[quote=mattmanganon]
Not really, they have a single engine, a pair of blasters and a cockpit to stop the pilot falling out... That's it. They are the most basic of basic fighters. And that was the point, so the Empire could pump out thousands-upon-thousands of them for dirt cheap.
[/quote]

True enough, Ties were rolled off in the dozens. While the Empire had access to better ships TIES were easy to fly, and easy to produce. Also the fact they were all always identical and pilots weren't allowed to make customisations to them meant that you could pull a pilot from one SD to another without moving the fighters. In the Republic and New Republic they would move the fighters with the pilots.

Made things easier logistically. TIES main power comes from its rapid fire laser or from large swarms, if Matt has some of them he only will have the former advantage. He'll be able to scrape against uglies such as TYE-Wings but anything that has a shield his fighters immediately start out in a negative position.