As pirates, smugglers, crime lords and the Rebellion gained access to more advanced surface-to-air defense weapons, ground suppression and drop-ship missions became increasingly dangerous for the Empire. To defend against these emplacements, a number of Sector commands started replacing the weapons systems of the TIE/gt and TIE Bomber with off-the-shelf communication and sensor jammers. Sienar engineers learned of these field modifications and requested permission to examine them. From these early field prototypes, they designed a successful sensors and communications jamming craft. The TIE/ew is equipped with a communications scanner, full spectrum communications and sensor jammers, and a slightly improved sensor package. Crippling the planet-based forces' ability to see incoming craft, they were unable to target and destroy them before they reached the planet surface. When coupled with TIE/fr's in Hunter elements, these are a great danger to Rebel units. The TIE/ew has saved the lives of many Imperial soldiers.