Imperial starfighter prototype

A prototype starfighter was being developed in the first few months of the Galactic Empire TIE starfighter. It was a forerunner to the famous TIE Series.

Characteristics
The design of this prototype consisted of a spherical command pod, equipped with horizontal wings covered with solar panels. The cockpit's access hatch was located at the top of the sphere. While the prototype fighter featured an ejection system consisting of a catapult unit under the pilot's seat, this technology was unpredictable. Sometimes, the catapult device would explode and vaporize the pilot. Other times, the access hatch failed to open, slamming the seated man against the pod's roof.