The Galaxy's Deadliest Bomber -- The K-Wing: Full Breakdown (Legends)

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We examine the Greatest Bomber in Star Wars History -- the K-Wing, a heavy bomber used by the New Republic in Star Wars Legends. We'll look at the K-Wing's stats, weapon loadout and features in today's Star Wars Legends lore video!
Gameplay from the Empire at War "Thrawn's Revenge"
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[@survivor686]

Designer: "So what weapons did you want? The proton torpedoes, the concussion missiles, ion bombs or the quad turbolasters?" New Republic: "Yes."

[@Wryteous]

Basically the scene from Iron Man 2 where Justin Hammer is laying out all the weapons. With New Republic Admirals being Rhodey.

[@jedhaney3547]

...quad laser turret... not turbolasers... turbolasers are capital ship grade weapons.

[@jedhaney3547]

@Austin Su ...No it does not lol. It's a quad laser cannon. The same found on the Millennium Falcon. A turbolaser is only found on capital ships and other large vehicles/emplacements. The smallest vessels to be armed with turbolasers are corvettes, not starfighters/bombers.

[@JustJopero]

@@jedhaney3547 It actualy does, or at least the latter generation did. Eck even mentions it in the vid.

[@jedhaney3547]

@@JustJopero That was a misspeak/misprint, a starfighter sized ship doesn't have the energy to mount a capital grade weapon such as that. That'd be like a F-16 mounting a 16inch naval gun... the gun you're speaking of is the same gun the Falcon has 2 of.

[@Newie69MK]

Starfortress Bomber: What are you? K-Wing: I'm you but actually useful.

[@nielsmichiels1939]

Star fortress: wwII bomber, outdated and outmatched. The K wing: A star wars version of the A10. A plane that refuses to retire Because it's too good.

[@khadenallast4495]

​@@nielsmichiels1939 *"The K wing: A star wars version of the A10."* How? The A-10's claim to fame is the ability to fly low and slow for CAS, which by the way is a role that it rarely ever performs anymore (B-52's are used more frequently than the A-10 for CAS even, think about that).

[@captianmorgan7627]

@@khadenallast4495 Though A-10s are designed to do so while under fire and be a large threat to tanks. B-52s, not so much.

[@thiccchungo1041]

Using the starfortress is like using a WW1 zeppelin bomber and using the K-Wing is like using an A-10

[@khadenallast4495]

@@captianmorgan7627 With guided bombs of various types, the B-52 is a considerable threat to tanks. As for taking fire, both aircraft are only _really_ useful in areas where complete air dominance, including the removal of SAM batteries, has been achieved. At least modern defenses, they might luck out against older 70's era tech. As for anything smaller, like ground fire from infantry, if your B-52 is taking fire from infantry you're not flying it right.

[@imitationcrabmeat474]

Chad K-wing vs Virgin Resistance bomber

[@Melody_Raventress]

Giga-chad K-wing.

[@omarbaba9892]

Tbh I think the resistance bomber looks less stupid than the K wing

[@yanzak-ds8jw]

Honestly, this just makes me feel more depressed when I think of all the missed potential when it comes to ships in the sequel trilogy. Think about it, all the ships in legends to choose from and what do we get? a Tie fighter with a different paint job, and X wing with some smoothed out bodywork, and a heavy bomber so badly designed I thought it was an improvised warship when I first saw it. How much cooler would it have been to see Tie Defenders facing off against K-wings and E-wings?

[@wet_weather_imp]

To be honest, I like that they aren’t included in the abominable Sequel Trilogy

[@canisblack]

I know, but that wouldn't have fit Ryan Johnson's mission of giving a big, fat middle finger to all the long time fans who missed Legends.

[@thiccchungo1041]

All the new ships are just the same ships from return of the Jedi with different paint jobs minus the TIE Interceptor, B-Wing, Y-Wing, and the TIE Bomber

[@TheTdw2000]

Creatively designed ships don't sell toys and don't give nostalgia

[@yanzak-ds8jw]

@@TheTdw2000 The truly frustrating thing is that it would have. Fans familiar with the Extended Universe would get a kick out of seeing old ships in new roles and new fans would just be excited to see some more ship types.

[@zarander]

I enjoyed the realistic fleet battles in The Black Fleet Trilogy. The Battle of ILC-905 was tense and exciting in the third book.

[@martinjrgensen8234]

zarander It is a great trilogy of books

[@zarander]

It was a bit boring at times, especially the Luke parts. But Lando and the mystery of the ghostship was exciting. There was genuine political intrigue. So many indepth characters that we've never met but were well written.

[@ItsAVolcano]

Between the turrets and massively overloaded wings, this feels more like a B-17 bomber than the starfortress that was specifically designed to be.

[@robertsutton1295]

Reminds me of pics I've seen of Vietnam-era jets loaded up for ground attack missions. Like the F4 Phantom.

[@reidveryan9414]

Its like an AC-130 crossed with an A-10.

[@jasonfike4548]

I think that the lack of a Hyperdrive system is actually a reasonable sacrifice. As it saw its genesis in the carrier-filled New Republic fleet in operations against the Empire’s large dreadnought fleets, the hyperdrive could be ditched for a classic haul into battle where it could deliver its payload. Also, against an enemy like the Yuuzhan Vong, the ship would be incredible for dealing immense damage to larger craft (or maybe even delivering biological weapons...)

