I have to admit, Star Wars Resistance had some seriously cool ship designs, and for me, Black Ace was easily the best. What makes it even more interesting is that, by definition, it’s technically an “Ugly”—a term used for ships cobbled together from different parts. But let’s be honest, if you saw Black Ace first, you’d never guess it was a Frankenstein ship. In fact, I’d almost believe TIE Interceptors were built from pieces of this instead of the other way around.
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A Modified TIE Fighter with a New Purpose
The Black Ace was a heavily customized TIE fighter flown by Griff Halloran, a former Imperial pilot who later became one of the elite racers on the Colossus platform. Modified from the standard TIE/ln space superiority model, the ship was rebuilt specifically for high-speed racing. Unlike standard TIE Fighters, which were designed purely for combat, the Black Ace stood out as one of the fastest and most unique ships in Star Wars Resistance.
Despite its sleek modifications, Black Ace still retained its Imperial origins, blending classic TIE Fighter elements with personal upgrades that gave it both style and speed.
Imperial Origins, Personal Touch
What makes Black Ace so fascinating to me is how it blends Imperial engineering with Griff Halloran’s personal touch. It started as a standard TIE Fighter, but Griff didn’t just tweak a few things—he transformed it into something entirely unique.
At first glance, it still has that classic TIE Fighter cockpit, instantly recognizable with its spherical shape and forward-facing viewport. But everything else? Completely changed. Instead of the usual twin solar panels on pylons, Black Ace sports larger, swept-back wings, almost like a TIE Interceptor. This gives it a sleeker, more aerodynamic look that’s perfect for racing.
One of the biggest upgrades is its reinforced hull and engine system. We all know that regular TIE Fighters are fast but fragile—no shields, thin armor, and built purely for speed. Black Ace, on the other hand, looks sturdier, like it’s been reinforced to handle high-speed racing without falling apart. The engine has likely been modified too, boosting its acceleration and maneuverability beyond what a standard Imperial TIE Fighter could ever pull off.
Performance and Specifications of the Black Ace
Since the Black Ace is a heavily modified TIE Fighter, we don’t have official numbers on its exact speed. However, we can make an educated guess based on the performance of a standard TIE/ln space superiority starfighter and the enhancements made for racing.
A regular TIE Fighter has a maximum atmospheric speed of 1,200 kph and a spaceflight speed of 100 MGLT (megalight per hour). These starfighters are already designed for agility and speed, sacrificing shields and heavy armor to maximize performance.
With the Black Ace being customized specifically for high-speed racing, it’s safe to assume it’s even faster than a standard TIE Fighter. Griff Halloran likely upgraded its engine output and aerodynamics, pushing its top speed beyond 1,200 kph in atmosphere and increasing its acceleration in space. While the exact numbers remain unknown, its design and modifications suggest that it was one of the fastest ships in the Colossus racing circuit, making it a formidable competitor both on the track and in combat situations.