TIE/sa bomber

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Production information
Manufacturer
Sienar Fleet Systems

Product line
TIE series

Model
Twin Ion Engine/sa bomber

Class
Space/planetary bomber

Technical specifications
Length
7.8 meters

Maximum acceleration
2,380 G

MGLT
60 MGLT

Maximum speed (atmosphere)
850 km/h

Engine unit(s)
SFS P-s4 twin ion engines (rated 125 KTU)

Hyperdrive system
None (can be equipped as upgrade)

Power plant
SFS I-a2b solar ionization reactor

Shielding
None (can be equipped as upgrade)

Hull
Titanium alloy hull with quadanium steel armor(50 RU)

Sensor systems
SFS S-c3.4 multi-range TAG

Targeting systems
SFS T-s7b targeting computer
Nordoxicon bomb sight

Navigation system
SFS N-s4 Navcon

Avionics
SFS F-3.2 flight avionics system

Armament
SFS L-s1 laser cannons (2)
SFS T-s5 proton torpedo launchers (2)
Standard load: 4 torpedoes each (often modified to hold 6 each)
SFS M-s3 concussion missile launchers (2)
Standard load: 8 missiles each (often modified to hold 10 each)
Bomb bay (variable load) (1)
ArmaTek SJ-62/68 orbital mines
ArmaTek VL-61/79 proton bombs
Thermal detonator(s)

Crew
Pilot (1)

Passengers
None

Cargo capacity
None in flight pod
15 metric tons in bomb bay

Consumables
2 days

Life support
Life-support system equipped

Other systems
Ejector seat


The TIE/sa bomber, simply known as the TIE bomber, was a larger, less maneuverable TIE starfighter used for destroying large starships and pinpoint-precision bombing. The "sa" in the TIE bomber's designation stood for "surface assault."

Due to their distinctive dual-hull shape, TIE bombers came to be referred to occasionally as "dupes" by enemy pilots.

The TIE/sa bomber had two hulls next to each other; one carried the pilot and the other carried a pair of general purpose warhead launchers, enabling them to carry a variety of weapons tailored for the mission. The bomber was much more heavily built-up than the "fighter"-series of TIEs; it carried more sophisticated sensors to penetrate capital ship jamming and SFS P-s4 twin ion engines powered by a SFS I-a2b solar ionization reactor to allow a full payload to be carried at a reasonable speed.

An Imperial Star Destroyer generally carried a squadron of 12 bombers. The TIE bomber was capable of carrying one of the following payloads: sixteen concussion missiles, twelve proton torpedoes, eight proton rockets, six space mines, four proton bombs, sixty-four thermal detonators, or thousands of propaganda pamphlets. Its fixed armament was two wing-mounted laser cannons.

The bomber was agile enough to deliver devastating strikes with surgical precision; as shown by a mission when a group of these craft destroyed a Rebel-occupied tower in the middle of a crowded city while leaving the surroundings untouched.

Nonetheless, the bomber was slower and less maneuverable than the TIE/ln starfighter. Like most mass-produced TIEs, it lacked shields, though it did partly compensate by having a stronger hull. Standard Imperial doctrine required that bombers be escorted to target by other starfighters.

While not expected to engage enemy fighters in dogfights due to their slower speed and agility, TIE Bombers could target them from a standoff distance with their large magazines of concussion missiles. During the conflict at Mylok IV, a squadron of Demetrius Zaarin's bombers held off large numbers of Nharwaak and Rebel Y-wings, allowing the Imperials to aid the Habeen in evacuating their base. Due to a shortage of TIE Interceptors during the pacification of the Pakuuni system, Maarek Stele thrust his bomber into the space superiority role against Rebel and pirates, once defending Thrawn's craft from an attack while he visited the newly completed outpost NL-1. Imperial commanders used bombers to counter Rebel B-wing starfighters, with the TIES launching their missiles directly into their flightpaths.

The TIE Bomber's lack of shields was crucially exposed during the Sepan Civil War. There, the Ripoblus conducted an attack on the Dimok Science Station Youst spearheaded by six Assault Transports. The station's defending fighters, consisting of Z-95 Headhunters and Delta-class JV-7 escort shuttles, quickly fell victim to the turrets of the ATR-6 that they were trying to attack. When Admiral Harkov's forces entered the area to repel the Ripoblus, they deployed TIE Bomber to take out the ATR-6s from a safe distance with proton torpedoes. Imperial pilots discovered that a full-strength ATR-6 could survive even three torpedo hits, with several Bombers lost trying to finish off the injured ATR-6 with laser cannon fire. Maarek Stele opted wisely to replace his payload with proton rockets, which required more careful aiming, but one of these devastating warheads was enough to quickly destroy an ATR-6. Near the end of the campaign, while covering the transfer of TIE Avengers, Stele distracted the gunners of the Dimok cruiser Ben Het so bombers could safely conduct their torpedo runs against it, resulting in its destruction.