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Starship Database

Earth & Federation Major Aliens Various Aliens Anomalous Starships Animated Abramsverse Discoverse

The database lists all canon starships and other spaceborne constructions of the Star Trek Universe by races and classes. Schematic side views and technical specs are included where available. The data is mainly based on the very episodes and on official sources. In some cases, however, obvious errors had to be corrected. Inconsistencies or oddities are discussed in the annotations. Read more about the database structure .

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Pages with Recent Changes

Xindi Ship Classes 05 May 2024
Earth Ship Classes 05 May 2024
Mirror Universe Ships 05 May 2024
Federation Shuttlecraft 05 May 2024
Space-Dwelling Lifeforms 05 May 2024
Federation Ground Transportation 05 May 2024
Non-Existent Ships 05 May 2024
Discoverse Klingon Ship Classes 05 May 2024
Borg Ship Classes 05 May 2024
Bajoran Ship Classes 05 May 2024
Ancient or Mysterious Ships 05 May 2024
Discovery Future Alien Ship Classes 20 Apr 2024
Lower Decks Alien Ship Classes 20 Apr 2024
Starfleet Ship Classes A-K 20 Apr 2024
Delta Quadrant Ships of Unknown Affiliation 10 Apr 2024
Lower Decks Starfleet & Federation Ship Cl... 05 Apr 2024
Fleet Charts in TIFF Format 31 Mar 2024
Vulcan Ship Classes 31 Mar 2024
Fleet Chart Annotations 31 Mar 2024
Alpha and Beta Quadrant Ships L-R 31 Mar 2024

Structure of the Starship Database

Fleet Charts

Starship Articles

Starship Gallery

Earth & Federation

Starfleet Ship Classes A-K

Starfleet Ship Classes L-Z

Other Starfleet Ship Classes - uncertain and unknown

Civilian Federation Ship Classes

Federation Shuttlecraft - and other small auxiliary vehicles

Federation Probes - unmanned space vehicles

Federation Space Stations - fixed spaceborne installations

Federation Ground Transportation - bound to the ground

Earth Ship Classes - Pre-Federation (prior to 2161)

Future Ship Classes - of the 26th century and beyond

Major Aliens

Vulcan Ship Classes - Pre-Federation (prior to 2161)

Klingon Ship Classes - from all eras

Romulan Ship Classes - from all eras

Ferengi Ship Classes - from all eras

Cardassian Ship Classes

Bajoran Ship Classes

Dominion and Allied Ship Classes

Borg Ship Classes

Suliban Ship Classes

Xindi Ship Classes

Various Aliens

Alpha and Beta Quadrant Ships A-E

Alpha and Beta Quadrant Ships F-K

Alpha and Beta Quadrant Ships L-R

Alpha and Beta Quadrant Ships S-Z

Alpha and Beta Quadrant Ships of Unknown Affiliation

Gamma Quadrant Ships

Delta Quadrant Ships A-E

Delta Quadrant Ships F-K

Delta Quadrant Ships L-R

Delta Quadrant Ships S-Z

Delta Quadrant Ships of Unknown Affiliation

Anomalous Starships

Ancient or Mysterious Ships - whose owners don't show up

Space-Dwelling Lifeforms - organic or conscious vessels

Mirror Universe Ships - from TOS, DS9 and ENT

Confederation Timeline Ships - from PIC season 2

Non-Existent Ships - that were made up for varying reasons

Animated Star Trek

TAS Starfleet & Federation Ship Classes

TAS Alien Ship Classes

Prodigy Starfleet & Federation Ship Classes

Prodigy Alien Ship Classes

Abramsverse

Abramsverse Federation Ship Classes

Abramsverse Alien Ship Classes

Discovery Future Alien Ship Classes

Discovery Mirror Universe Ship Classes

Many of the images in this section are taken from official sources such as the Star Trek Encyclopedia II , the Star Trek Encyclopedia (2016) the DS9 Technical Manual , the Star Trek Fact Files , Star Trek: The Magazine or the Eaglemoss Official Starships Collection . Note that some of these were cleaned up and obvious errors were corrected. A number of schematics (namely Academy trainer craft, Antares NCC-501, Archer's model, Birdseye, Bonaventure from the Chronology , Centaur, Cheyenne, Constitution original, Excelsior variant 1, "Star Trek (2009)" shuttle, Mars defense perimeter, New Orleans, Ptolemy, Saladin, Springfield, Sydney, Raven, Talarian ships and variants, Tamarian ship and variants, Tosk ship and several TAS ships) are copyright of Ex Astris Scientia.

