Saber-class fighter tank

• Appeared in:
  
  I
  II
  III
  IV
  V
  VI
  CW

• Size:
  8.2 meters long

• Weapon:
  Medium twin-laser turret, dual heavy laser cannons, dual missile launchers

• Affiliation:
  Galactic Republic, Jedi Order

• Type:
  Combat assault tank

• Manufacturer:
  Rothana Heavy Engineering

• 

From the Expanded Universe

The TX-130 series of fighter tank was the all-purpose ground combat unit for the Grand Army of the Republic. It was a versatile craft that could fill a number of combat roles, from maintaining defensive perimeters to spearheading surprise attacks.

Faster and more agile than the first generation of walker vehicles developed for the clone troopers, the TX-130 carried a medium laser cannon as its prime weapon, which featured a balance of power and firing rate. The fighter tank's secondary weapon is a concussion missile launcher, which fires homing projectiles towards enemy units after a lock is established. The tank's armor was heavy enough to ensure durability, but light enough to maintain maneuverability.

Though often operated by clone pilots, the Saber-class tank was designed to be the Jedi starfighter of ground combat. It was specially designed to make use of the heightened abilities of Jedi pilots. Developed to counteract the powerful ground attacks of the Separatist droid armies, this tank saw frontline action on many scattered Republic military efforts in the Clone Wars.

Rothana Heavy Engineering designed the TX-130 to be highly modular, and many Jedi customized their personal fighter tanks with specialized equipment and mission-specific armaments. The Jedi pilots would operate the tank alone with an astromech co-pilot, leaving the top turret empty. When clone troopers operated the TX-130s in battle, three clones operated the tank, including a gunner.

The Republic fighter tank carried reactive composite armor that could take a beating from even the heaviest weapons, and featured integrated deflector shields that helped further bolster the tank's tough skin. The TX-130 was short-lived, eventually phased out as the Galactic Republic transitioned into the Galactic Empire, and favored larger more imposing armored vehicles. Among the Clone Wars-era battle tanks were the TX-130S series and the TX-130T series.