The TIE Defender is the most powerful starfighter in the Empire's possession and in the Galaxy. It is one of the most sophisticated starfighters ever to be developed. It was used to help defeat the traitor Admiral Zaarin, who had planned to depose of the Emperor! The numerous weapon systems allow the TIE Defender to engage multiple enemy fighters. This fighter served in the most elite fighter wings in the Empire, due to the horrendous price and the rarity of this excellent fighter. This Imperial starfighter was developed at the Imperial Naval Weapons Research Station in the Parmel System a short time after the Battle of Hoth. When the first TIE Advanced were seeing combat, Admiral Zaarin's team worked on prototypes for the next generation of TIEs, which would be the TIE Defender. These fighters were first revealed just before Admiral Zaarin turned traitor on the Empire.

    The TIE Defender is a radically redesigned TIE, departing from the conventional TIE designs and features. Its triple solar arrays along with the significantly improved manoeuvrability through the use of triple arrays of manoeuvring jets on the tri-wing assembly, makes the TIE Defender capable of dives and twists that would put even the remarkably agile TIE Interceptor to shame. Unfortunately, the remaining TIE Defenders in Imperial hands were put into safe storage under the orders of the Emperor by Admiral Thrawn to prevent any further losses to this already rare starfighter. This was done due to combat losses and because of the treacherous Admiral Zaarin's successful efforts in destroying the Empire's TIE Defender manufacturing capability. The traitor Admiral Zaarin extensively used the TIE Defender in his attempt to overthrow the Empire, while at the same time denying the Empire from the TIE Defender's benefits.

    The Rebels made several attempts to destroy, capture and even purchase the TIE Defender. Each of the Rebel attempts ended in disaster for the Rebel Alliance. The Rebels tried to purchase TIE Defenders from the Nami, a nomadic warrior peoples who were led by Ali Tarrak who were driven into the Outer Rim Territories during the Clone Wars. The Nami were able to capture a TIE Defender. They also managed to produce TIE Defenders for use in their forces and for sale to the Rebels. But the Empire was able to quickly crack down on the Nami and put a stop to their short lived resurgence of power, thereby insuring that the TIE Defender technology would not fall into anyone else's hands.