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I-7 Howlrunner

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this Incom Corporation starfighter was designed for the Empire, shortly after Incom was nationalized. Its design and production served as a way for Incom to prove itself in the face of the defection of the team which designed the T-65 X-Wing starfighter. It was named for the Kamarian Howlrunner by its designer, Jo Ewsli. In form it resembled a streamlined T-47 airspeeder in shape, being a long, wedge-shaped craft with a rectangular midsection. At the time of its introduction, little was known about the I-7's performance in battle, although initial engagements during the struggle against the clones of Emperor Palpatine on Byss suggested that has excellent maneuverability and could take a lot of punishment. However, later engagements revealed that the ship's minimal weaponry were insufficient to protect it during prolonged dogfights. The ship measured 11.4 meters in length, and was armed with a pair of laser cannons. It lacked a hyperdrive, but could attain speeds of 1,300 kilometers per hour in atmosphere. Although the ship never found widespread use like the TIE Fighter series, it proved effective in response to the Kuat Drive Yards A-9 Vigilance Interceptor and the FreiTek E-Wing during the early years of the New Republic.