Droid Trifighter, Jedi Interceptor, P-38 Fighter, Techno Union Fighter
Updated TIE Fighters: First Order TIE Fighter, Special Forces TIE Fighter
Resistance ships: T-70 Resistance X-Wing, Resistance A-Wing, TIE Striker, Resistance Bomber
Kylo Ren’s ships: TIE Silencer, TIE Whisperer, TIE Dagger
Bonus ships: The Ghost and Millennium Falcon
Exciting things to come in the Star Wars franchise

Introduction

Star Wars is known for its iconic ships, including the Millennium Falcon and X-Wing. But have you ever wondered about the design process behind these legendary starfighters? In this Q&A, Doug Chen and Amy Beth Kitchinso from Lucasfilm discuss the inspirations and challenges in designing the starfighters seen in live-action Star Wars films.

X-Wing, Droid Trifighter, Jedi Interceptor, P-38 Fighter, Techno Union Fighter

Chen and Kitchinso mention several starfighters with unique designs. The X-Wing with its S-foil folding design has multiple wings and cockpits inspired by the Douglas Dauntless fighter bomber. The Droid Trifighter has an aggressive design and resembles General Grievous’ starfighter. The Jedi Interceptor ties the Jedi Starfighter to the TIE fighter with a unique wing design. The P-38 Fighter has twin tails and oversized engines inspired by the P-38 Lightning. The Techno Union Fighter has a Flash Gordon-esque design.

Updated TIE Fighters: First Order TIE Fighter, Special Forces TIE Fighter

The TIE Fighters are some of the most recognizable ships in the Star Wars universe, and throughout the franchise’s history, they have undergone various updates to their design. Chen and Kitchinso discuss the First Order TIE Fighter, which is faster and leaner, and the Special Forces TIE Fighter, which has external magazines for weapons and two seats.

Resistance ships: T-70 Resistance X-Wing, Resistance A-Wing, TIE Striker, Resistance Bomber

The Resistance ships are made from leftover resources, and their designs reflect an amalgamation of various parts. The T-70 Resistance X-Wing and the Resistance A-Wing are some examples of ships made from this philosophy. The TIE Striker has wings that turn up, and the Resistance Bomber evokes old technology.

Kylo Ren’s ships: TIE Silencer, TIE Whisperer, TIE Dagger

Kylo Ren’s ships have a menacing design, with the TIE Silencer and TIE Whisperer having an extra armor around the cockpit. The TIE Dagger follows a triangular wing design inspired by Star Destroyers, with Sith red markings denoting the evolution of the TIE Fighter.

Bonus ships: The Ghost and Millennium Falcon

Apart from discussing the ships that have appeared in movies, Chen and Kitchinso delve into some bonus ships introduced in the Star Wars universe. The Ghost, flown by Hera Syndulla and her crew, was originally designed for the animated series Star Wars Rebels. It has a unique diamond shape silhouette inspired by B-17 bombers from World War I. The Millennium Falcon is the most iconic ship in Star Wars, and its design has evolved over time, with Joe Johnston adding front mandibles to give it more character.

Exciting things to come in the Star Wars franchise

The speakers conclude by hinting at exciting things to come in the Star Wars franchise. With the Mandalorian featuring sleek and innovative designs and Star Wars: Visions using unique anime-influenced designs, the Star Wars universe is ever-expanding.

Conclusion

Designing iconic starfighters is no easy feat, but it’s evident that the team at Lucasfilm puts a lot of innovation and creativity into each creation. The various inspirations behind the well-known ships and the lesser-known ships are fascinating, and it’s exciting to ponder what new designs they will come up with in the future.