After 33 years, Ahsoka season 2 will finally show one iconic Star Wars starfighter in combat. Ahsoka season 1 lovingly adapted many spaceships into live-action for the first time, including Ahsoka Tano’s epic T-6 Jedi shuttle. But long-term followers of the old Star Wars Expanded Universe were particularly excited at one other inclusion.

The E-wing was an advanced combat fighter introduced in Tom Veitch and Cam Kennedy’s Dark Empire all the way back in 1991. A nimble fighter, it made its live-action debut in Ahsoka when one pilot tried to catch up with Sabine Wren on her speeder. It was a thrilling moment, albeit not exactly an action scene.

Ahsoka Season 2 Footage Has Confirmed We’ll See E-Wings In Action

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Attendees at Star Wars Celebration were given an exclusive sneak peak at concept art for Ahsoka season 2, which is currently in production in the U.K. The images are sparse in detail, but one subtle detail has recently excited the fanbase; the fact they confirm we’ll finally see an E-wing in action.

Set five years after Return of the Jedi, Ahsoka season 2 will divide its focus between Ahsoka’s adventures on the extragalactic planet of Peridea on the one hand, and the battle against Grand Admiral Thrawn on the other. It’s safe to ᴀssume the brief glimpse of an E-wing in action is part of the Thrawn campaign.

The E-Wing Is Becoming A Star Wars Mainstay

The E-wing was one of the most iconic ships in Star Wars Legends, although there were some conflicting portrayals and aspects of the design. It became particularly ᴀssociated with the New Jedi Order era, used by the New Republic during the Yuuzhan Vong invasion.

The E-wing technically made its canon debut in Marvel’s Poe Dameron comics, when it made a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it cameo. But Ahsoka season 1 was the first time we’ve ever seen an E-wing in live action, however small a role the vessel played. It’s appropriate that it is again tied to the New Republic, albeit the canon version.

A glimpse is one thing. It looks as though Ahsoka season 2 will finally allow us to see the E-wing in action, allowing us to compare its effectiveness with the more famous X-wings. It’s an unexpected surprise, but a delightful one, to be sure.