Cruisemissile Trooper

4/4/2026

Released in 1997 as part of Hasbro's Star Wars: Power of the Force line, the Cruisemissile Trooper arrived as a mainline vehicle at a retail price of $12.99. Even though the Cruisemissile Trooper never appeared in any of the Star Wars films, it stands out as one of the earliest modern-era Expanded Universe-style toys, long before that label became commonly used. For collectors of 3 3/4-inch Star Wars toys, the Cruisemissile Trooper remains one of the more unusual and memorable vehicle releases from the late 1990s.

Packaging

The Cruisemissile Trooper was released in the familiar green Power of the Force 2 packaging and immediately looked different from the movie-based vehicles collectors were used to seeing at the time. Since there were only three Star Wars films available then, Hasbro had more freedom to experiment, and the Cruisemissile Trooper is a good example of that creative approach. It offered kids a new Imperial-themed vehicle at an affordable price point while giving collectors something outside the usual on-screen lineup.

Assembly

Assembly for the Cruisemissile Trooper is simple and quick. The vehicle consists of the main body, two engines, and two wings, all of which clip into place with very little effort. In most cases, the full assembly should take no more than one or two minutes.

What takes noticeably longer is the sticker application. The included sticker sheet features decals for both the exterior hull and the belly of the ship, and placing them correctly can easily take around 20 minutes. It is the most time-consuming part of setting up the Cruisemissile Trooper, especially if you want the final look to be clean and accurate.

Features and Play Value

Although the set does not include a separate action figure, the Cruisemissile Trooper does have a sculpted pilot built directly into the vehicle. The figure is only partially sculpted and does not include legs, and it cannot be removed. A button mechanism allows the pilot to be pulled upward so that the helmet appears through an opening on the top of the ship. This gives collectors two display options, with the pilot visible or concealed.

The vehicle also includes two missiles that plug into the underside. Each missile can be launched using small side buttons, adding a play feature that was very much in line with the era. In addition, the wings and engines can be folded, allowing the Cruisemissile Trooper to be displayed in multiple configurations. It can be shown in a more open position or folded into a more compact form, which helps give the vehicle some versatility on the shelf.

One notable omission is the lack of landing gear, but with the wings folded it's possible to display it nicely regardless.

Paint and Design

The overall paint work on the Cruisemissile Trooper is quite good. The vehicle features an Imperial gray base color with bold red accents, especially on the underside, which gives it a more aggressive look. The engines are enhanced with silver detailing that adds some welcome contrast and helps break up the otherwise muted color palette. Even today, the design still has a distinct visual appeal, especially when displayed folded up in the background of an Imperial-themed setup.

Final Thoughts

All in all, the Cruisemissile Trooper is one of the strangest vehicles released in the modern Star Wars toy line, but that is also part of its charm. When it first arrived in 1997, many collectors did not know what to make of it because it had no connection to the films or established storytelling. Still, Hasbro's attempt to create something new at a budget-friendly price resulted in a vehicle that remains unique within the Power of the Force range.

For collectors looking for an inexpensive Imperial background vehicle, the Cruisemissile Trooper is easy to recommend. It offers decent paint applications, a fun built-in pilot feature, missile-firing action, and multiple display options. If you come across the Cruisemissile Trooper on the secondary market and maybe see it at a toy show, it may be worth a closer look, especially if you want to add an unusual piece to your 3 3/4-inch Star Wars collection.