This was highly useful for a group such as the Rebel Alliance, who were often dependent on old or non-military vessels, in that they added immense flexibility to otherwise less-useful starfighters. During the investigation into the TIE Experimental Project by cruiser Liberty, ion pulse warheads were successfully used by the Z-95 Headhunter Bandit Squadron to disable examples of a TIE BigGun, a TIE Warhead, and a modified Beta-class ETR-3 escort transport from Suluk group. The ion pulse warheads permitted undamaged enemy craft to be retrieved for later analysis by Alliance technicians.