RZ-2 A-Wing Interceptor
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The RZ-2 A-Wing Interceptor is the latest incarnation of the highly successful A-Wing design.
Contents |
History
Originally concieved 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 alligance 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 a new model of the A-Wing was required, and so the Alliance approached the same Incom engineers who had defected to the Alliance with the X-Wing design plans. They were to develop a Mark II A-Wing for construction at Mon Calamari, to conform with resources readily available there. There was also some call for improvement in the design: 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 Incom 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 adaptions to the craft allowed for an increase in maneuverability, 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. Mon Calamari Shipyards continued to produce the design in small numbers, to maintain the remaining Mark I units.
Known Vessels
Rebel Alliance
Pre-Reset
Before the reset, the Mark II A-Wing more closely resembled its Expanded Universe counterpart, retaining the basic hull design and rotating weapons of the original design.
