Jetpacks are a rarity in the Star Wars universe, and that's made further evident in The Mandalorian. Disney+ debuted the series about a lone bounty hunter as part of the streaming service's big launch. Nearly a year later and the series has grown into a mega-hit thanks to the introduction of "The Child," aka Baby Yoda. Despite the Force-sensitive infant's scene-stealing ability, Mandalorian Din Djarin and his compelling background serve as a key focus of the series. While Mandalorians are shown to be skilled warriors, only a select few are equipped with jetpacks, and there are a few ideas on why that is.
Before Din became the most talked-about bounty hunter among the franchise, there was Boba Fett. Introduced in The Empire Strikes Back, Boba Fett served as one of the most feared hunters in the galaxy. He was known for his modified Mandalorian armor, including his Z-6 jetpack, which was a similar style used by his father, Jango Fett. Despite their armor, both figures had no true ties to the Mandalorians. In fact, Boba Fett was a clone of his father created to continue the man's legacy. Other than them, jetpacks were used by clone troopers, jump troopers, and only a few Mandalorian factions such as the Death Watch.
Mandalorian armor is a major part of the clan's identity. Those from Mandalore have a tradition of wearing a similar style of armor, which includes a T-shaped helmet that conceals the face. Din, who was taken in by the clan as a foundling, wears the symbolic armor, but he greatly modifies it over the course of The Mandalorian season 1. When members of a Mandalorian tribe eventually come to his rescue while fleeing from Nevarro with Baby Yoda, Din notices that some of them have jetpacks, and he even comments that he "needs to get one of those." By season 1, he gets his hands on one, but it's only after an Imperial remnant wipes out most of the tribe, leaving the Armorer to collect what's left of their armor.
Mandalorian Armor Alone Is Difficult To Acquire
Mandalorian armor is made from beskar steel, but during the Great Purge, the Empire took most of the supply. Din is originally driven to take bounty jobs that result in the reward of beskar so that he could enhance his own armor. The Armorer uses the beskar, melts it down, and creates new pieces of armor for Din to wear throughout the season. Seeing as the substance is so rare, there aren't many opportunities to find or create Mandalorian armor. The same notion goes for jetpacks considering the necessary parts needed to build and operate the device. One of the Mandalorian tribe members using a jetpack is Paz Vizla, a figure connected to the Death Watch. Rather than introduce a new faction that uses jetpacks, The Mandalorian incorporates a known set of figures already connected to the aerial transportation devices.
For Din to get his hands on a jetpack, existing Mandalorians had to be killed off, proving just how difficult they are to come by in the galaxy. In a way, Din's acquisition of a jetpack is like the final piece to becoming a distinguished Mandalorian. Some can even say it's like a rite of passage for the top tier of warriors, considering jetpacks are only used by the most reputable figures in the clan. Din was rescued by a member of the Death Watch and carried out of his home planet through the use of a jetpack. Since he uses his own jetpack to get Baby Yoda to safety at the end of season 1, the transportation device allows him to have a full-circle moment. With so few Mandalorians left, the use of jetpacks is even smaller, which gives Din a new advantage. It will be interesting to see how the prized possession will come into play during the next leg of Din and Baby Yoda's journey in The Mandalorian season 2.