[@jacobparslow8723]

The lack of a hypderdrive is still a major handicap. Lets say your flying a K-wing, you go into battle and while it might go aright for you the carrier that brought you in is taken out. Guess what... your fucked unless there is a planet or secondary carrier to get you close range. But not just you, you and the three other crew you have. The Ion engine should have not been added and instead a hyperdrive put in it's place. Even if it's a shitty slow one it would still get you moving an a ship of that size could carry plenty of rations if needed.

[@Attaxalotl]

And you could probably bolt a hyperdrive to a hardpoint if you needed to.

[@phillipgouthier5525]

@@jacobparslow8723 what are the odds that there wouldn't be another carrier, given New Republic fleet doctrine? Also the lack of hyperdrive makes perfect sense, as in the middle of fleet battles, which the bomber was built for, would need to rearm in the middle of battle to remain fully effective in battle.

[@cgi2002]

@@phillipgouthier5525 in that logic yes it makes sense. It needs to rearm mid battle, but that's were it also falls down. Your implying your carrier is close enough for it to reasonably fly back to it, rearm, and launch again, without this carrier been turned into a large amount of scrap metal by the Imperial ships. SW (except the rebel alliance) gets fighter/bomber combat entirely wrong. The logic behind carrier bomber combat is, the ability to bring to the battlefield multiple disposable smaller craft with a large payload, without risking their launch platform. And yes I mean disposable, cruel but true. By keeping their carrier/base out of the system, your limiting your exposure. There is also a very important thing to note, the lack if a hyper drive severely affects the ability to retreat/redeploy rapidly. Take first example the scenario, your fleet is attacking, you have the upper hand, but suddently, enemy reinforcements arrive and are threatening the carriers directly. Your carriers now have 2 choices, wait for their bombers to return before they run, or leave the bombers behind. The second option is the only acceptable option every time, and also the option no republic captain will ever take as "they are the good guys, and never leave anyone behind". They can't even use the logic of "a hyperdrive is big", a good one fits an an A wing. You could fit one, and a basic navi computer inside one of the crews chairs. It's just the design argument of "we made this kicks bomber, but it'd be too powerful if it was actually capable of completely doing its job, so let's make it entirely useless without a carrier to make it more reasonable". You know the first thing a competent engineer would do after getting these aboard ship, is figure out how to rig them with a hyperdrive.

[@Buzzy_Bland]

Kingsnake Command The hardpoints are pretty exclusively places to mount self-propelled weapons systems like missiles and torpedoes, not ship systems. They’re the points where said weapons are attached underneath the wings so a hyperdrive probably wouldn’t be capable of interfacing there. Not to mention you’re basically putting one of your ships most important systems outside of the hull.

[@rivertownproductions]

The K wing reminds me more of a B17 Flying Fortress than the Star Fortress bombers from last jedi.

[@Hopolit1]

Now that you mention it, it kinda does

[@brambo3011]

Yea I noticed that too, and I think I like the K-Wing design better...imagine how cool it would've been if we could've seen K-Wings in the sequels...

[@CallanElliott]

Given how resilient the B-17 was (I mean those things came back so shot up, it would have taken a spitball to bring them down), those Star Fortresses are an insult to their legacy.

[@TerLoki]

Nah, ball turrets aside I know exactly what the K-wing is: It's the A-10 Warthog of Star Wars. Tough, ugly as sin, and so heavily armed that it can be said that they built the fighter around the weapons rather than vice-versa.

[@asliceofcheese7152]

No, it's like the real s10 ground bomber I think...

[@skytheannur6168]

Empire At War's Remake had a fitting description for the K-Wing Kitchen Sink Included.

[@swfcocs1]

The black fleet crisis trilogy is well worth a read, one of the many hidden gems within Legends

[@AdamTehranchiYT]

The dependence on hardpoints IMO makes it reasonable to tie the K-wing to a carrier. Not to mention that it would probably be pretty easy to make a hyperdrive that attached to a hardpoint.

[@Eye_Of_Odin978]

You could probably just add one as a permanent fixture inside. The TIE Defender and TIE Phantom added Hyperdrives but didn't change the ball cockpit pretty much at all so idk where they supposedly put these new components. The reason the K-Wing didn't have them was probably just cost tbh.

[@hydrogenone6866]

I said this before and I'll say it again, this should have been in the movies.

[@Attaxalotl]

First order should've used Tie Defenders, resistance bombers should have been K-wings, B-wings, and Y-wings they got for a discount.

[@jacobhunter6891]

Well, at least we got those really cool redesigned X-Wings and A-Wings. I think it's really clever how the Resistance X-Wings have two large, circular engine inlets that split into four semicircles. It's just like Ralph McQuarrie's original drawings of the X-Wing from back in the 1970s: live.staticflickr.com/5753/22451280884_5ff3c3ac65_b.jpg

[@renaissancenovice7202]

It would have been gorgeous

[@xavierpethtel3563]

But why? Why would you have the FO ditch their varied arsenal of cool TIE variants for one ship? The TIE sf, the TIE whisper, the TIE dagger, the FO TIE bomber, the TIE Baron and of course, the least original, the TIE FO, Id much rather see this diversity Than defenders all the time. Also K-wings for the Resistance would look cool but again make no sense, why does the Resistance have This OP as frick ship when they’re supposed to be using what they got, and for what it’s worth, the Resistance bomber is still a cool new design equally awesome in its capabilities if used correctly, you could just tilt it back and fire the magnet bombs like a rail gun, it has 1048 bombs, so you’d hit something.

