Next to the Rebellion's X-Wings and The Millennium Falcon, the TIE Fighter is one of the most iconic ships in the Star Wars galaxy. Created for the Empire and its future iterations all the way to Emperor Palpatine's Final Order, the TIE series features an extensive range of special models, each of them catering to a specific capability or function in the service of those seeking galactic tyranny. Likewise, the TIE Fighter has more variants in the established canon than one might initially assume.
Beginning with the reign of the Empire following the fall of the Republic, Sienar Fleet Systems began work on a prototype starfighter with "Twin Ion Engines", eventually known as the classic TIE Fighter. As such, the TIE series quickly grew to prominence within the Imperial Fleet, becoming the primary craft employed by the galaxy's chief villains for decades. Here's every known TIE Fighter variant in the established Star Wars canon.
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TIE/ln Starfighter
The primary model that would become a core symbol for the might of the Imperial Navy, the standard TIE Fighter was darkly cost-effective due to its lack of pilot protection such as shields and a hyperdrive. As such, the Empire was able to mass-produce TIE Fighters and employ swarm tactics, overwhelming enemies with sheer numbers. That said, modifications to the base TIE model would emerge such as TIE/rb and TIE/gt which provided stronger armor, superior weapons, and ground-targeting capabilities.
TIE/sa Bomber
The TIE Bomber soon emerged, featuring a second pod between the starfighter's wings to carry a payload of heavy ordnance, providing devastating air support to ground troops below. The TIE Bombers are best known for their role in The Empire Strikes Back during the search for The Millennium Falcon as well as their deployment during The Mandalorian Purge known as the Night of a Thousand Tears.
TIE/ca "Punisher" Starfighter
The TIE Punisher is simply a brutal evolution of the standard TIE Bomber. Featuring four times the bombing capabilities with extra pods for heavy ordnance, the starfighters were created in response to the Battle of Yavin and the victory of the Rebel Alliance who destroyed the first Death Star.
TIE/sh Shuttle
Similar in design to the TIE Bomber, the TIE Shuttle's extra pod was instead used to taxi Imperial officials from Star Destroyers down to a planet's surface or between capital ships. Featuring inverted wings, a TIE Shuttle can be briefly seen in The Empire Strikes Back in use by Captain Needa.
TIE/rp Reaper Attack Lander
First seen in Rogue One: A Star War Story, the TIE Reaper Attack Lander was used to ferry elite Imperial soldiers during battle. This includes Director Krennic's Death Troopers during the Battle of Scarif where the Rebel Alliance successfully stole the Death Star plans.
TIE Advanced v1
The TIE Advanced v1 was Sienar Fleet Systems' first attempt to create a superior model to the standard TIE Fighter, an experimental craft equipped with shields, extra armor, and a hyperdrive, allowing the craft to operate independently from capital ships such as Star Destroyers. As such, the extra modifications made the prototype TIE Advanced the perfect ship to be used by the Imperial Inquisitors, particularly the Grand Inquisitor as seen in the Star WarsRebels animated series.
TIE Advanced x1
The TIE Advanced x1 was the next evolution of the original TIE Advanced model, a smaller and superior version that was also more expensive to produce. However, it did become the personal starfighter of Darth Vader during the Galactic Civil War.
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TIE/in Interceptor
Inspired by the TIE Advanced, TIE Interceptors were cheaper to make while still superior to the standard TIE model. Although the extra shield and hyperdrive were removed, it was faster and featured extra firepower with laser cannons attached to each wingtip. They were most notably used during the Battle of Endor and were also employed by the Imperial Remnant after the Empire's defeat and the rise of the New Republic.
TIE Avenger
Also inspired by Darth Vader's TIE Advanced x1, the TIE Avenger also featured extra shields and modifications to protect its pilots, while also being one of Sienar's most maneuverable ships yet. However, the starfighter was similarly too expensive for the Empire to mass-produce during the Galactic Civil War.
TIE/d "Defender" Multi-Role Starfighter
The brainchild of Grand Admiral Thrawn before the Battle of Yavin, the TIE Defender program would have been devastating against the Rebel Alliance had it been viewed as a success. Featuring three inverted wings along with extra shields, a hyperdrive, and an impressive array of firepower, TIE Defenders would have dominated dogfights between the Empire and Rebellion. However, the Rebel assault on the world of Lothal and their destruction of the Empire's fuel depot completely halted the program, especially after Thrawn's subsequent disappearance from the galaxy. Perhaps the TIE Defender will return with Thrawn in Star Wars' Mandalorian era.