Special thanks go to Mike Swantak for the Ambassador, to Tim Davies for the Excelsiors, to Gus for the "Star Trek (2009)" Enterprise, to Sean Thornton for the Enterprise-A (alt.), to Pundus for the Odyssey, to MadMan and The-Didact for two versions of the Vengeance, to Chris G. for the "Star Trek (2009)" Spacedock, Klingon "Warbird" (models by MadMan), Whale Probe, "Nemesis" drydock (mesh by S-Stephen), TMP drydock (mesh by Prologic9), McKinley drydock (mesh by Eric Peterson), Warp Five Complex (mesh by Beda of Borg) and several images from Lower Decks, to Dávid Metlesits for the Klingon DIS ships (rendered based on models from Star Trek Adversaries), to Dave Combe for the DIS BoP and Sarcophagus ship, to C.HellenBrandt for the D'Arsay archive, Farpoint lifeform, interface probe, Melkotian buoy, ultraviolet satellite, standard D5, the "Star Trek (2009)" escape pod, forklift and more, to Ryan Church for Kirk's motorbike concept art, the Breen ship and the Klingon Augment ship, to Tobias Richter who created the USS Kelvin mesh, to James Chung for Picard concept art, to Daniel Petri for the reconstructed Aurora and the Class J from TOS-R, to Kristian Trigwell for Nomad, DY-100, DY-500, Valiant, Utopia Planitia, TAS personal spacecraft and some emblems, to Chris Spinnler for the Challenger, to Masaki Taniko who modified the Constitution refit, Miranda, Nebula variants, Curry and "Raging Queen", to Robert Bonchune for posting the official Intrepid-type, Delta ship and Kumari renders and who created many renders for recent official publications, to Doug Drexler for posting renders by several CGI artists such as Robert Bonchune, including the "Emmette", NX-Alpha, Arctic One, Arctic One Borgified, three-fingered drydock, multispatial probe, all Vulcan CGI ships, Cardassian workbee, 22nd century Ferengi ship, Nausicaan raider, all Suliban ships, Arkonian warship, Kreetassan ship, Kago Darr's shuttle, Malurian ship, Takret ship, Tandaran patrol ship, Valakian ship, Xantoran patrol ship, "Crossing" alien ship, Reptohumanoid ship and variants, Ledosian ships, Markonian outpost, Venatic, "Alice", "Silent Enemy" ship & shuttle and "Dead Stop" station, to John Eaves for the "Communicator" fighter, the Triannon vessel, the "Extinction" vessel, Xindi-Insectoid vessel 2 and the Axanar combat ship, to Irishman for drawings of Earth Starfleet ships, to Sven Lindemann for intermediate images, to Harry for parts of the early spaceship I, to Thorsten Junk for the Reman shuttle, to Raul Quiles who provided the Shuttlepod 1 and inspection pod schematics, to Kris Olinger who modified the Challenger, to Graham Kennedy for cleaning up and coloring the Starfleet probes, to Masao Okazaki for drawing the Daedalus, Bonaventure, Huron and TAS cargo drone, to Simon Golding for intermediate images, to E. Jakobsson for the Yeager and Elkins, to Jeff Russell for V'ger, to David Matteson for the NX-02 emblem, to viperaviator for the Franklin emblem, to Tobias Weimann for a couple of emblems, to Animaniac for the 22nd century Tholian ship and finally to Alice Orbán for subspace amplifier, Cardassian escape pod, Enolian vessels, Kobali shuttle, Malcorian ship, Malon freighter 2, Malurian shuttle, Mazarite shuttle & variants, Sikarian ship, Tarkalean freighter, Tellarite shuttle, Tsunkatse ship, Vissian ships, some of the Xindi ships, and several more.

Jörg Hillebrand has provided innumerable screen caps and invaluable observations. Most other screen caps are from TrekCore , Ariane's Star Trek Gallery , Cygnus-X1.net , Neutral Zone Starship Database or The Guardian of Forever. The photo of the Miranda-class USS Trial is courtesy of Larry Nemecek. Some images are based on Jim Stevenson's Starship Schematics . A reliable list of all canon starship appearances can be found in D. Joseph Creighton's The STArchive from where I extracted some useful data. Several facts about TAS ships came from Curt Danhauser's Guide to Animated Star Trek . I would also like to acknowledge The Unofficial Star Trek Fact Files Index, TrekMovie.com , Sector 0-0-1, Pedro's Shiporama, Frank Gerratana's Starfleet Ship Designs, Steve Pugh's Vessels of Starfleet, Adam Brooks , Adam Buckner, AJ, Alex Köhnen , Alexander Hartmann , Ambassador, Andrew Halliday, Andros, Andy Kinnear, B. J. Olejnik, Bounty, Brendan Stone , Brian Hunter, cardinal biggles, Colin , Dan Carlson , Daniel Anderson, DAS, doubleofive , Ed Bailey, Erich Mohr , Erik Filean, Florian Ollivier , Frank Bitterhof , George Nicolaides, Greg , Gvsualan , Harry , J , Jeff W, Jake Stotsky, Jason Schmus , Jim Morrissey , Jimmie R. Giboney, Jochen Gnida, John Mesiavech, Kevin , Kratisto, Lee McDonald , Lennier , Lester , Maik Leon Ehnert, Mariner Class, Mark Gill, Micah Haber, Michael Lanzinger, Mike , moreorlesser, Muchu, Paragon, Paul Doize, psycopunkn , Ralph Spitzner, Raymond J Impastato Jr, Rick , Rob Minnes, Robert, Scott Fletcher , Sol System, Stacy Smith, Stefan Posner, Stefan Rypalla , Stephen L. , Tadeo D'Oria, Thomas Owens , Thorsten , Trolleybus and Tuskin38 for ship pictures and information. Several more people helped me through their comments in the Flare Sci-Fi Forums . My special thanks to Colin and Boris S. who have provided lots of little-known information. Last but not least, special thanks to Michael Chabon and Dave Blass for sharing some information from behind the screen with us.

https://www.ex-astris-scientia.org/starship_database.htm

Last modified: 17 Mar 2024

This website is not endorsed, sponsored or affiliated with CBS Studios Inc. or the Star Trek franchise.