[@theevildrummingsithlord1492]

@@Attaxalotl Why for a discount? Shouldn't they have everything?

[@Wryteous]

If they could bring the K-Wing into even a brief scene or episode within the next season of the Mandalorian- that would be fantastic. I feel like it's the only series where seeing any ships from the New Republic from Legends may ever be possible.

[@kostakatsoulis2922]

Then we have another to hate disney: if they were planning on bringing the k wing into canon anyway, then why couldn't just put it in the fucking sequels!?!?!?!?!?!?

[@yepperdeedooda]

They should just make an old school new Star Wars type of movie and put all the things in it that were in the books.

[@nickthompson9697]

The star wars we deserve.

[@robertnelson9599]

@@nickthompson9697 The Star Wars Disney is too cheap to ever make.

[@MistedMind]

Yep.... In my mind I treat it like "the Kelvin-Timeline" of StarTrek. I MIGHT have happened, but not in the SW-Universe as we know it. I'll always remember the X-Wing books and the Thrawn-Story etc etc as "the true Sequels".

[@noneedtoknow07]

Star wars: Legends Reborn.

[@xxvaltielxx1789]

*Disney:* have more Lego Porgs

[@Tracer_Krieg]

The K-Wing: the A-10 Warthog of Star Wars... and also it's most Orkiest ship ever made.

[@khadenallast4495]

...how? The A-10 is a ground attack aircraft intended for engaging ground targets. It can *_barely_* defend itself against aircraft and only at short range, and doesn't carry ordnance for sinking ships. For a while now it's been used almost exclusively as FAC, not even engaging so much as directing other aircraft to the target. There's really nothing about how the two craft work that's similar.

[@MrDgwphotos]

@@khadenallast4495 You're taking the comment too literally. The design clearly has inspiration from the A-10, it is NOT a copy.

[@khadenallast4495]

​@@MrDgwphotos *" The design clearly has inspiration from the A-10"* Where? The fact that it has one of its three engines out of line with the wings? I'd say it takes more inspiration from aircraft like the B-26 Marauder, right down to having to be careful not to shoot its own tail off with the rear turret.

[@westrim]

@@khadenallast4495 Because it has chunky, squared wings, tons of hardpoints, a turbine look to the engines, and generally looks armed to the teeth and unaerodynamic.

[@khadenallast4495]

@@westrim Neither its wings nor hardpoints are unique to the A-10. I mean have you seen an A-1 Skyraider or A-37 Dragonfly? The only thing that even vaguely reminds me of an A-10 looking at this thing is that one engine sticking up out of the wing, but I'm more reminded of the "rocket car" from Mythbusters than an A-10 when I look at how small and flimsy it looks.

[@joshuacastillo2644]

Nobody: Eck: "I used the my channel to sponsor my channel"

[@crillybafoon7730]

I use the channel to boost the channel

[@michaelramon2411]

My headcanon was always that the exterior hardpoints system for the K-wing made hyperspace travel more difficult or dangerous. Hyperspacing with those munitions freely exposed might risk radiation in hyperspace setting them off or something. I think that would be a good explanation for both why there was no hyperdrive and why no other starfighters tried the exterior mounts configuration.

[@ChakatBlackstar]

"So we want a fighter with the bombs on it." "Um...which bombs?" "ALL of them".

[@EckhartsLadder]

New Stellaris mod: kzbin.info/www/bejne/eZmygIWfntuGl9E Gameplay footage via the Thrawn's Revenge mod for Empire at War.

[@onyxcrusader9536]

Can you please continue the basic series Or like a faction basics

[@thecalmclone2813]

What would you think of an empire at war remastered or a new star wars RTS game as the devs who made empire at war are eager to work on a new star wars RTS game.

[@onyxcrusader9536]

The Calm Clone if it’s made by the same people yes and I want legends or canon to be optional eg like how can either do single or multi

[@mcgounfinlay4949]

Do you know you said "that's enough of the A wing? 😂

[@DarkZenith]

B-Wing please, include details from the B-wing expansion for swing that goes into detail on the craft right from Lucasarts!!

[@telesian5143]

Apart from the lack of a hyperdrive the K-wing has a few other problems. The top twin turret has very limited side and rear firing arcs and limited front arc, when firing left/right you are in danger of hitting the pilot/co-pilot conopy, when shooting to the rear you'll hit the 3rd engine. Forward firing arc is limited to straight ahead due to the canopies. I know that in some art the twin turret is raised eliminating some of the problems. The quad turret's placement as shown in some of the art also has no or limited rear firing arcs. Its top speed is also fairly slow no faster that a Y-wing leaving it vunerable to faster craft, but thats a problem all bombers have.

[@redplague76]

Tel' Esian, Thank you, I was just going to make this comment. This ships layout makes little to no sense. Get rid of that third engine, and maybe move the turret towards the rear. Also not a big fan of hardpoints on a stars wars vessel. No other fighter or bomber in Star Wars has that. They have launchers. I’m sorry, this ship looks like it was designed by a 10 year old.

