Star Wars: This Is What You Get When J.J. Abrams Really Wants To Have a WWII Landing Craft In His Movie – The First Order Transporter Breakdown
The origins of this spaceship are pretty clear. From the shores of Normandy to a galaxy far, far away, comes the AAL-1971.
The AAL-1971/9.1 Troop Transport, or as it’s more commonly known the First Order Transporter, was an armored troop carrier whose unique design invokes images of a conflict far, far in the future (from a certain point of view). The AAL-1971, or AAL, was designed to carry stormtroopers from orbit to planetary surface.
First Order Transporter – Design
AALs were designed for rapid deployment above everything else. At peak efficiency, a First Order Transporter could ferry a detachment of twenty stormtroopers into a combat zone in less than thirty seconds. Speed, maneuverability, and a surprising amount of shielding kept these craft safe. And the minds behind this craft were non other than Sienar-Jaemus Army Systems.
Sienar-Jaemus Army Systems was a successor branch to Sienar Fleet Systems, created to avoid arms restrictions against selling weapons to the First Order. With Sith loyalists on the executive board, SJAS had operational freedoms beyond compare. This meant they could commit significant resources even to something as simple as a Troop Transport.
Which is why the First Order Transporter was as heavily armored and shielded, despite the First Order’s need for cost-effective craft.
First Order Transporter – Capabilities And Weapons
On datapad the First Order Transport was “lightly armored.” But this was because of the use of Xerradin IonOre in the hull’s construction. In addition to the composite armor, the AAL also boasted an F-Z0 antipersonnel blaster cannon. It was meant to help secure landing zones. With a 240-degree field of fire, the First Order Transporter could clear a path for its troops before even touching the ground.
It also boasted a top-mounted deflector shield generator. A projector located slightly in front of the prow added even more protection to debarking stormtroopers. Voids of inert gas located around the hull also helped dampen blaster bolt impacts. This made it especially resilient to small arms fire.
But what really made the First Order Transport sing were the specialized engines. The SJAS-210 sublight ion engine was one of the pinnacles of SJAS’ design. Lightweight and efficient, but capable of incredible acceleration, four of these engines were mounted on every AAL. These engines, plus electromagetic thrust vectoring fins meant the craft was highly maneuverable. That’s a feature the First Order took advantage of by having veteran TIE Fighter pilots helm these craft.
History of the AAL
The first First Order Transporter ever to see use was 30 years after the Battle of Endor. A battle to “restore order” to the Pressy’s Tumble refinery complex drew the First Order out. And the AAL carried stormtroopers right into the fray.
Poe Dameron famously captured one. He used it to rescue both Admiral Gial Ackbar and everyone’s favorite protocol droid fussbudget, C-3PO.
Assault Landers were used frequently throughout the First Order’s campaigns, and were seen in Jakku, Takodana, even Exegol. No sinister machination of the First Order was complete without these troop-ferrying transports.
May the Force be with you!
