The ETA-2 was a continuation of the design direction started with the Delta-7 Aethersprite fighters. Almost twenty percent smaller in size than the Aethersprite, the ETA-2 nevertheless was equipped with an increased weapon load out and a socket allowing for a standard R-series droid, rather than the truncated version used with the Delta-7. While lacking an on-board hyperdrive, the ship could be coupled with a hyperspace ring or docked inside larger ships in order to travel between systems.

Interestingly, the ETA-2 was one of the first fighters to incorporate S-foils, which at the time were the cutting edge of starfighter technology. The addition of S-foils, almost always extended during combat, aided in the diffusion of excess heat and acted to stabilize the craft during more extreme manoeuvres. Dissipating the heat greatly increased the lifetime of the ship's engines and helped prevent overheating that could cost the pilot his life in the thick of battle.

Among the items modified to make the ETA-2 a fast, nimble fighter was the power generation unit. Using a smaller unit with less capacity for constant usage reduced the overall size and weight of the craft, but the trade off was that it also limited its ability to fire its weapons continuously. Furthermore, the smaller power unit couldn't sustain shields, and as such, they were forgone entirely. One benefit of the smaller size, however, was that many more ETA-2 were able to be loaded inside a hangar than the bulkier Delta-7.

Due to the fact that many Jedi during the Clone Wars preferred the ETA-2 as their personal ships, now some collectors with a bit of nostalgia have begun collecting these fighters as a piece of a once-grand history. However procuring an ETA-2 isn't an easy accomplishment, as the production of the fighters ceased shortly after the end of Clone Wars when they were replaced with newer designs.