TIE Bomber

In Star Wars, the T/B is used by the Imperials for bombing runs (duh, what else?).

The T/B is slower then the standard TIE Fighter, but it has a stronger hull and can carry several missiles or other warheads. The T/B is usually escorted by T/Fs or TIE Interceptors.

Here is a little analogy:
X-Wing:Y-Wing::TIE Fighter:TIE Bomber

Class: Starfighter

Model:                SFS TIE Bomber TIE/b Dedicated Light Bomber
Crew:                 One pilot
Weaponry:             Two SFS L-s1 Laser Cannons,
                     >Two SFS M-s3 Concussion Missile Launchers (4x2 missiles) or
                     >Two SFS T-s5 Torpedo Launchers (2x2 torpedoes)
Propulsion System:    SFS P-s5.6 Twin Ion Engines
Speed Rating (MGLT):  80 (Manuverability 75 DPF)
Power Generator:      SFS I-a2b Solar Ionization Reactor
Navigation System:    SFS N-s6 Navcon Computer System
Avionics System:      SFS F-s3.2 Flight Avionics System

The TIE Bomber is The Empire's exclusive bomber ship. It was designed after the original TIE Fighter design and modified with an extra cylindrical hull for the proton torpedo or concussion missile lauchers. It has twin lasers, titanium hull, bent wings to decrease its profile and extra sensors by Nordoxicon Micro Instruments. However accurate and robust it is, it's also a very slow ship, and that is its greatest drawback. It is clearly the least maneuverable ship in the Imperial Navy.

The bomber can carry a broad spectrum of payloads including Proton Torpedoes, Concussion Missiles, Thermal Detonators, Space Bombs and Orbital Mines. It can carry 2 missile launchpods (4 missiles in each) or 2 torpedo launchpods (2 torpedoes in each) at the same time. Because of its speed and weapons limitations, it's almost always escorted by TIE Fighters.

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The TIE Bomber has also been aerodynamically enhanced to make it better for planetary attacks. Again, its low profile will make it harder to hit. Additionally, it employs the use of an ejection seat which makes the Starfighter Pilots' chance for survival much greater. The TIE Bomber was the first starfighter class ship to have this capability.

Sources: misc Star Wars sites, including the official. ASCII art credit on bomber: pebz. part of