Fleet Yards

Star Trek: The 12 Most Important Ships In Federation History, Ranked

Star Trek: The Motion Picture Enterprise is refitted

The "Star Trek" franchise, for more than 55 years, has defined mainstream science fiction in the United States with its utopian vision of the future. Created by Gene Roddenberry, "Star Trek" — which spans numerous television series and feature films — follows the United Federation of Planets and its spacefaring force Starfleet as they explore the galaxy. Boasting a wide armada of unique vessels to keep the peace and invite other civilizations into its ranks, Starfleet's starships have taken on a fan-favorite legacy of their own. Capable of traveling faster than the speed of light, these starships also are equipped with weaponry to take on the most fearsome threats in the cosmos.

Check out this comprehensive ranking of the 12 most important starships in Federation history throughout the "Star Trek" franchise. The ranking — not based on the quality of the shows or movies, and certainly not their penchant for action – addresses their place in making the Federation what it is in-universe.

12. USS Cerritos NCC-5567

The animated series "Star Trek: Lower Decks" centers on the low-ranked Starfleet personnel who handle the organization's more menial tasks. Their duties include carrying out routine maintenance, cosmic clerical work, and other thankless jobs. Such assignments tend to fall to the crew members aboard California-class starships, including the overlooked men, women, and aliens who serve on the USS Cerritos NCC-5567, the main vessel on "Lower Decks." Fortunately, in addition to poking fun at "Star Trek" tropes , "Lower Decks" explores the notion of overcoming expectations, with the Cerritos' ensigns rising above their assumed stations — along with their ship.

Because of all its wacky hijinks, among them foiling a terrorist plot targeting the Federation, the Cerritos has reached legendary status among California-class starships by Season 3. The Cerritos' impressive reputation plays a pivotal role in the third season finale, rallying other California-class starships to stop a rogue artificial intelligence from attacking Starfleet. "Lower Decks" is all about the ideas that no task is too small or unimportant and that the little guys deserve respect too. And as the California-class ship leading the charge, the Cerritos earns the right to stand among its more nominally elite counterparts.

11. USS Enterprise NCC-1071-A

The Klingons destroyed the original Constitution-class Enterprise during a showdown in "Star Trek III: The Search for Spock." It seems only fitting that its replacement, the USS Enterprise NCC-1701-A finally facilitates an armistice between the Federation and Klingon Empire. The swan song for the "Original Series" crew, "Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country" finds Captain Kirk leading a diplomatic mission to broker peace with the Klingons. However, a conspiracy poised to plunge Starfleet and the Klingon Empire back into an active war threatens this unprecedented cooperation between the two rival governments.

The Klingons rank as one of the bitterest enemies the Federation has ever faced, nearly conquering them outright during "Star Trek: Discovery." Peace between the two seemed inconceivable but, despite everything the Klingons cost him personally, including his only son, Kirk makes an armistice possible. This alliance not only brings the two governments together but saves them from the Dominion during "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine." The Enterprise-A also confronts a powerful entity masquerading as God in "Star Trek V: The Final Frontier" but the less perhaps said about that adventure, the better.

10. USS Protostar NX-76884

The USS Protostar NX-76884, the main starship from the CG-animated series " Star Trek: Prodigy ," has already left its mark on the Federation, though certainly not as intended. A spacefaring prototype, the Protostar's warp drive is complemented by the inclusion of an experimental proto-drive, powered by an actual, small protostar. When fully powered, the proto-drive allows the starship to travel to different quadrants around the galaxy in an instant, exponentially faster than warp drive-propelled starships. Chakotay initially captained the Protostar, doing so until before he and the starship were captured by the villainous Diviner, with a ragtag crew of refugee children reclaiming it.

The scientific breakthroughs behind the Protostar alone warrant its appearance on this list but its role in Prodigy's first season finale makes it an infamous inclusion. While under the Diviner's control, the Protostar is infected with an advanced computer virus acting as a Trojan horse for any Federation systems with which it interfaces. Once infected, defensive systems go out of control and attack any other Federation targets in the immediate area. While the Protostar crew stops the virus' spread, it infects and devastates a significant portion of Starfleet's armada, transforming the Protostar into the fleet's deadliest vessel.

9. USS Titan NCC-80102-A/USS Enterprise NCC-1701-G

The Protostar and Cerritos incidents are far from the only times Starfleet has nearly been destroyed from within. The final season of "Star Trek: Picard" reveals the remnants of the Borg Collective and the Dominion have formed an alliance to infiltrate and annihilate the Federation. Using Borg technology, Changelings modify Starfleet transporters to secretly assimilate younger personnel, creating sleeper agents across the armada. The ship that uncovers this far-reaching conspiracy? The USS Titan NCC-80102-A, with nominal Captain Liam Shaw led by Admiral Jean-Luc Picard.

