Because of their small size, most starfighter navigation computers or navicomputers could only carry one or two hyperspace routes which either had to be pre-programmed into the computer or installed via removable datachips (for emergency jumps, navicomputers could also receive coordinates transmitted from friendly ships). Some starfighters were equipped with a hyperdrive, whether integral to the craft itself or by means of external attachment such as a hyperspace transport ring. Starfighters were equipped with warning systems to let them know when an enemy missile was locked on to them, and could also use their laser cannons to shoot these down, even against missiles traveling at incomprehensible speeds, so long as their targeting computer was functional. Other common forms of protection included heavy armor plating and sensor jammers. Some starfighters though, notably the Eta-2 Actis-class interceptor and TIE/ln space superiority starfighter series, were not equipped with shields, relying instead on their maneuverability and the pilot's skills to avoid these dangers. Typically they carried a single deflector shield generator, which could be adjusted to protect specific parts of the starfighter. Many starfighters were equipped with deflector shields to protect them from enemy fire, radiation, and micrometeor impacts. Starfighters could also cause tremendous devastation when working in groups: a squadron of Y-wing bombers were capable of carrying enough ordnance to glass an entire city, bathing the battlefield in blinding white detonations which scrambled enemy sensors. However some starfighters like the A/SF-01 B-wing starfighter carried sufficient armaments that they could destroy capital ships on their own. Often these were effective against other starfighters and similar targets, but didn't have the firepower to punch through the defenses of a capital ship as during the Battle of Naboo. The primary weapon for most starfighters were laser cannons, but these could be supplemented with additional weaponry such as proton torpedo launchers to provide additional firepower.

Certain classes of transports, shuttles, and light freighters, although more commonly used to move cargo and passengers around, could also pack considerable armament and maintain a degree of maneuverability. Certain classes of starfighters could be modified to trainers while still retaining combat capability. Their heavy armament often granted them considerable air-to-air or space-to-space combat capabilities, despite being optimized for air-to-ground combat.

Gunships were heavily-armed vehicles designed to deploy ground forces in landing zones created by their heavy weaponry. Interceptors represented a range of starfighters that usually emphasized speed and agility over versatility and firepower, sometimes at the expense of ordnance payloads, life support, or hyperdrive capabilities. Bombers were starships designed to carry heavy ordnance payloads, often at the expense of maneuverability and straight-line speed.

Starfighters often had some degree of overlap with other ship classes, as well as a few distinct sub-classes. Y-wings were considered both bombers and fighters. 3.2 Invasion of Naboo and Separatist Crisis.

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