"Starfighter" is a term used to describe relatively small, maneuverable manned spacecraft designed for military combat, particularly in science fiction (cf starship).
See also F-104 Starfighter, an early jet fighter aircraft. See also Robert Calvert.
The appearance and use of fictional starfighters is often modeled on fighter aircraft, with little regard for the actual physics of space travel. The starfuries in the television series Babylon 5 are a notable exception in at least the attempt to make a more realistic fighter.
Well-known starfighters include those of the Star Wars media empire:
- Rebel starfighters: A-wing, B-wing, X-wing, Y-wing
- Imperial starfighters: TIE Fighter, TIE Interceptor, TIE Advanced