K'mpec Class

In the late 24th century the Bird-of-Prey, whose basic construction dates back more than 100 years, is still the backbone of the Klingon fleet. There have been several efforts of the Klingon Defense Force to find a replacement. However, none of the proposed designs turned out suited to take over all assignments of the Bird-of-Prey. The IKC K'mpec is the most recent among these designs. The main design goal was to combine the maneuverability of the Bird-of-Prey with the firepower and endurance of the larger battlecruisers. The ability to land on planets, on the other hand, was deemed expendable. The K'mpec is supposed to be a match for the Defiant, but it is probably less maneuverable. No other ship of the class except for the IKC K'mpec has been sighted yet. It is not clear whether the Klingons are pushing ship development in the aftermath of the Dominion War, or rather rely on mass production of conventional designs.