Lambda-class shuttle
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Shuttle_tyderium.jpg
In the fictional Star Wars universe, the Lambda-class shuttle is a standard light utility aerospacecraft in use throughout the Imperial Navy.
Built by Imperial starship manufacturer Sienar Fleet Systems, it is reasonably well-armed, with two wing-mounted dual laser gun turrets and a pair of chin-mounted, fixed-forward twin laser guns, suggesting that its main role is special operations forces insertion and extraction. Its similarity to an already-existing type of civilian light utility craft reinforces this impression. However, because of poor acceleration and manueverability it is incapable of adequately defending itself from enemy starfighter forces. This is exemplified by all flights of ranking Imperial personnel being accompanied by a pair of TIE fighters.
The Lambda-class shuttle was being phased into service during Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back, replacing an earlier craft seen in Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope, and production ceased soon after the Empire fell. The distinctive trihedral foil design, first seen in Republic transports in Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith, is reminiscent of the T-16 Skyhopper, designed by Incom Corporation, but rather than three fixed wings, the two lower wings are mechanically articulated. During flight, the lower wings fold out for stabilization, and when landing, fold in, thus shrinking the vessel's size.
The shuttle Tyderium is an example of the Imperial Lambda-class shuttle. The Rebel Alliance captured the Tyderium and used it to transport a small Rebel commando team to the forest moon of Endor. In geostationary orbit above the planet was the construction site for the Empire's second Death Star, which was using an image of false vulnerability to lure the Rebel fleet into a massive trap designed to wipe out the Rebellion. The Rebel taskforce managed to destroy the Imperial Shield Generator which was projecting a protectionary field around the Death Star from the surface, thus enabling Rebel fighter craft to approach and compromise the Death Star's security perimeter, allowing them to directly destroy critical components of the terror weapon's main reactor.
In the LucasArts computer game TIE Fighter, the Lambda-class shuttle was erroneously referred to as a "Tyderian shuttle". It is unknown how or why this error occurred.