Darth Maul’s ship, the Scimitar, was a stealth vessel built by Republic Sienar Systems and equipped with a cloaking device, laser cannons, and hyperspace tracking decades ahead of its time. First seen in The Phantom Menace, it was used by Maul to hunt Queen Amidala and later repurposed by Darth Sidious during the Clone Wars and under the Empire. The Scimitar remains one of Star Wars’ most advanced and mysterious starships.
Among the shadows of the Sith, few creations capture their philosophy of secrecy and domination quite like Darth Maul’s ship—the Scimitar.
Introduced to audiences in The Phantom Menace, this sleek, predatory vessel—also known as the Sith Infiltrator—was no ordinary starship. Built by Republic Sienar Systems and believed to be based on an experimental Star Courier, the ship was tailored to match the deadly precision of its pilot.
With its iconic spherical cockpit, foldable wing design, and rare cloaking device powered by stygium crystals from Aeten II, the Scimitar was not only Maul’s personal starship but a ghost in the galaxy—appearing without warning and striking without mercy.
Deployed during the Clone Wars and later used by Darth Sidious, this vessel was capable of hyperspace tracking long before the events of Star Wars: The Last Jedi, quietly linking it to technologies seen in Star Wars Battlefront II and lore explored in Star Wars Outlaws.
In this article, we’ll explore every detail of Darth Maul’s ship—from its proton torpedo launcher and laser cannons to its hidden compartments and chilling missions involving Queen Amidala, Mother Talzin, and Chanath Cha.
The Scimitar was believed to be designed by Darth Tenebrous, though official records remain inconclusive. What is certain is that the ship was built by Republic Sienar Systems as a heavily modified version of the Star Courier—reborn through Sith vision into a deadly prototype.
Stripped of civility and rebuilt for the Sith’s clandestine war, it became an instrument of absolute control. With Darth Sidious as its master architect and Darth Maul as its double-bladed saber wielding first field agent, the ship vanished from public sight, known only to a select few.
To call the Scimitar advanced would be an understatement. Measuring 26.5 meters in length, the ship was equipped with experimental ion engines that required open radiator fins during operation to vent heat buildup.
More remarkable still was its cloaking device—an incredibly rare technology powered by stygium crystals sourced from Aeten II.
This feature allowed the ship to move undetected through both planetary atmospheres and hyperspace routes. So advanced was its cloaking system that even sensor arrays and capital ships failed to register its presence. The Sith had, in effect, built a ghost.
Despite its stealthy frame, the Scimitar was built to strike with overwhelming force. It housed six concealed laser cannons, a proton torpedo launcher, and even a minelayer system for tactical retreats or traps.
In addition to weaponry, the ship carried three DRK-1 "Dark Eye" probe droids, used by Maul for reconnaissance missions.
Perhaps most famously, it also held the Bloodfin speeder—Maul’s compact and aggressive transport vehicle, seen in his pursuit of Queen Amidala on Tatooine.
But perhaps its most astonishing ability was its hyperspace tracking system, capable of following a ship’s drive signature through hyperspace—something thought impossible until the rise of the First Order nearly 70 years later.
The Scimitar made its first and most iconic appearance during the events of The Phantom Menace. Dispatched by Darth Sidious, Maul used the ship to track Queen Amidala’s escape from Naboo.
Descending upon Tatooine cloaked and unseen, the ship became the prelude to a Sith presence long thought extinct.
Its silent arrival, launching of probe droids, and eventual confrontation with Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn and his Padawan Obi-Wan Kenobi marked a turning point in galactic history—the Sith had returned, and the Scimitar was their herald.
Following Maul’s defeat at the hands of Obi-Wan, the Scimitar was recovered by Darth Sidious.
While many presumed it lost or destroyed, the vessel was secretly transferred for study at Kuat Drive Yards before eventually entering Sidious' private collection of hidden assets.
During the Clone Wars, the Scimitar reemerged under Sidious’ command. He and General Grievous used it during their covert assault on Dathomir—a mission that pitted the Sith Master against his former apprentice and the Nightsister Mother Talzin.
Years later, as Emperor Palpatine, Sidious kept the Scimitar in storage at Imperial Facility 729-D, deep within the Inner Rim.
Here, the vessel was maintained by the protocol droid O-66 and assigned to bounty hunter Chanath Cha for a crucial mission: track down the Imperialis, Palpatine’s stolen pleasure yacht.
It was during this operation that the Scimitar’s full capabilities were revealed. Its cloaking and hyperspace tracking systems allowed it to pinpoint and pursue the yacht—demonstrating a level of technology still unmatched by standard Imperial fleets.
Though the mission ended in chaos, the ship’s reputation remained intact.
The Scimitar’s ability to trace hyperspace trajectories predates the First Order’s technology in The Last Jedi by decades. In truth, the Empire had long been experimenting with this capability, as hinted in Rogue One.
