During the waning years of the Republic, Republic Sienar Systems first developed the original T.I.E. fighter, the craft that was the forerunner to the standard Imperial vessel. When Palpatine cemented his rule, the rechristened Sienar Fleet Systems entered into an exclusive arrangement producing the starfighters of the Imperial Starfleet.

With this transition came the upgrated TIE, which went under continual revisions until the TIE/ln became the standard line starfighter in Imperial use.

The hexagonal solar panels supply power to a unique propulsion system. Microparticle accelerators propel Ionized gasses at a substantial fraction of lightspeed. These gasses are then expelled from rear vents to generate thrust. The ion streams can be directed along amost any vector, allowing for the TIE's incredible velocity and maneuverability. The twin ion engines have few moving parts and require comparably less maintenance to the starfighters of the Alliance.

TIE fighter units are typically organized into wings -- a grouping of 72 fighters carried aboard a Star Destroyer. These wings are subdivided into six squadrons of 12 fighters each.One of these squadrons is typically made up of TIE interceptors while another consists of TIE bombers. Each squadron consists of three flights of four fighters each. Each flight contains two elements. An element is the smallest tactical unit of starfighters ever deployed, and consists only of a leader and a wingman.

TIE production was extremely modular and automated, as the Sienar foundries churned out countless starfighters to fuel the insatiable Imperial war machine. Variant models of the basic TIE include the TIE/rc (a model with advanced sensors and communication gear for reconnaissance missions), the TIE/fc (equipped with accurate fire control and target designation for long-range naval bombardments), the TIE/gt (with an enlarged hull to delivery heavy ordnance).