The Titan plays a pivotal role in distracting the assimilated armada from bombarding Earth's planetary defenses, giving Picard and the Enterprise-D valuable time to disrupt Borg communications. Though the Titan is disabled by the opposition, without its diversion, the fleet would have proceeded to bomb Earth's major cities before spreading their devastation across the galaxy. The Enterprise-D may get the glory for ultimately defeating the Borg and saving the day, but Titan merits recognition for playing good defense single-handedly. In the "Picard" series finale, the powers that be rechristen the Titan-A as the USS Enterprise NCC-1701-G , cementing its importance and heroic legacy.

8. USS Discovery NCC-1031

Across the Federation's entire history, the USS Discovery NCC-1031 rates as the most unique starship, thanks to its Spore Drive. A sentient set of spores within the Discovery's engineering section interface with Chief Engineer Paul Stamets, allowing the ship to leap through subspace. More than simply traversing great distances in an instant, the Spore Drive gives the Discovery limited access to the Mirror Universe.

The Discovery not only assumes a pivotal role in stopping the bloody war between the Federation and the Klingon Empire but saves it from an enemy within its ranks. In the Season 2 finale, the Discovery teams up with the Enterprise to destroy Control, a rogue artificial intelligence poised to wipe out all organic life in the galaxy. And just as Discovery preserves the Federation's existence in the relative present, it also restarts its legacy in the far future. Transported more than 900 years into the future, the Discovery inspires the Federation to rebuild itself from a massive catastrophe, restoring its ideals across the stars.

7. USS Enterprise NCC-1701-E

Just as Kirk commanded two starships with the Enterprise moniker, Picard gets his second Enterprise in the 1996 film "Star Trek: First Contact." Commander Will Riker describes the Enterprise-E as the most advanced in the entire fleet and one better outfitted for combat than its predecessor. While not as prolific as the Enterprise-D, the ship spares the Federation total defeat on at least two separate occasions. The Enterprise-E also uncovers a conspiracy within Starfleet Command in "Star Trek: Insurrection," exposing a group undermining the Federation's principles.

The Enterprise-E's superior weaponry and Picard's intimate knowledge of the Borg save Earth and the defending Starfleet armada from the Borg Queen. This timely intervention also involves the Enterprise-E following the Borg into the 21st century to defeat them and ensure the preservation of humanity's history. Later, the Enterprise-E takes point in brokering a landmark peace agreement with the Romulan Empire in "Star Trek: Nemesis." With no armistice achieved without significant complications, the Enterprise-E takes down a rogue Romulan warship targeting Earth, proving itself as capable in a fight as diplomatically.

6. USS Voyager NCC-74656

The USS Voyager's most famous mission strands it on the far side of the galaxy, approximately 70 years from home and without Starfleet support. Captained by Kathryn Janeway, it took the starship seven seasons to return to the Alpha Quadrant, exploring the true undiscovered expanse within the Delta Quadrant along the way. Encountering new species and phenomena, the Voyager upgrades itself during its long journey to accelerate its trip significantly. While the sheer amount of exploratory information and technological enhancements are enough to make the Voyager stand out in Starfleet, its final act remains its noteworthiest.

In the last leg of the ship's voyage, Janeway teams up with an alternate future version of herself to destroy the Borg Collective seemingly for good. The older Janeway allows herself to be captured by the Borg Queen, infecting her with a terminal virus that spreads across the Collective. Though the Borg are revealed to survive in a diminished capacity decades later, the incident represents a major victory for the Federation. Voyager not only returned to the Federation with a wealth of new information, but the ship vanquished its greatest foe to deliver an interstellar mic drop.

5. USS Defiant NX-74205

" Star Trek: Deep Space Nine " marks a departure from the franchise's established formula, with its characters not on an exploratory mission but maintaining a strategically located space station. In the third season, the crew welcomes the USS Defiant NX-74205 in order to engage in away missions around the cosmos. As "Deep Space Nine" evolves into a show depicting Starfleet at war, here comes a primary vessel designed specifically for combat. And it boasts not only remarkable maneuverability and a formidable weapons system, but the Defiant is one of the few Starfleet vessels with a functional cloaking device.

The Defiant figures prominently in the Dominion War, outmaneuvering and concealing itself from even the deadliest Jem'Hadar vessels, and playing a major role in Starfleet's eventual victory. After Starfleet temporarily loses control of Deep Space Nine, the Defiant embarks on a series of strikes on vital Dominion targets in the quadrant. Beyond its seek-and-destroy function, the Defiant heads the armada that retakes the station. The original Defiant is destroyed by the Breen in the show's final episodes, with Captain Benjamin Sisko receiving an identical replacement shortly thereafter to finish the fight.

Zefram Cochrane, the most revered figure in 21st-century human history, became the first person from Earth to achieve lightspeed spaceflight. Aboard his makeshift starship, the Phoenix — fashioned from a repurposed Titan II nuclear missile in Montana — Cochrane makes his fateful voyage in 2063, aided by the time-traveling Enterprise-E crew. Vulcans immediately take notice of humans emerging as a warp-capable civilization, prompting them to make first contact with Earth and lay the groundwork for what will become the Federation. After the successful flight, Cochrane continues to improve upon his warp drive designs, with his innovations informing the development of subsequent generations of starships.

