This design is especially unique, in that TIE becomes an acronym for Triple Ion Engine. This is one of the most radical design revisions ever created, sporting three massive solar panels, supplying not only four standard lasers, but two ion cannons, a pair of missile launchers, two Novaldex shield generators, and a small hyperdrive as well! As well as being heavily armed and well defended, each solar panel corresponds to an engine of even newer design than those in the TIE Advanced. The three engines working in unison, as well as triple arrays of manoeuvring jets, enables excellent manoeuvrability at a standard cruising speed of 155 MGLT!

The TIE Defender was developed shortly before the Battle of Endor, expanding upon the concept of the TIE Advanced. Its applications were similar to those of the Advanced: campaigns of vital importance to the Emperor. Only key personnel in Navy command knew that the ship was used to defeat rogue Imperial Admiral Zaarin, who had planned to overthrow Emperor Palpatine.

Its production was extremely limited, due to its enormous cost of over 300,000 standard Imperial credits per unit! This, combined with the death of the Emperor, prevented the fighter from coming into widespread use. Its total production numbers were comparatively nil. The TIE Fighter and TIE Interceptor continued to dominate the Imperial fleet, with only the ultra elite, (such as the Emperor's Hammer Strike Fleet,) still retaining access to these magnificent craft.

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