A scout ship (also spelled scout-ship) was any starship employed in exploration or reconnoitering.
When the Galactic Republic expanded from the Core, they sent such ships to explore new areas of space. During the reign of Emperor Palpatine, the Galactic Empire created a prototype scout ship, the Star Herald. The Galactic Empire also made use of the TIE scout, a starfighter model of the TIE fighter series, for reconnaissance missions. The JumpMaster 5000 was another ship designed for long-distance reconnaissance missions and scouting new hyperlane routes.