RZ-2 A-Wing Interceptor
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The RZ-2 A-Wing Interceptor is an upgraded version of the earlier A-Wing, deployed by the Alliance Starfighter Corps as a heavy interceptor. It is faster but heavier than the standard A-Wing, and is considerably more expensive to produce. It was developed by the SoroSuub Corporation.
History
Originally conceived by design team Dodonna & Blissex, the original RZ-1 A-Wing Interceptor was intended to be constructed by the Alliance Underground Engineering group, at a number of secret facilities across the galaxy. Each craft was built on an individual basis, varying from the official specifications at times to fit with the resources and equipment available. These discrepancies ultimately led to technical complications in active A-Wing Squadrons: each individual craft could require an entirely different array of spare parts, causing a logistics nightmare. With the allegiance of the Mon Calamari with the Rebel Alliance some of the problems were alleviated, but the Alliance still only managed to field a small number of active fighters during the Battle of Endor.
It was decided that the A-Wing needed to be standardised for mass production, and so the Alliance approached the same Incom engineers who had defected to the Alliance with the X-Wing design plans, as well as the designers at the SoroSuub Corporation. While the Incom engineers focused on perfecting the existing RZ-1 design, which went into production at the Mon Calamari Shipyards soon after, the SoroSuub engineers focused on modifying the design to make it more robust, versatile, and competitive: when the RZ-1 had been developed the TIE Fighter had been the most formidable craft the Empire could field, and specifications had been developed accordingly. With the advent of the TIE Interceptor however, the Alliance wanted a fighter that would continue to hold its own in modern warfare.
Standard parts for the propulsion systems allowed the SoroSuub engineers to squeeze extra speed out of the twin J-77 Event Horizon engines. They simplified the hull design, flattening out some of the curves in the Mark I design to increase the internal capacity and allow space to incorporate additional redundancies to the primary systems, and to increase the structural strength of the ship. The signature pivoting laser cannons were removed in favour of a pair of fixed heavy laser cannons to increase firepower. Unfortunately, the more powerful weapons caused a drain on the Bpr-99 Fusion Reactor, but other adaptations to the craft allowed for an increase in manoeuvrability, increasing the fighter's chances of evading hits.
The Mark II comfortably met with requirements, almost matching the TIE Interceptor in terms of agility, and capable of higher speeds, faster acceleration, and more firepower. Initial testing of the design was conducted by units including Valkyrie Squadron and Thunderbolt Squadron some two years after Endor, and the ship entered full-scale production soon after.
Despite the advantages of the Mark II over the Mark I, some Fighter Squadrons preferred the slightly better shields and variable elevation laser cannons of the original design.
Known Squadrons
Alliance of Free Planets