TIE/sk x1 “Striker” Superiority Starfighter
The TIE Striker was created for battle in-atmosphere, its unique design making it far faster than the standard TIE with the ability to change its wing configuration from attack to flight mode, not unlike the Rebellion's X-Wings. Strikers were notably employed during the Battle of Scarif in Rogue One as well as during the Battle of Jakku, the Rebellion's decisive victory that shattered the Empire following Return of the Jedi.
TIE/ph "Phantom" Multi-Role Stealth Starfighter
Featuring a unique cone-shaped co*ckpit, the TIE Phantom was another experimental starfighter design that saw limited use due to the expense of its special modifications. Armed with impressive stealth capabilities and a cloaking device, a Phantom could be virtually undetectable before de-cloaking in front of an enemy, firing a barrage of laser fire, and then cloaking once more, the element of surprise being its chief weapon.
TIE/ag "Aggressor" Starfighter
Created in response to increases in Rebel smuggling activities, the TIE Aggressor featured a unique rear-mounted laser turret. Aggressors were also used for surveillance and security across the galaxy, protecting valuable Imperial facilities on worlds such as Scarif.
TIE Crawler
One of the more unique models to come out of Sienar Fleet Systems, the TIE Crawler was not a starfighter at all. Instead, a TIE co*ckpit was affixed to two giant treads rather than wings, resulting in a TIE Fighter-inspired tank to aid the Empire's ground forces. While the Crawler also featured very similar controls and weapon systems to that of the space-faring TIEs, it did have foot pedals to control speed.
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TIE/mg Mining Guild Starfighter
Due to its ongoing relationship with the Empire, the Mining Guild was granted their own TIEs from Sienar. However, the fighters were specially modified with basic shields and had notches cut from each of the wings, allowing for greater visibility while sacrificing combat maneuverability. They also had their own unique sensors to help locate valuable resources for the Guild.
Outland TIE Fighter
Following the fall of the Empire, the Imperial Remnant continued to use what resources they still had such as Outland TIE Fighters. Most notably used by Moff Gideon in The Mandalorian, Outland TIE Fighters had foldable wings which allowed them to take off and land independently, rather than the standard TIES which had to be docked on special housing apparatuses typically found on Star Destroyers.
TIE Auto-Fighters
Another Imperial Remnant leader named Commodore Visler Korda was instrumental in the production of the TIE Auto-Fighter, smaller drone ships that needed no pilot at the controls. However, the efforts of the New Republic very quickly ended production almost as soon as it had begun.
TIE/fo Space Superiority Fighter
The evolution of the standard TIE Fighter, the new Sienar-Jaemus Fleet Systems created the TIE/fo Space Superiority Fighter for the First Order, now armed with basic shields. The First Order also had the TIE/sf space superiority fighter for Special Forces, having stronger deflector shields, a hyperdrive, and room for a secondary gunner. This was the TIE used by Finn and Poe Dameron to escape the Finalizer as seen in The Force Awakens.
TIE/se Bomber
In the same vein, the First Order also had its own improved Bombers. In addition to the extra pod for heavy ordnance, the new TIE/se Bombers featured similar wings and laser cannons to the Empire's original TIE Interceptors.
TIE/es Echelon Assault Shuttle
Created by original Rise of Skywalker director Colin Trevorrow, the TIE Echelon Assault Shuttle was re-purposed and is now featured in Disneyland's Star Wars-themed land known as Galaxy's Edge. However, the shuttle is still canonical to the existing Star Wars continuity as was used to transport First Order troops into battle as well as their Supreme Leader Kylo Ren.
TIE/vn “Silencer”
The first personal craft of Kylo Ren as seen in The Last Jedi, the TIE Silencer featured a unique co*ckpit that was less rounded in comparison to other TIE models. Featuring the latest in military technology, the Silencer was reserved for elite leaders of the First Order such as Kylo Ren himself. The ship was also incredibly fast, requiring only the most skilled pilots at the controls. Kylo Ren's TIE Silencer also had missiles and heavy cannons attached between the wings, giving the pilot a wider field of fire.
TIE/wi “Whisper”
The TIE Whisper was primarily used by Supreme Leader Kylo Ren in The Rise of Skywalker, though his new personal fighter was designed to his exact specifications. As such, Kylo Ren's TIE Whisper was naturally faster and boasted more firepower than the standard model, though it was still destroyed by Rey on the planet Pasaana.
TIE/dg “Dagger” Starfighter
Employed by the resurrected Emperor Palpatine's secret Final Order, TIE Daggers had triangular wings with heavy laser cannons attached to the wings themselves, affixed between each of the primary wings and their smaller secondary ones. Piloted by members of the Sith Eternal, the Daggers are the last known iteration of Star Wars' formidable and deadly TIE series.