[@billyfluffya6304]

Its size too. Seem 4 time wider and longer that a B-Wing , who is almost as fast as a X-Wing. Feel the K-Wing is unnecessary.

[@NinjaTyler]

@@billyfluffya6304 keep in mind the K wing was meant not for rebel strikes but for full military attacks with escorts and capital ships, these things are basically superior star fortresses that just need a couple fine tunings to the designs to look more inline with other star wars ships

[@patrickfiller5197]

Star Wars Legends: K-wing. Me, and intellectual: Space BRRRRRRRT

[@Axolotl234]

Patrick filler you mean a 10

[@Helmovic]

@@Axolotl234 that's the joke

[@bthsr7113]

Ehhhh, it's built more for missiles, bombs and rockets. The A-10 would be more like a cross between the Rebels B-wing prototype and the Arc-170. Built around a weapon, not to launch them.

[@Axolotl234]

Understandable have a great day

[@eldrenofthemist2492]

@@bthsr7113 I want that In star wars. What should we call it. :3

[@UGNAvalon]

I personally would love to see EC Henry attempt an “updated rerelease” of the K-Wing; at least so it doesn’t look so “cluttered”/“over-designed”, and also so it doesn’t feel “too perfect” as a next-gen fighter, or “overly unbalanced” in its role as a fighter-bomber (ie including your suggestion of a hyperdrive, likely at the cost of some weapon-firepower, so that it can fulfill its role as an escort or recon fighter without being hamstrung by a time-costly takeoff/landing time using up valuable minutes from the attack run).

[@vali6717]

My second favorite bomber of all time after the unforgettable Y-Wing.

[@kostakatsoulis2922]

Same bro, I will fight anyone says the y wing is bad, is my favorite starfighter

[@MasterGenshu]

@@kostakatsoulis2922 I once was in a Tournament some GM was running in Star Wars Galaxies back in the day, I went in my Longprobe Y-Wing and was killing mofos in Dogfights. I was pretty good but didn't expect to beat people in X-Wings or Tie Interceptors. I didn't win mind you. Took Eighth out of thirty maybe. First and Second place winners were in Eta-2's. I got some good Ship parts as a reward and someone was impressed so they helped me get the Eta-2 Actis Jedi Interceptor. Was crazy had to switch to Imperial to get it then switched back. Was worth it.

[@kostakatsoulis2922]

@@MasterGenshu awesome I love it when the y wing gets some love

[@bandiras2]

"It doesn't have a hyper drive" ... ... ... YOU WHAT?!?!?! Gimme an army surplus 5+ hyperdrive, a broken R3 droid with a working core, and mount those together behind my seat, and I will fly it. Or forget it.

[@spudnik2997]

And why didn't they add the k-wing in the last jedi instead of that useless star Fortress bomber at the start of the movie.

[@nickthompson9697]

Because Disney wars was designed to fail from the start. Kathleen Kennedy had a whole universe of content to draw from and ignored all of it.

[@max-and1]

It would have been too awesome seing that thing in action and disney does not want that

[@maxpower3990]

Because they wouldn't take crippling casualties and thus Poe's wouldn't learn anything. They could then have used them to attack several of the Resurgence class ISD's or launch an attack of the MSD engines to slow it down enough for the Resistance to escape.

[@MrDgwphotos]

Because "legends".

[@cgi2002]

Because it couldn't actually get to the fight. No carrier for it to launch from, and launching it from the Raddus would have just seen the Raddus destroyed first. In truth, they were all lost with the Republic fleet, since they were useless without it. Rebels/resistance can't use a ship with no hyper drive.

[@basteala525]

If only the resistance had this instead of the PoS bomber they had, eh?

[@firehawk5962]

they would of wiped out the dreadnought before it even got close

[@davantebarbain3216]

Thats what ive been saying i showed this to my friend after the last jedi and said this is what we should have got

[@firehawk5962]

you are so right

[@hydrogenone6866]

@@davantebarbain3216, So what did your friend say?

[@delta2372]

If they had K-wings the entire FO fleet would have been ahnilated

[@commander1935]

7:00 "Is this a joke? It's not chasing down anything, what kind of interceptor is this?" "It intercepts capital ships."

[@MOBIUS1107]

The K-Wing is literally the Star Wars version of the A-10

[@brianhudson3619]

Kinda what I was thinking, as well.

[@khadenallast4495]

...how? The A-10 is a ground attack aircraft intended for engaging ground targets. It can *_barely_* defend itself against aircraft and only at short range, and doesn't carry ordnance for sinking ships. For a while now it's been used almost exclusively as FAC, not even engaging so much as directing other aircraft to the target. There's really nothing about how the two craft work that's similar.

[@MOBIUS1107]

@@khadenallast4495 they literally took a platform and said "fuck it. Throw everything and the kitchen sink on it".

[@khadenallast4495]

@@MOBIUS1107 Except that's not what they did with the A-10. The A-10 was built around its 30mm gun, literally being more akin to a gun with wings than an aircraft with guns. Additional hardpoints largely go to fuel and flares and then ordnance for CAS and anti-armor, excepting two for close range air-to-air defense. I'd say it's closer to a medium bomber from WWII like the B-26 Marauder than an A-10. It even has to be wary about shooting its own tail off.

[@max-and1]

What about the imperial scimitar assault bomber?

