Manufactured by the SoroSuub Corporation, the Drexl-class starfighter was a two-seater starfighter designed for short-range missions. Its namesake was the Drexl avian species originating from the moon of Dxun. Initially conceived as a prototype for the Preybird-class starfighter, the Drexl boasted a pair of laser cannons alongside a concussion missile launcher.
The SoroSuub Corporation produced the Drexl-class starfighter, a starfighter intended for short-range operations. While the Drexl featured a roomy cockpit designed for two individuals, a single pilot could operate it. However, for peak combat performance, an astromech droid or a copilot was necessary. When flown by a lone pilot, the vessel offered space for up to 50 kilograms of supplies, including enough consumables for 2 days.
Equipped with twin laser cannons and a concussion missile launcher holding 12 concussion missiles, a new Drexl-class starfighter carried a price tag of 165,000 credits. A pre-owned model could be acquired for 100,000 credits. Lacking a hyperdrive, this starfighter was primarily employed in close-quarters engagements or for planetary defense. Exclusively used by customs enforcement, the starfighter was not available to the general public.
The Drexl-class starfighter began its life as a prototype design for the Preybird-class starfighter. As SoroSuub Corporation's developers shifted their focus toward different concepts for the Preybird-class, the original designs for the starfighter were set aside. At a later time, engineers at SoroSuub revisited these earlier blueprints, ultimately leading to their production as the Drexl-class starfighter.
Customs agencies favored the starfighter, though the military seldom used it. The name came from the predatory Drexl bird that is native to the moon of Dxun.
An image appeared in Star Wars Gamer 4 within the article titled Ships of the Smuggler's Alliance, as seen on the left. While identified as a Preybird-class starfighter, its appearance differed from other depictions of the Preybird-class found in The Last Command Sourcebook.
The sourcebook The Unknown Regions presented the Drexl-class starfighter, illustrating it in a manner closely resembling the Star Wars Gamer image. Furthermore, it established a connection between the two starfighter classes, stating that the Drexl originated as an early prototype that subsequently evolved into the Preybird. Whether this was an intentional attempt to reconcile the discrepancies in appearance remains uncertain.