The R4-P-series astromech droids were developed during the last years of the Galactic Republic. Manufactured by Industrial Automaton, the droids were used in place of the R3-D-series astromech droids whenever a pilot was skilled enough to handle weaponry of their Delta-7 starfighter during evasive maneuvers or a dogfight. Unlike other R4-series agromech droids, the R4-Ps had R2-style domes instead of the standard conical heads.