Though the flight of the Phoenix occurs well before the Federation's founding, its influence cannot be overstated as it's felt for centuries to follow. The Borg Collective identify the Phoenix's landmark flight as a turning point in the galaxy's narrative, attempting to disrupt it to ensure their domination. More than 300 years later, Beckett Mariner hijacks the Phoenix to gain access to the Cerritos in the "Lower Decks" Season 3 premiere, proving the ship is still mission-ready. Even centuries after Cochrane's disappearance while exploring the cosmos, the Phoenix continues to make history.

3. USS Enterprise NCC-1701-D

The Enterprise-D may be the fifth NCC-1701 starship to carry the name but it belongs among the most vital in the Federation. Captained by Jean-Luc Picard, the Enterprise-D soars as the main ship in "Star Trek: The Next Generation" and the 1994 film "Star Trek Generations." The final season of "Star Trek: Picard" reveals Chief Engineer Geordi LaForge salvaged the Enterprise-D, quietly repairing it over time to make it fully operational again. This repair job proves instrumental in the Enterprise saving the galaxy once again, adding to its vaunted status within Starfleet.

The Enterprise-D crew are the first ones to rescue the Federation from the Borg, while Picard himself convinces the omnipotent Q that humanity deserves to exist. Much like the original Enterprise NCC-1701 goes out with an anticlimactic bang, so too does the Enterprise-D, scuttled stopping the terrorist Soran from manipulating the Nexus anomaly. Fortunately, the Enterprise-D gets a better, if delayed, swan song in saving the Federation from the resurgent Borg in "Picard." Even decades after its initial service, the Enterprise-D holds a legendary place for the Federation, more than worthy of the value that comes with its name.

2. USS Enterprise NCC-1701

The first Constitution-class Enterprise enjoys a storied history that surpasses that of any other starship in the franchise to date. The original USS Enterprise NCC-1701 appeared as the main ship in "Star Trek: Strange New Worlds," "The Original Series," and the franchise's first three films. Helmed by iconic captains like Christopher Pike and Jim Kirk, the Enterprise is the most important starship of its era. As a testament to the Enterprise's importance being recognized in-universe, no less than seven starships carry the moniker so far.

In "The Original Series" alone, the Enterprise saves the Federation from dozens of enemies and dangerous phenomena that endanger it. From thwarting the Romulan effort to restart their war against humanity to deactivating ancient doomsday machines, the Enterprise stops threats before they grow out of control. This tradition continues on the big screen, with Kirk returning to the Enterprise to save the Federation from an entity barreling toward Earth. This Enterprise is self-destructed in an unauthorized mission at the Genesis Planet to prevent it from falling into Klingon hands, an anticlimactic end to its legendary run.

1. USS Enterprise NX-01

The USS Enterprise NX-01, commanded by Captain Jonathan Archer, leads the way in the decade building to the creation of the Federation. This Enterprise spearheads several technological innovations for Starfleet, including the transporter, universal translator, photonic torpedoes, and phase weapons. The NX-01 plays a crucial role in defending Starfleet in its initial skirmishes with the Romulans and Xindi, revealing that humanity can hold its own in the cosmos.

The impressive exploits of Captain Archer and his crew aside, the NX-01 actually helps facilitate the Federation's formation. It not only brings together a human and Vulcan joint crew for the first time, but the Enterprise draws the Tellarites into the fledgling alliance. These three civilizations form the foundation of what becomes the Federation in 2161, as the NX-01 stands front and center in battles against mutual enemies. A strong argument can be made that without the NX-01, the Federation never exists — and that explains why this starship tops the list.

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Star Trek Ships , Top Federation Ships - November 14, 2023

The top 10 Star Trek Federation Ships of All Time

Star Trek has captured the imaginations of millions of fans around the world with its iconic spaceships and interstellar adventures. From the original series to the latest installments, the Federation ships have become symbols of exploration, diplomacy, and defense. In this blog post, we will explore the top 10 Star Trek Federation ships of all time, based on their impact, capabilities, and design.

1. USS Enterprise NCC-1701-D

The USS Enterprise NCC-1701-D , featured in Star Trek: The Next Generation, is one of the most iconic Federation ships. With its sleek design and advanced technology, it represented the pinnacle of Starfleet's engineering prowess. The Enterprise-D played a crucial role in numerous diplomatic missions and battles, making it a symbol of the Federation's commitment to peace and exploration.

2. USS Voyager NCC-74656

The USS Voyager , featured in Star Trek: Voyager, holds a special place in the hearts of Star Trek fans. Stranded in the Delta Quadrant, the Voyager embarked on a seven-year journey back to the Alpha Quadrant. Its advanced technology, including the warp drive and the bio-neural circuitry, allowed the crew to overcome numerous challenges and explore uncharted territories.

3. USS Defiant NX-74205

The USS Defiant , introduced in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, was a departure from the traditional Federation ships. Designed specifically for combat, the Defiant was smaller and more maneuverable than its counterparts. Its advanced weaponry and cloaking device made it a formidable force against the Dominion and other threats to the Federation.

4. USS Enterprise NCC-1701

The USS Enterprise NCC-1701 , featured in the original Star Trek series, is an iconic symbol of the franchise. Under the command of Captain James T. Kirk, the Enterprise embarked on a five-year mission to explore new worlds and seek out new life forms. Its design and capabilities set the standard for future Federation ships.