[@CommunityFan]

The Scimitar only has two laser cannons and 16 missile rocks, and has no hyper drive, The K-Wing is based off WWI/II Bombers, so it is going to be a beast of a bomber.

[@max-and1]

@@CommunityFan ww2 bombers?? It seems to be like a modern a10

[@max-and1]

@@CommunityFan anyway the sab better than a normal bomber

[@Cyrum7]

Yeah it’s closer to a fusion of a f-22 and a a-10

[@darthjarjar6894]

I’d put the scimitar at second best

[@swfcocs1]

The chiss clawcraft is another excellent Legends craft

[@absentrocket8619]

What about the droid attack on the wookies?

[@neblolthecarnerd]

Someone already said this

[@Fordo007]

I feel the lack of hyperdrive was literally just the New Republic being forced to nerf the K-Wing to not make it too OP. A K-Wing Squadron with a hyperdrive... they could roll up and just destroy anything.

[@henrybell2178]

The A-10 of star wars

[@khadenallast4495]

...how? The A-10 is a ground attack aircraft intended for engaging ground targets. It can *_barely_* defend itself against aircraft and only at short range, and doesn't carry ordnance for sinking ships. For a while now it's been used almost exclusively as FAC, not even engaging so much as directing other aircraft to the target. There's really nothing about how the two craft work that's similar.

[@proofostrich9061]

Khaden Allast He means that they both have a great amount of fire power. Now can you stop copy pasting this on every comment?

[@khadenallast4495]

@@proofostrich9061 Lots of aircraft have the same amount of firepower. Also I'm not pasting it on every comment, just the ones that try to link the A-10 to the K-wing. Why not take issue with how many people are posting the same damned thing?

[@proofostrich9061]

Khaden Allast True

[@carloscollazoii]

I Love your Legends Lore Videos! Keep up the good work!

[@user-Jay178]

Great video and this bomber is awesome. Love your star wars content

[@TheJedaiHero9000]

Really liked and enjoyed watching this AWESOME vid about the K-Wing. It is really INCREDIBLE, no question about it.

[@Tar-Numendil]

My favorite bomber in Star Wars is the PTB-625 Planetary Bomber because of its relationship to the ARC-170 (which is my favorite fighter).

[@EksaStelmere]

This ship is my brother's all-time favourite Star Wars ship. Nice to see you do a video on it, Eck.

[@Wolf359inc]

The K-wing doesn’t need a hyperdrive - it can SLAM (sub-light acceleration manoeuvre). And when it does, it’s almost as effective as a hyperdrive. For hit and run tactics, do what needs to be done, SLAM out, and rendezvous with its capital ship. Absolutely my favourite squadron to fly in the first edition of the X-wing miniature game. A squadron of three, outfitted with Cluster Mines, Advanced SLAM, and bombardiers. Fly towards (and hopefully, over) the enemy, drop cluster mines either right in front of, or on top of, their ships, and SLAM away. Turn around, and do it again. When you eventually run out of mines, attack at range one (preferably not head on) with your turreted weapon, for three dice attacks. I caught so many players off guard with this, from novices to regional champions, that I became known in my area as “the K-wing guy”. Then changes were made to the rules, which affected when mines could be deployed, and SLAM engines. The current rules don’t even allow the K-Wing to take Advanced SLAM, as it is a Modification, and non-Ace piloted K-wings no longer have that slot (despite being one of the very few ships that can SLAM in the first place…).

[@LukeWatson99]

love you man, keep up the great work

[@phoenixx913]

The K-Wing when you want every weapon in existence on your ship at once. Probably my second favorite fighter/bomber after the Y-wing which is my favorite.

[@that_benji]

X-Wing is my favorite miniatures game and I've always wondered if it was going to make its way into one of your videos.

[@remuslazar2033]

I dunno, it kinda looks like a futuristic Earth aircraft

[@xxvaltielxx1789]

Space battles in SW are WW2 era dogfights, what's your point?

[@Draxynnic]

Honestly, it's something that gets me as well. Whatever the inspiration for the dogfights, Star Wars technology is different to WW2 technology. One of those distinctions is that the ordnance payload is pretty much always internal. X-Wings, Y-Wings (both original configuration and stripped down), A-Wings, B-Wings, Naboo fighters, ARC-170s... you need to look pretty closely to find where their ordnance is actually fitted. Even the TIE Bomber has it all in one big weapons pod which is an integral part of the spaceframe. The K-Wing with its wing-mounted external stores sticks out like a massive sore thumb in this context. There's a rule that's been set by basically everything else in the setting, and the K-Wing breaks it in a big way.

[@xxvaltielxx1789]

@@Draxynnic i mean, it's a big Galaxy, with different corporations, civilizations, ways of life, practices, why is it weird of someone decided to put guns outside of a starship's frame? Vulture droids and Tri-droids have missiles attached to them, the V-Wing (speeder) has rocket pods and if i'm not mistaken, TIE Defenders had their concussion missiles attached to the wings.

