Warning! This post contains SPOILERS for Star Wars: The Bad Batch episodes 1 & 2
The Bad Batch has been focused on the Empire starting to replace clones with enlisted stormtroopers at the dawn of its reign. However, it seems as though the transition to the classic Imperial vehicles and weapons was a much slower process.
In The Bad Batch season 1, the rogue Clone Force 99 became fugitives of the Empire, going on the run while doing mercenary work for the Trandoshan named Sid based on Ord Mantell. As a result, they eventually found themselves facing down a collection of AT-TE walkers on the former Separatist world of Raxus Secundus, confirmed to be a precursor to the Imperial AT-AT most notably seen in The Empire Strikes Back. Now, The Bad Batch season 2's premiere episodes have further confirmed that another Republic-era vehicle paved the way for one of the most famous Imperial ships in the original trilogy of films.
A Lot Of Imperial Ships & Weapons Came From Republic Tech
During Clone Force 99's mission to raid a war chest held in Count Dooku's castle on his homeworld of Serenno, the rogue clones used a squadron of V-Wings as cover to sneak aboard an Imperial cargo ship full of loot. They would later exchange fire with the same starfighters in an airborne dogfight with their shuttle, The Marauder. Most notably seen in Revenge of the Sith prior to this animated series, the Empire's widespread use of the fighter in such numbers helps confirm that it was an early equivalent to the classic TIE Fighter.
This tracks with quite a few other ships and military technology first developed for the Republic's use. While the AT-TE gets replaced with the AT-AT, the same is true with the smaller AT-RTs, which are upgraded as AT-STs. Likewise, Venator-class Star Destroyers were co-opted by the Empire with very few changes. However, it should also be noted that early versions of Rebellion ships can be found within the Republic's military, such as ARC-170s which have a lot in common with X-Wings (as well as earlier versions of the Y-Wing).
Why The Empire Was So Reliant On Republic Tech For So Long
While the Empire started replacing the Republic's clone troopers almost immediately after their rule over the galaxy was secured, it makes sense that the Imperials didn't just destroy all the Republic's tech and military infrastructure simply because the Emperor wanted a new style and look for his forces. Instead, the transition to the more iconic Imperial vehicles and weapons was much longer, coming from typical technological advancements that came with time. Tech and weaponry were replaced once they became outdated and obsolete. It's a logical and natural switch that's less dark than the Empire's reasoning for replacing the clones, seeing enlisted stormtroopers as a galactic subjugation tactic.
At any rate, the juxtaposition of the Empire still needing Republic technology is very entertaining, proving that they still had an intrinsic reliance on the government it replaced. Even the Emperor had to keep the Republic Senate around as a means to placate the various systems under his rule prior to the construction of the Death Star in the first Star Wars movie. As such, seeing V-Wings in The Bad Batch season 2 carries far more meaning than simply featuring a cool ship from the live-action films.