Lord Vader’s personal fighter during the Battle of Yavin was the prototype TIE Advanced x1. It was one of several prototypes used by Sienar Fleet Systems (SFS), and it proved to be the most successful. In fact it was so good that many of its ideas and design were used in the development of the TIE Interceptor and the TIE Avenger.

The ship had the familiar solar panels on the wings, which were bent like those of the TIE Bomber. It had a longer rear deck than others in the TIE series, as well as a reinforced durasteel-alloy hull. The drive system was much more powerful than that of the TIE/In, as it carried a SFS I-S3a solar ionisation reactor and paired SFS P-s5.6 twin ion engines. Unlike its predecessors, the Advanced had shield generators, which meant that the fighter was only slightly faster than the other TIEs. The Advanced had more mass and a lot more power was used in keeping the shield generators powered. Although less manoeuvrable than other TIEs, it was able to withstand much more than the other Imperial starfighters.

TIE Advanceds did not have life-support systems, and so the pilot had to wear a suit that had an internal oxygen supply. The shock couch that they were strapped in to had foot yokes and a panel for manual control.

Like the others in the TIE series, the Advanced had twin heavy blasters fixed in a forward firing position. Unlike other Imperial fighters, it had a hyperdrive, although this was very limited as the navigation computer could not store more than ten sets of jump coordinates.

The Empire decided not to order the TIE Advanced in great quantities. The few that were produced were placed in elite squadrons, and Vader had one for personal missions. He placed a few on his Star Destroyer squadron, although they did not see much action. The Imperial Navy said the ship was too expensive, but the truth of it was that they were afraid. They did not like the thought of it having a hyperdrive engine, as it might mean that orders for new capital ships would be cut.

As a compromise, the TIE Interceptor was made. This had the Advanced’s drive system, but in a much smaller fighter. The Interceptor lacked a hyperdrive, which pleased the Imperial Navy, but it was extremely fast and highly manoeuvrable. Plus it was much cheaper to produce than the Advanced. The production of the TIE Advanced x1 stopped completely by the time of the Battle of Endor; the Interceptors were being used so much, that there was no use for the Advanced.