[@Draxynnic]

@@xxvaltielxx1789 First, the K-Wing is made by Koensayr, same company that made the Y-Wing, so it's not like we're talking about an entirely different cultural mindset here. Second, I'm talking about ordnance storage here, not guns. External guns are fairly common. Regarding your examples, the V-Wing speeder has underslung blaster cannons, but carrying ordnance at all is something that seems to only be in the Rogue Squadron game. TIE Defenders have the launchers in the main pod (where the cannons are on a regular TIE/Ln) according to the specifications I have, although it wouldn't surprise me if Disney has changed that. The droid fighters have missiles in semi-recessed racks, but these are on designs that are smaller, lighter, and more expendable, and even then they're in somewhat protected locations rather than just hanging off the wings. The K-Wing, with its ordnance just hanging there like a pre-5th generation jet fighter, does stick out in this environment. It would fit in better if the wings were thicker and the ordnance was mounted INSIDE the wings rather than hanging from them.

[@telemarkaeology]

I get the objection to the lack of hyperdrive, but the best thing about the 5th Fleet (and the best thing about the "Black Fleet Crisis" books) is the idea of diplomatic and economic concerns factoring into the fleet's development, design, and deployment. Thus the bits about the Defender Program getting rolled into the New Class Modernization Program. The design was purpose-built to be carrier-deployed in ops that would take and hold territory, a serious departure from Alliance battle doctrine. Since EVERY starship in this universe is a compromise between role, equipment, technology, cost, speed, etc, the K-Wing drops the hyperdrive to focus on other aspects of her design. Relatedly, in the SWE@W Thrawn's Revenge Mod, the Fifth Fleet battlegroup model actually makes for an excellent little fighting force.

[@owlwaifu4949]

I love the design of the k wing yet people don't like it for some reason

[@CallanElliott]

It reminds them that you don't need a Death Star to have planet destroying firepower.

[@calebskillin2694]

This thing gave the imps hell in x-wing minis, that slam ability combined with bombs and the turrets to disrupt tie formations

[@SSA_Pizza]

Less gooo! A breakdown of a tier XX starship.

[@captainbashir5174]

Have you cover the Aurek fighter? Depending on what lore you read, it served for a few thousand years.

[@michaelbeale2498]

I'd love to see a video on the missile boat. It's a fair comparison against the K Wing as space Superiority bombers. Maybe talk on TIE fighter a bit. Love that game.

[@samspeed6271]

A great video. I love the K-Wing. It's the kind of thing you'd get if Jebediah Kerman (from KSP) was told to design a bomber for Star Wars. If in doubt, just add more. More boosters, more laser cannons, more missile pylons, more bombs. In fact, I wonder if K in K-Wing stands for Kerbal. It's a mad Starfighter, and that's what's so great about her. Shame she doesn't have a hyperdrive, but you can't have everything. I mean, she's so well armed I'm sure you could sacrifice some weaponry so you could fit a hyperdrive, and it'd still be more effective than a Y-wing or B-wing or almost anything for that matter.

[@lightspeedvictory]

#askeck which type of deflector shielding is a more effective form of protection: a bubble-like field that’s constantly active or when the hull is struck, sensors in the armor trigger nearby generators that trigger a transient energy field localized in the area? Video suggestion/request: X-83 Twintail vs. Tie Defender (Legends)

[@bjornancraite2266]

This fighter always reminded me a lot of the A-10 Warthog. I'd love to see this in Squadrons, perhaps balancing a Tie Defender.

[@jamesbeach7405]

Great video. I'm playing thrawns revenge ascendancy 2 (a sins of a solar empire mod ) I think a profile on e wings would be really fun.

[@historydude6022]

Do a breakdown on keldabe class battleship. It is a mandalorian ship with many cool features

[@max-and1]

That thing in eaw remake mod is too op

[@historydude6022]

@@max-and1 ya

[@blackshogun272]

What about the Mandalorian Kyramud-Type Battleship ?

[@deep.space.12]

Let's make it more ridiculous: - You're in space. There is no air. You can add more wings as gun pylons. - You're in space. There is no up-down. You can mount weapons on the "top" size of your wings. - You're in space. There is no drag. You can strap weapons on top of other mounted weapons.

[@1014p]

Star Wars space is more like an ocean. There is indeed additional physics involved.

[@jedhaney3547]

Cept vessels such as these routinely operate in atmosphere.

[@spartan078ben]

There may be no air, no up-down, and no drag, but the power-to-weight ratio still matters. You can strap on as many weapons as you want but it won't do anything if it can't get off the deck...

[@casbot71]

It's basically a Star Wars version of a WW2 light/medium bomber. A pair of turrets and a load of bombs, mixed in with decent performance and the ability to manoeuver. However the actual design does seem to have flaws with the turrets not having full coverage, the rear from the upper quarter seems like a dead zone, and that's the most common vector for a approach. A more pragmatic design would have the turrets top and bottom, although the top rear of the K-Wing and other protrusions would need to be modified. Basically give it the weapon placement of the Millennium Falcon. Something like that on a missile boat would be terrifying.

[@ErelasInglor]

@EckhartsLadder Would love to see you cover the Fang Fighter if you get the chance, would be great to have it get more recognition as it was incredibly capable but the Rebels unfortunately procured very few of them.

[@Gigas0101]

You know you're the EU when your fighters have quad turbolaser turrets.

[@ccjacks3]

I’d love to see y’all try the Xwing miniatures game and please more star fighter break downs

[@firehawk5962]

Hi Eck just wanted to let you know you are my favorite youtube channel and you are amazing. Stay safe.