5. USS Excelsior NCC-2000

The USS Excelsior, introduced in Star Trek III: The Search for Spock, was one of the most advanced Federation ships of its time. Equipped with experimental technology, such as the transwarp drive, the Excelsior represented the cutting edge of Starfleet's engineering. Although its transwarp drive was ultimately unsuccessful, the Excelsior played a significant role in the Star Trek universe.

6. USS Enterprise NX-01

The USS Enterprise NX-01 , featured in Star Trek: Enterprise, was the first starship to bear the name Enterprise. As an early prototype, it laid the foundation for future Federation ships. The Enterprise NX-01 played a crucial role in humanity's first steps towards interstellar exploration and set the stage for the formation of the United Federation of Planets.

7. USS Enterprise NCC-1701-A

The USS Enterprise NCC-1701-A , featured in the original Star Trek movies, was a refit version of the original Enterprise. With its updated design and advanced technology, it continued the legacy of its predecessor. The Enterprise-A played a vital role in defending the Federation against various threats, including the Klingons and the Romulans.

8. USS Prometheus NX-59650

The USS Prometheus, introduced in Star Trek: Voyager, was an experimental Federation ship equipped with multi-vector assault mode. This groundbreaking technology allowed the Prometheus to split into three separate sections, each capable of independent flight and combat. The Prometheus showcased the Federation's commitment to innovation and adaptability.

9. USS Enterprise NCC-1701-E

The USS Enterprise NCC-1701-E , featured in the Star Trek: The Next Generation movies, was a Sovereign-class starship. With its advanced weaponry and state-of-the-art technology, it represented the pinnacle of Federation starship design. The Enterprise-E played a crucial role in defending the Federation against the Borg and other threats.

10. USS Discovery NCC-1031

The USS Discovery , featured in Star Trek: Discovery, is a Crossfield-class starship equipped with a revolutionary spore drive. This experimental propulsion system allows the Discovery to travel instantaneously across vast distances. The Discovery's mission to explore new frontiers and uncover the secrets of the universe embodies the spirit of Star Trek.

These top 10 Star Trek Federation ships have left an indelible mark on the franchise and continue to inspire fans around the world. Whether through their advanced technology, iconic designs, or pivotal roles in the Star Trek universe, these ships represent the best of what the Federation has to offer.

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List of Star Trek Starfleet starships

This is a list of Federation starships from the Star Trek universe. The list is organized first by ship class , then registration number , name , and finally where that vessel was referenced. These vessels appear or are mentioned in the original Star Trek series ( TOS ), Star Trek: The Animated Series ( TAS ), Star Trek: The Next Generation ( TNG ), Star Trek: Deep Space Nine ( DS9 ), Star Trek: Voyager ( VOY ), Star Trek: Enterprise ( ENT ), Star Trek: Discovery ( DSC ), the Star Trek films , Star Trek games , and Star Trek literature . This list tries to avoid using information found in Star Trek fan fiction . Many of the sources for this list are considered non-canon and the list relies heavily on the non-canon The Star Trek Encyclopedia . [1]

Akira class

Ambassador class, andromeda class, antares class, apollo class, archer class, bradbury class, cardenas class, centaur class, challenger class, cheyenne class, chimera class, columbia class, constellation class, constitution class, crossfield class, daedalus class, defiant class, deneva class, dreadnought class, einstein class, engle class, erewhon class, excelsior class, freedom class, galaxy class, galen class, hokule‘a class, hoover class, intrepid class, istanbul class, korolev class, magee class, malachowski class, mediterranean class, merced class, merian class, miranda class, mulciber class, nebula class, new orleans class, niagara class, nimitz class, norway class, oberth class, odyssey class, olympic class, prometheus class, renaissance class, rigel class, saber class, sequoia class, shepard class, sovereign class, soyuz class, springfield class, freedom class (kelvin timeline), steamrunner class, surak class, sydney class, theophrastus class, universe class, vesta class, walker class, wambundu class, wells class, yorkshire class, zodiac class, undetermined class, non-starships and support vessels, danube class runabout, peregrine class fighter, yellowstone class runabout, shuttlecraft.

Named for Greek mythological figure and nearby Andromeda Galaxy .

Named for star Antares .

Named for the ancient Greek solar deity and the American Apollo program ( NASA ).

Scout ship introduced in the Star Trek: The Original Series tie-in novel series Star Trek: Vanguard and its follow-up Star Trek: Seekers . Retroactively named after Captain Jonathan Archer from Star Trek: Enterprise .

Name honors science fiction author Ray Bradbury .

Named for United States Air Force brigadier general Robert Cardenas .

Named for the mythical chimaera .

In the script of the TNG episode " The Battle ," Geordi La Forge identified the Stargazer as a Constitution Class, but it was dubbed to Constellation after the script was changed.

Named for the USS Constitution . (The TOS USS Enterprise dedication plaque refers to this ship class as the "Starship Class".)

Constitution class refit

Ostensibly a refit of the Constitution class, this ship is referred to as " Enterprise class" in Andrew G. Probert's non-canon Star Trek The Motion Picture: 14 Official Blueprints . [52] [53]

Named for American naval officer and test pilot Albert Scott Crossfield who became the first human to fly at twice the speed of sound.

Named for an iconic figure from Greek mythology .

Named for the fictional planet in the TOS episode " Operation: Annihilate! ".

