X-wings have 1,200.00 max hull with 800 shield, while the TIE fighter has 2,000.00 hull and no shields. Take a default-stats X-wing vs TIE fighter match-up, for instance.
While shields regenerate and hull damage doesn’t automatically heal, the real edge of the TIEs over the X-wing, Y-wing and A-wing is found in the other stats. While only the Imperial support ship (the TIE reaper) has shields, the base hull values of the TIEs is equal to the base hull values of the New Republic starfighters plus their shields. The Empire may ultimately lose after Return of the Jedi, replaced by the Rebel-Alliance-turned-New-Republic, but as far as Squadrons is concerned, Imperial pilots will have the edge on New Republic starfighters.