But the Scimitar proved it was possible far earlier—possibly due to unique systems that were never replicated.
Whether the Sith deliberately concealed this technology or failed to reproduce it on a larger scale remains unknown. What is clear is that the First Order’s breakthrough may have had its roots in Sidious’ forgotten ship.
The Scimitar made its debut in Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace (1999), designed to reflect the cold efficiency and menace of the Sith. Its folding-wing structure and cloaked silhouette became symbolic of the Sith’s return to galactic affairs.
Conceptual disagreements across multiple reference materials—particularly regarding its hyperdrive class—highlight the ship’s elusive place in Star Wars canon. Despite discrepancies, it remains a fan-favorite example of Sith engineering.
Though the Scimitar was designed as a weapon of stealth and speed, it wasn’t without a surprising feature—room for six passengers in addition to its pilot.
This capacity may seem excessive for a vessel built for covert operations, but it speaks to the broader ambitions of the Sith, who always planned with strategy and contingency in mind. Despite the space, the ship was rarely occupied by more than one. Darth Maul, its primary operator, preferred solitude. Even when the vessel later passed into the hands of Emperor Palpatine and agents like Chanath Cha, it continued to function as a single-occupant strike craft.
Inside, the ship’s design was utilitarian at best—narrow corridors, angular compartments, and a cockpit stripped of luxury. Everything about it was focused on mission success. For the Sith, comfort was an afterthought. What mattered was control, precision, and power cloaked in silence.
In both atmosphere and hyperspace, the Scimitar was built to outpace and outmaneuver its targets. It could reach speeds of up to 1,180 kilometers per hour within planetary atmospheres—a staggering figure for a ship of its size and class.
In hyperspace, it operated with a Class 2 hyperdrive, though some obscure sources have attributed it with either a slower Class 3 or a faster Class 1.5. This discrepancy reflects the fragmented nature of Sith records and the ship’s mythic status among those who only glimpsed it in action.
Whatever the truth may be, the Scimitar’s performance ensured it was always one step ahead. Whether tracking a diplomatic cruiser across the galaxy or vanishing without a trace, it was a predator that needed no second strike.
Visually, the Scimitar was unmistakable. Its core featured a spherical cockpit—a design choice that paid homage to Sith tradition—surrounded by a sharply tapered hull and deployable wing panels.
These panels served more than just aesthetics; when open, they exposed radiator fins essential for cooling the ship’s powerful, experimental ion engines. In space, they gave the vessel an insect-like silhouette—angular, cold, and inherently menacing.
The visual language of the ship mirrored its owner. Just as Maul was a figure of controlled aggression and terrifying grace, so too was the Scimitar—lean, quiet, and utterly lethal. Every line and curve served a purpose. Every system, from its concealed weapons to its cloaking generator, worked in concert to erase its presence from the battlefield until it was too late.
Few beings ever boarded the Scimitar. Fewer still understood what it truly was. But among those who did was the protocol droid O-66, custodian of the vessel during its time under the Galactic Empire. Speaking of the ship’s origins and purpose, O-66 offered a rare glimpse into its legacy:
“This vessel was originally designed as a hunter-killer, with many unique capabilities.”
That quote, brief but deliberate, captures the heart of the Scimitar. It was never intended to ferry dignitaries or lead fleet engagements. It was forged in secrecy, sharpened by Sith ambition, and unleashed only when silence and death were the desired outcome.
The Scimitar’s long life extended across some of the most defining eras of galactic history. While many ships were decommissioned, upgraded, or destroyed, this vessel endured—its role shifting as empires rose and fell:
Throughout each chapter, the ship remained true to its nature: unseen, untraceable, and unyielding. More than just a vessel, it was an agent of the dark side—one that required no allegiance but obedience to purpose.
The Scimitar was never just a ship—it was a statement. A weaponized extension of the Sith Order’s return, it moved with the intent and stealth of a true assassin.
Whether deployed by Maul during his hunt for Padmé Amidala, or later by Darth Sidious to secretly traverse the galaxy and command Sith agents like Chanath Cha, this starship embodied the very essence of the dark side.
Hidden in Imperial Facilities and operated by figures like the droid O-66, it silently carried out missions that shaped galactic events long before the rise of Darth Vader or the fall of the Republic.
While it never reached the mainstream popularity of the Millennium Falcon or appeared in LEGO Star Wars sets, the Scimitar holds a distinct legacy among Star Wars ships.
With its advanced cloaking device, deep combat arsenal, and historic role as Maul’s stealthy predator, the Scimitar reminds us that the Sith never follow the rules—they rewrite them from the shadows.
Whether as a Sith Master’s tool, a forgotten relic of Sienar design, or a hidden threat among the stars, Darth Maul’s ship remains one of the most haunting vessels in the galaxy.
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