Named for Albert Einstein

Named for American test pilot and astronaut Joe Engle who test-flew the joint NASA–Air Force North American X-15 rocket airplane and the space shuttle Enterprise before eventually commanding the space shuttle Columbia .

This fictional spacecraft design was introduced to the Star Trek sci-fi universe in 1984.

The name may have been supposed to honor the space station that was later simply called ISS .

Presumably named for the Polynesian waʻa kaulua replica

Named for United States Air Force fighter pilot Bob Hoover who revolutionized modern aerobatic flying and in many aviation circles has been described as one of the greatest pilots ever to have lived.

Named for the most populous city in Turkey .

Named for spacecraft designer Sergey Korolyov .

Featured in the Star Trek: Titan novels. All known Luna -class starships were named after moons in the Sol System.

Named for Royal Canadian Air Force fighter pilot and poet John Gillespie Magee Jr.

Named for United States Air Force pilot Nicole Malachowski who became the first female member of the United States Air Force Thunderbirds .

Named for the character in the play The Tempest by William Shakespeare . Also the name of a moon .

Name (in universe) denotes astronomical phenomenon and (real world) pays tribute to the Nebula Award for science fiction writing.

Named for the City of New Orleans . Designated as frigates .

Named for World War II Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz

Ships are named for the NASA Space Shuttle orbiters .

Named after the rocket scientist Hermann Oberth .

Introduced in Star Trek Online .

This class is sometimes erroneously named " Hope class" from an early version of the dedication plaque from the USS Pasteur . [1]

Named for the star Rigel .

Named for American astronaut Alan Shepard who became the first American to travel into space.

Named for the Soviet spacecraft

Named for Vulcan philosopher Surak .

Introduced in Star Trek: Destiny and first visualized in Star Trek Online .

The class was named for NASA test pilot Joe Walker .

Named in honor of science fiction author H. G. Wells .

[ citation needed ]

Star Trek Comparison Charts

General Sci-Fi Comparison Charts

Frequently Asked Questions

Idle Stats as of 2022-06-17: 945 ships and space stations total, 607 from Star Trek (including 86 non-canon designs)

External Links

Ex Astris Scientia: Fleet Charts
Daystrom Institute Technical Library: Size Charts
Park My Spaceship
Dirk Loechel’s Size Comparison
Jeff Russell’s Starship Comparison (no longer updated)

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Federation playable starship

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There is a wide variety of Federation playable starships currently available in Star Trek Online for Starfleet , DSC Starfleet and TOS Starfleet characters. Most Federation ships are also available to Starfleet-aligned Romulan Republic and Dominion characters.

There are three specific types of starship (if carriers are attributed to one of the pre-existing types), and each starship has multiple variants and differing statistics depending on the type and tier of vessel. These details are explained on the starships' individual articles.

Note: Many of the Tier 6 starships have hull values that are at level 50, in contrast to most other ships which are valued at level 40. Thus comparisons are inaccurate unless all values are at the same level.

3 Destroyers & Warships
6 Battlecruisers
7 Science Vessels
8 Carriers & Strike Wing Escorts
9 Small Craft
10 Fleet Charts
11 Procurement
12 See also

Escorts [ | ]

At the forefront of the smallest skirmishes and the largest battles, you will find Federation Escort vessels. These smaller, more nimble craft are vastly more maneuverable and are built for one purpose and one purpose only. With the ability to equip cannons , these ships are designed to damage and destroy enemy vessels quickly and efficiently, and it is at this single role that they excel.

The Escort is a Tactical vessel, and any Captain with a thorough understanding of tactical warfare will be able to maximize the effectiveness of their vessel at the forefront of battle. With a small crew compliment typical for vessels of this size and role, the Escort class vessels are unable to man full medical facilities onboard, but with extensive armour and weaponry, coupled with its speed and agility, this is of minimal concern for astute Captains.

Raiders [ | ]

Destroyers & warships [ | ], frigates [ | ].

Frigates represent a unique combination of Cruiser capabilities, in a smaller, faster and more fragile package. They come with the Strategic Maneuvering and Weapon System Efficiency Cruiser Commands , and are able to benefit from Raider Flanking bonus as well. These nimble vessels are also similar to a Raider in that they boast an abundance of Universal BOff seats, can load dual cannons, and have similar weapon slot configurations.

Cruisers [ | ]

Federation Cruisers are the workhorses of fleets far and wide, and as such they are capable of filling a multitude of roles depending on their configuration. The Cruiser favours Engineering tasks with the bridge officer stations reflecting this, and is well suited for those Captains who have an in-depth understanding of Engineering functions and duties.

Despite their slow maneuvreability, Cruisers have Advanced Warp cores, and with the extra power produced are capable of withstanding large amounts of damage, extending their shields to nearby damaged vessels, and equiping multiple phaser arrays to in their bow and aft equipment bays. These vessels also have large cargo holds making them ideal for moving equipment or personnel on long journeys.

Battlecruisers [ | ]

Following the end of the Federation-Klingon War of 2405-2410 and the advent of the Alpha Quadrant Alliance formed between the United Federation of Planets, the Klingon Empire and the Romulan Republic, joint operations were prioritized by Starfleet. Based on after-action reports by its captains, Starfleet Command had the SCE develop the command battlecruiser at the San Francisco Fleet Yards.

