The X-wing starfighter became the premiere Alliance weapon when
the Empire nationalized the Incom Corporation. Technicians and
suppliers in the employ of Incom were secretly sympathetic to the
Alliance, and during a daring Rebel raid, they defected to the
Rebellion, bringing the X-wing fighter prototypes with them. Like
its predecessor, the Incom/Subpro Z-95, the X-wing fighter has a
reputation for being able to absorb damage, but is also quite fast
and maneuverable. In response to the X-wing fighter threat, the
Empire designed the new TIE interceptor to be its space superiority
fighter. The X-wing would become the mainstay fighter for the
Alliance for much of the Galactic Civil War.
The X-wing fighter has a compact life support system of
compressors, temperature regulators, and oxygen scrubbing filters.
A series of acceleration compensators help isolate the pilot from
deadly g-forces generated by high speed maneuvers. There is enough
oxygen, fuel and power in an X-wing for a week of non-combat
operations. Additional consumable tanks can be affixed to the
S-foils at a cost of performance.
Behind the cockpit, accessible from both behind the pilot's chair
and a belly hatch, is the cargo compartment. It has a capacity of
two cubic meters, and is rated for 110 kilograms. Pilots generally
store survival and repair gear in this compartment. The newer
T-65AC4 can carry 150 kilograms of cargo.
In emergencies, the X-wing's Guidenhauser ejection seat can throw
the pilot clear of the fighter. Separator charges blast the cockpit
canopy free, and also launch the astromech unit from the
socket.
A fully integrated Torplex Rq8.Y flight computer translates flight
data from control surfaces to engine performance. Like most
starfighters, X-wings don't come equipped with slave circuits.
Power for the X-wing is generated by a centrifugal vapor fusion and
ionization reactor housed behind the astromech socket. The
generator's initial spins are powered by Novaldex O4-Z cryogenic
cells housed in the ship's aft engineering section. These power
cells are recharged through a super-conducting port. Once powered,
the four Incom 4L4 fusial thrust engines propel the starfighter.
Some models were equipped with Incom 4j.4 engines rated at 300 KTU.
The newer T-65AC4 can attain an impressive sublight speed
comparable to the Alliance A-wing. Maneuverability is afforded by a
system of etheric rudders that change thrust vectors.
In an atmosphere, the X-wing's Incom RDA repulsorlift drive adaptor
provides an airspeed of 1,050 kilometers per hour. The fighter
handles nearly identical to a T-16 skyhopper in an atmosphere. The
New Republic-era fighter can attain speeds of at least 1,300
kilometers per hour.
For hyperspace transit, the X-wing is equipped with an Incom
GBk-585 motivator HCU (hyperspace control unit). The motivators on
each engine provide a class one performance.
The X-wing's main fuselage houses most of its essential electronic
components. The nosecone contains the primary sensor array,
consisting of a Fabritech ANs-5d "lock track" full-spectrum
transceiver, a Melihat "Multi-imager" dedicated energy receptor and
a Tana Ire electrophoto receptor. An alternate configuration
typically contained a long range Phased Tachyon Detection Array
model #PA-9r, and a short range Primary Threat Analysis Grid model
#PG-7u. The array feeds information through a shielded multiplexer
relay to the ANq 3.6 sensor computer. The unit can track up to
1,000 moving sublight objects, acquire 20 possible targets, and can
be programmed for extra sensitivity to 120 specific sensor
signatures. At the very rear of the craft is a Fabritech k-blakan
mini sensor providing the pilot a view of the ship's rear arc. One
of the X-wing's primary weaknesses is a blind spot at the rear of
its belly.
A Bertriak "Screamer" active jammer is the standard sensor jammer
employed by X-wing fighters. The Screamer isn't powerful enough to
jam capital-scale sensor systems, but it can interfere with homing
warheads and jam starfighter sensors.
Four identical Taim & Bak KX9 laser cannons are mounted on each
S-foil wingtip. During combat situations, the S-foils split into
attack position, deploying in an "X" configuration. This increases
the fighter's field of fire, and ensures that all lasers target in
to a specific "zero" point, typically half a kilometer from the
fighter. The lasers are powered by the engine power converters and
are fed by dynoric energy lines that run the surface of the
S-foils. A number of X-wings used Taim & Bak IX4 laser cannons
instead. The New Republic era fighters employ even more powerful
cannons. The laser cannon efficiency is one of the hallmarks of the
X-wing starfighter. At full recharge, this allows for continuous
fire.
For long range targeting, the fighter has two Krupx MG7 proton
torpedo launchers housed in the main fuselage. Each launcher fires
from a three-torpedo magazine for a total payload of six warheads.
For added accuracy in bombing runs, a targeting computer screen
mask extends on a mechanical arm to assist the pilot with precise
firing data. The refitted X-wing recon fighters have had the proton
torpedo launcher removed and replaced with high-gain long range
sensors, processors and high-speed hypertransceivers.
Some X-wings were equipped with decoy and carbon-fiber chaff mines
that could be fired in dogfight situations. The decoys would
broadcast a sensor signature similar to the X-wing, confusing enemy
scanners. The carbon-fiber chaff mines would create dangerous
clouds of sensor-opaque debris that could damage pursuing vehicles
or prematurely detonate incoming warheads.
The X-wing's deflector shield generator is in the aft section of
the vessel. It produces basic shield matrices through a
catalyzation process, and then feeds deflector ducts scattered
along the fighter's surface. The Chepat "Defender" projectors along
the S-foil surfaces generate the starboard and port shields. This
supplements the hardened titanium armor alloy of the X-wing. The
expensive and high-strength alloy sedrellium is used to reinforce
the X-wing's hull.
courtesy of www.starwars.com databank