[@onyxcrusader9536]

Yay finally more legacy content

[@DarkNova50]

Have you ever done a dedicated video on the TIE Defender? I don't know too much about it, but that ship sounds like it could outperform just about anything in the Alliance/New Republic arsenal.

[@brambo3011]

First time I saw this ship was in a mod for OG BF2, and I've loved its design ever since. If an A-10 Warthog and a B-17 Flying Fortress had a child in Star Wars, it would be this awesome ship!

[@Znieh1]

I’d love to see you cover the Alpha-class X-g1 Star Wing. Not enough love out there for Imperial fighters that aren’t TIEs.

[@adamjohnson4821]

The Eta 2. Love that little ship.

[@victor227]

On the one hand, a lack of a hyperdrive is a ridiculous flaw for a New Republic ship, and keeps them from being used in long-range situations without it becoming a possible suicide mission. Likewise, the dependency on carriers makes it a 'victory or death' bomber in pitched battles. If there's no way to carry it home, it's dead. So if, say, an Endurance eats the brunt of an SSD's assault, and forces a retreat, you're like to leave behind a number of expensive, heavily-manned fighters. On the other hand, at the time of its introduction, the New Republic was getting pretty cocky. The Fifth Fleet had Nebulas, Endurances, and a variety of support ships, most of which could carry fighters. They were ready to go head-to-head with Imperial fleets and win handily, and barring stupid tactical choices, the Endurance carrier hung back (and launched all its fighters at the start of battle instead of holding them back to swoop in for a good kill). A hyperdrive is an expensive luxury when the bomber is being used in fleet battles and can be picked up after it's finished being the incarnation of an ISDII's darkest nightmares. If I was in charge of designing it, I'd have gone the Endurance/Nebula route, and made two fighters on the same basic hull design, sharing most of the components. A four-man version with slightly less ordinance in exchange for a hyperdrive, designed to operate independently at long range, and a two/three-man version to operate as a short-range bomber in fleet engagements, sort of like the Defender-class starfighter, which also lacked a hyperdrive, but was an excellent interceptor/superiority fighter.

[@eds1942]

The hyperdrive systems were probably modular so that those used in fleet engagements or heavy assaults could carry other packages, from a beefier power plant, shield generator or munitions without the extra mass.

[@jedhaney3547]

Hapan ships, the Miy'tel? Or the Blade fighters from the Starfighters of Adumar book. The one where a hungover Wedge orders Hobbie to shoot down the sun lol.

[@Petcistor]

A-10 in space

[@firehawk5962]

kaboom

[@Pokeman1280]

The big question, does that quad laser brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrt in atmosphere?

[@kabob0077]

@@Pokeman1280 It better, or else it needs to have two GAU-8 strapped to it.

[@firehawk5962]

maybe it goes bzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzt

[@kabob0077]

@@firehawk5962 I can hear that...

[@sweatbox128]

K-Wings also appear in the Bespin: Platforms map for the Battlefront II conversion pack.

[@NeocadeX]

That thin joint between the main hull and front.

[@danielboatright8887]

The KWing shines in the phoenix rising EAW mod, have a few squads on standby and a few launched from your capitol ships, and those extra star destroyers are fucked. Probably my favorite all time battle in EAW years back was in an old build of phoenix rising, the AI had a soverign class up and had just smashed my main fleet, so I bring in all my Kwings and a group of quasar fire carriers, the SSD went down after a long while.

[@itzrazer_yt8264]

hey eck ur my favorite youtuber i watch u every day btw i was jw will star wars squadrons be able to use hotas joysticks

[@battlefieldcustoms873]

This is exciting I am painting my K-wings this week

[@Tzankotz]

that outro gets me every time lol

[@llamazing4326]

Nice vid

[@max-and1]

That thing in empire at war remake mod is a beast lol

[@kevinwise1997]

I'd like to see a side by side comparison between the Z-75 Headhunter, and the two X-wing types from the rebel alliance and the new republic!

[@kostakatsoulis2922]

The one thing the new Republic did well with their military

[@max-and1]

And what about the nebula class sd

[@Flarecobra]

Love to hear your thoughts on the Assault Gunboat (Starwing) and the Missile boat. :D

[@conwaysquest6961]

This thing is the A-10 of Star Wars and I love it.

[@bradhedgehog12]

Sweet dude

[@EgoEroTergum]

Every credit spent on hyperdrives is a credit not spent on weapons or STL drive performance. We know from the prequels that hyperdrives almost double the cost of a ship. We also know from real life that it's logistically cheaper to make payloads and drives separate; whether talking about detatchable rocket boosters, or just moving battle tanks by train/plane to the front. I think we dismiss driveless fighters because the Empire used them and also lost the war; but we forget that it wasn't TIE fighter swarms that did the losing. By and large, the TIEs were enormously cost effective, and at least in the OT downed many times their value in Rebel equpment. TIE fighters were not the tactical mis-step that Star Destroyers or the Death Stars were. If anything they were one of the systems that really held up supported the rest of the bloated fleet. The K-Wing takes a good que from them.

[@balrighty3523]

I don't know if you've covered this one, but my favorite from the old TIE Fighter game was the XG-1 Gunboat.

[@nathandsouza1180]

He eck was the nebula star destroyer and the endurance carrier used by the galactic alliance as a main cruiser?

[@bthsr7113]

My counterargument? The Skurrg H-6 prototype, AKA HAVOC. Armed with a total of 8 cannons, to bomb chutes, a bomblet generator, and more.

