The Mandalorian & Grogu’s Red Jammer Reference Is A Star Wars Deep-Cut Going Back 49 Years

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Warning! This post contains SPOILERS for The Mandalorian & Grogu

What makes The Mandalorian & Grogu so enjoyable is its ability to please dedicated Star Wars fans while still being accessible to newcomers. The show is filled with hidden references and nods to the franchise’s past, and a particularly significant one appears near the end, drawing connections to the entire 49-year history of Star Wars – even the stories that came before A New Hope.

The last fight in The Mandalorian & Grogu includes a special piece of Star Wars history when ships from the New Republic arrive to help Din Djarin and Grogu. During the battle, a single Y-Wing bomber appears, and its name has a fascinating story—it connects all the way back to when Star Wars was first created!

The New Republic’s Adelphi Squadron Features A “Red Jammer” Y-Wing

In The Mandalorian & Grogu, Sigourney Weaver plays Colonel Ward, who commands Adelphi Squadron in a battle above Nal Hutta. Even though Din Djarin, Grogu, and Rotta the Hutt are still trapped inside the Twins’ fortress, Din instructs the New Republic to launch a full-scale attack to destroy the Hutt’s base, allowing the three of them to escape during the chaos.

As the battle reached its climax, Colonel Ward instructed a white Y-Wing fighter, call sign “Red Jammer,” to start bombing the fortress. This particular ship was unique – a sleek, white bomber with red markings, which immediately caught the attention of dedicated Star Wars fans due to its unusual color scheme.

The Y-Wing pilot is actually director Lee Isaac Chung, making a cameo appearance. It’s a neat touch, as many directors involved with The Mandalorian have shown up as members of Adelphi Squadron in both the show and the film. During the battle over Nal Hutta, Chung flies alongside fellow directors Deborah Chow and Rick Famuyiwa, and Lucasfilm’s head, Dave Filoni, who returns as his Mandalorian character, Trapper Wolf.

Interestingly, the nickname “Red Jammer” is a direct reference to the making of the original Star Wars film, A New Hope, released in 1977.

The Red Jammer Dates Back 49 Years, BEFORE A New Hope

Before audiences first saw the Y-Wings battling the Death Star in the original A New Hope in 1977, the visual effects team at Lucasfilm’s Industrial Light & Magic created detailed models of ships and creatures. One of the earliest Y-Wing models was nicknamed the “Red Jammer” because of its unique red markings. Surprisingly, this particular model wasn’t actually in the original movie, making its first on-screen appearance in The Mandalorian & Grogu all the more exciting!

Okay, so this is pretty cool. I just read on StarWars.com that Jon Favreau and Dave Filoni actually dug up the original Red Jammer model – like, the very first one ever made – from the Lucasfilm archives when they were working on the show. Can you believe it? After almost fifty years, that first ever Star Wars model finally got to appear on screen! It’s awesome to see that piece of history get its moment.

The connection to classic Star Wars doesn’t end with the visual tribute to the Red Jammer. Ludwig Göransson, the composer for The Mandalorian & Grogu, even titled the final battle theme “Red Jammer,” solidifying it as a significant link to the franchise’s long history. This makes “Red Jammer” one of the film’s most memorable and effective Star Wars references.

The Mandalorian & Grogu is now playing in theaters from Lucasfilm.

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2026-05-31 16:28