The X-Wing is easily one of the coolest and most iconic starfighters in Star Wars. I mean, just look at it—the design, the functions, the way it moves.
I’ve got to admit, I’m hooked on the X-Wing.
But being such a fan of the X-Wing makes me wonder: if you stack it up against the Imperial TIE Fighter, the X-Wing is objectively better in almost every way.
So why didn’t the Empire just go with the X-Wing instead of sticking to the TIE Fighter?
Turns out, there’s a method to the madness—it’s all part of the Empire’s battle strategy. Let me break it down for you.
The Mass Production Is Part of the Empire Tactic
As I just discovered, the price difference between the TIE Fighter and the X-Wing is staggering.
A single TIE Fighter costs 60,000 credits, while the T-65B X-Wing, the model we first saw in A New Hope, is priced at 150,000 Imperial credits.
Essentially, for the cost of one T-65B X-Wing, the Empire could produce two and a half TIE Fighters.
Now, you might wonder, what’s the point of comparing the prices of these starfighters? The answer lies in the Empire’s battle strategy.
TIE Fighters weren’t designed for individual dominance; they relied on overwhelming their enemies with sheer numbers.
Instead of equipping each fighter with advanced features like shields or hyperdrives, the Empire focused on producing as many units as possible.
This swarm tactic allowed the Empire to overwhelm Rebel forces, making up for what their ships lacked in durability or advanced technology.
We can see this strategy play out clearly in battles like Scarif and Endor.
During the Battle of Scarif, when the Rebels made their desperate attempt to break through the Imperial defenses, the Empire didn’t hold back.
They sent out wave after wave of TIE Fighters, completely swarming the Rebel ships.
The Reason the Empire Didn’t Adopt X-Wings
The Empire’s decision to favor TIE Fighters over more advanced starfighters like the X-Wing wasn’t just about cutting costs; it was a reflection of their entire military philosophy.
While X-Wings boasted advanced features like shields, hyperspace capability, and navigation droids, the Empire saw these additions as unnecessary luxuries.
The TIE Fighter’s stripped-down design lacked protective shields or hyperspace engines, making it far less durable than an X-Wing. However, this also made them significantly cheaper and faster to produce.
For an Empire that ruled over thousands of systems, this was a strategic advantage.
The Empire’s recruitment strategy also played a role. Pilots were mass-recruited with minimal training, much like their stormtroopers, as seen in Star Wars: The Bad Batch’s Project War-Mantle.
The logic was simple: quantity over quality. Elite pilots might graduate to more specialized TIE models, like Darth Vader’s TIE Advanced x1, but the majority were expected to fight and, if necessary, be replaced without much concern for loss.
This approach allowed the Empire to project power across the galaxy, prioritizing intimidation and dominance over precision and survivability.