This expansion idea would focus on better versions of existing fighters. The attack/health stats would be identical except each has a special ability. Tie bomber is improved over tie striker (having it mirror the stats of y-wing would break the uniqueness of the factions). Tie interceptor is improved over tie fighter. A-wing is improved over x-wing. B-wing is improved over y-wing. The new fighters could only be built through research space stations (no blue triangle conflict).

RESEARCH SPACE STATION
One research space station miniature will be placed on build queue two and build queue three at start of the game. Once you can deploy the research space station (first would be round 3), it ignores loyalty rules and may be placed anywhere (including remote/neutral/unoccupied systems). A research space station is owned when a player has a fleet occupying that system (no system loyalty is required). When the Time Marker reaches a Build Icon (first instance is round 4), one research fighter is placed on build queue two (therefore the first time a new fighter could be deployed is round 6).

IMPERIAL RESEARCH UNITS

TIE BOMBER
Health: 1 black
Attack: 1 green
Special: 1 proton torpedo token
At start of battle with tie bombers present, place proton torpedo token per tie bomber between the two space fleets. These tokens can be destroyed during the first round of combat with a critical hit. If a proton torpedo survives, flip the token over and place underneath an opposing unit of your choice. The token will now show 1 damage. At the end of every future round, that opposing unit will gain another damage token. The proton torpedo token can be removed if the opposing player rolls the lightsaber symbol of that unit's health. Proton torpedo token can only used once per tie bomber per battle.

TIE INTERCEPTOR
Health: 1 black
Attack: 1 black
Special: first strike
At the start of each round of space combat, tie interceptors roll their dice first and destroyed units are removed from the game before they can attack.

REBEL RESEARCH UNITS

B-WING
Health: 1 black
Attack: 1 red
Special: 1 ion torpedo token
At start of battle with b-wing present, place ion torpedo token per y-wing between the two space fleets. These tokens can be destroyed during the first round of combat with a critical hit. If an ion torpedo survives, flip the token over and place underneath an opposing unit of your choice. The token will now show the unit is ionized. The ionized ship cannot attack during future rounds although it can roll its own dice separately to try and remove the token. The ion torpedo token can be removed if the opposing player rolls the lightsaber symbol of that unit's health. Ion torpedo token can only used once per y-wing per battle. Rebels Ion Blast space combat card would need to be redesigned to give an opposing unit an ionized token instead of deal 1 damage (giving ion cannon a needed buff).

A-WING
Health: 1 black
Attack: 1 black
Special: first strike
At the start of each round of space combat, a-wings roll their dice first and destroyed units are removed from the game before they can attack.

I was trying to implement these new fighters without increasing the play time, adding new dice, having them all be built from blue triangles, getting access to them too early, or destroying the uniqueness of the factions.