[@Cheesehead_Caleb]

Man, if only the Resistance had kept a squadron of K-wings instead of those godawful star fortresses, they're smaller, faster, more durable, have an equal damage output, more well designed, take less crew members to function effectively, and most importantly, dont need to be within the explosion radius of the target to deal damage of it!

[@cgi2002]

Problem was the K wings design makes it entirely useless outside of a traditional fleet. Without a hyperdrive, its basically useless. All the jobs Eck listed for it from the guides, its actually useless for most of them. Scout- too slow, no hyperdrive. Escort- too slow, no hyperdrive. Special forces- no hyperdrive. Basically it boils down to, no hyperdrive makes it mostly useless, and same speed as a Y-wing makes it far too slow for its era, when you consider the Y wing was too slow for it's own era, nearly 50 years earlier. Also the Y wing with its original ball turret, had better weapons placement. The K wing can't fire at anything that's below the level of its wings to its rear, the upper turret can't aim there, and the forward turret can't actually fire at the complete rear if you look at how its connected to the ship. At this point, bring an actual gunship, they are faster, have similar armament (usually with better placement), same crew requirements, similar profiles (the K wing is frankly huge), and they come with a hyperdrive which drastically increases their usefulness. Sad truth is, the K wing is the demon spawn of a TiE bomber and an emplaced weapon. Lots of offense, big and mean looking, but basically useless vs anyone who actually has ranged weapons or speed.

[@Cheesehead_Caleb]

@@cgi2002 still would have been better than the star fortress though...

[@cgi2002]

@@Cheesehead_Caleb be honest, TiE bombers were better than those.

[@nitrocatmeower8941]

I think Luke's comment about the Millenium Falcon is misplaced, as it clearly belongs in the description of the Starfortress.

[@The.Orange.Wizard]

But even with the hyperdrive, the starfortress were almost too slow to make it to the target, and when they did reach it they were caught in their own explosion

[@jackalnerf6230]

Ask Eck: Where in the new canon could Mara Jade be brought back in some form?

[@Raleyg]

You should do a video on the Mandalorian Davaab-type starfighter

[@seamus2059]

Is their tie defender in this mod?

[@d_valroth]

If you mean Empire at War Extended, yes. Yes there are. It has, as far as I'm aware, every TIE model other than the Phantom. (Which can no longer be produced per Rebel Assault 2) That includes the TIE Droid. (Though currently the World Devastators are broken, so I don't think you can get any.)

[@seamus2059]

@@d_valroth ok

[@evilperson160]

I feel like the durability heavy armament, and maneuverability of the K-Wing would also lend itself to being a highly effective platform for close air support during ground engagements. It is essentially built like a star wars take on the A-10 Thunderbolt used by the US Air Force. The K-wing's turbo lasers and missiles could overwhelm armored vehicles and infantry in quick flybys while its laser cannons would provide cover against enemy interceptors.

[@The_Brickster]

But what about the droid attack on the Wookies?

[@fidgeysrii4888]

Omg i wanted this so much. I love the k wing ❤️❤️❤️

[@miqvPL]

would love to see a comparison between K-wing and Tie/ca known in legends as Tie/it. I think imperial ship can carry 32 concussion missiles or 16 proton torpedoes as well as 32 proton bombs, which would be unrivaled by K-wing with K-wing being more independent thanks to gunners. I don't really understand K-wings hardpoints though, if it would allow to install 18 proton torpedo launchers with 3 torpedoes each for example. That would make it's firepower rival that of tie/ca

[@noahyang9362]

The K-wing looks like it's the love child of the A-10, a hammerhead shark, and maybe a Y-wing.

[@nathanvatter9382]

I'd love to see an E-wing video

[@RiffSilverthe1andonly]

When the new Republic had a meeting about new fighters: “We need a new bomber to destroy big ships that is heavily armed” “So, just put two turrets and I bunch if missiles on it.”

[@hammer1349]

I see another critical design flaw that seems to be common with pretty much all post clone wars/rise of the empire era: that being an exposed neck. Any decent hit could snap it in two even with the armour plating, in an area that small it's either armour or internal structure with limited room for compromise. Admittedly bulking out the 'neck' would mean having to widen the rear fuselage a substantial amount though perhaps making room for additional hardpoints on the underside. Another issue which I imagine they solved in the gen 2 or later versions is that top mounted engine nacelle is creating a massive blindspot for the top gunner and it would seem the bottom chin turret would have a hard time getting fire arc on anything directly behind it

[@kabob0077]

Ah, the K-Wing, also known as Star Wars' very own A-10 equivalent. Praise Brrrrrrttttttttttt.

[@delta2372]

I feel bad for the guys who are caught in a bombing run by K-wings on land battles

[@Boromir16]

To be fair to the K-Wing, the lack of a hyperdrive is not the worst problem such a vessel could have. With a crew of 4, the vessel would need more space allotted for the supplies a crew would need for trips through hyperspace lasting days or weeks. This reallocation of space would either needed to be added to the already heavy fighter's size and mass or sacrifice some weapons or systems which would in turn decrease the K-Wing's performance. So for what it does, I would say powerful fighter of that caliber being tied to a carrier as one of the options of the New Republic's bomber arsenal is a fair trade-off.