The Allied militaries Starfleet, the Klingon Defense Force and the Romulan Republican Force developed three modular command battlecruiser starship classes each. The command battlecruiser was designed to function as mobile command center. Its advanced communications array was capable of relaying battle-critical information instantaneously. In addition, command battlecruisers were equipped with a technology allowing them to inspire Allied crews to improve combat performance.

All nine command battlecruiser starship classes were tier 6 vessels. Commanding officers required a minimum rank of vice admiral or its KDF/RRF equivalents, respectively, to attain command of such a ship.

Science Vessels [ | ]

The Federation Science Vessel is perhaps the most versatile and useful ship found on the front lines of combat, and can be configured to support other vessels in a variety of different ways. The Science vessel shines when it comes to scientific research and application with the majority of the Bridge Officer stations focussed to Science personnel. Captains with a deep understanding of Scientific research and theory will find themselves and their vessels sought on the battlefield for the multitude of tasks they are able to perform.

Although Science vessels are not the most powerful, indeed some may see them as the most vulnerable, they are not unarmed and can still be formidable vessels.

Carriers & Strike Wing Escorts [ | ]

Although their Bridge Officers slotting and consoles can be attributed to one of the pre-existing ship types, Carriers , Flight Deck Carriers and Strike Wing Escorts are relatively new additions to Starfleet and follow similar developments by the Klingons . They carry smaller vessels into combat via hangar bays which are capable of launching various different types of vessel, depending on the type of carrier, that are equipped by the player in the shipyard and deployed while in combat.

Small Craft [ | ]

Fleet charts [ | ].

The following are size charts, mostly player-made.

Size chart of playable and non-playable Starfleet ships from the ENT era to the TMP era. (See here for a chart of the canon ships at their correct sizes).

Size chart of playable and non-playable Starfleet ships from the TNG era to the PIC era.

Size chart of playable and non-playable refits of earlier Starfleet ships from pre-2409 STO.

Size chart of playable and non-playable new build Starfleet ships from pre-2409 STO.

Size chart of playable and non-playable refits of earlier Starfleet ships from post-2410 STO.

Size chart of playable and non-playable new build Starfleet ships from post-2410 STO.

Size chart of playable and non-playable starships of Alliance aligned factions of the 26th to 32nd centuries.

Recognition and size chart for Starfleet ships in 2411 STO.

For a key and notes on the player-made charts see here .

Procurement [ | ]

Most new ships can be purchased on Earth Spacedock from Lieutenant Laurel in Ship Requisitions, on Deep Space K-7 from Lt. Commander Dant Kroll in the Shipyard, and on Deep Space 9 from Eclia in the docking ring.

New vessels come with standard equipment and weapons, but players may wish to upgrade this immediately by purchasing items of a higher mark before undertaking missions. Better equipment can usually be found on the exchange , or purchased with Energy Credits or Dilithium from vendors.

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Star Trek's Most Underrated Species Is Basically Indestructible

Do star trek's uniforms change for different environments, 13 secret spider-man powers that he didn't get to keep.

The Breen unveil personal cloaking devices in Sons of Star Trek #2, giving them a major advantage over the Federation.
This upgrade makes the mysterious Breen even more formidable and dangerous, capable of espionage and sabotage.
The Breen's new technology could tip the balance of power in the ongoing war against the Federation in the alternate universe.

Warning: contains spoilers for Sons of Star Trek #2!

Star Trek ’s Breen are one of the franchise’s most mysterious races, and they just got a terrifying upgrade. The Breen remain an enigma, one the franchise is just beginning to touch on. The Breen are a formidable force, and as seen in the alternate universe of Sons of Star Trek, are on the winning side of a war against the Federation . In issue two, they unveil a powerful new weapon.

Sons of Star Trek #2 is written by Morgan Hampton and drawn by Angel Hernandez. Q Jr has sent Nog, Alexander and Jake to an alternate universe as a way of teaching them a lesson. Much is different about this universe, as the Federation is at war with the Breen–and the Breen are winning. In issue two, the USS Avery, the ship the trio find themselves on, engages the Breen.

The Breen board the ship, and reveal a new, game-changing piece of technology: personal cloaking devices.

The Breen Are an Enigmatic Star Trek Race

The breen have technology the federation does not.

The Breen have one of Star Trek’s most memorable arcs. The Breen were mentioned for many years on both Star Trek: The Next Generation and Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. They were not seen, however, until Deep Space Nine’s fourth season, in the episode “Indiscretion.” The Breen made sporadic appearances until the show’s final season, when they joined forces with the Dominion. These appearances established the Breen as a major power, with weapons capable of seriously damaging Federation starships. The Breen also wore armor, which obscured their appearance. The Breen’s true appearances were just revealed on Star Trek: Discovery.

Deep Space Nine revealed the Breen had energy-dampening weapons, as well as cloaking devices. Cloaking devices, such as the ones used by the Klingons or the Romulans, are governed by treaties in the Star Trek universe. For instance, the Romulans may use them but the Federation (in most circumstances) is prohibited from having cloaking devices. The Breen do not recognize any such treaty, and have taken the tech a step further by creating personalized cloaking devices. If cloaking tech on ships is rare, then a personal version is even rarer.

The Tholians are one of Star Trek's most underrated species, and the franchise has confirmed they are virtually indestructible.

The Breen's New Cloaking Devices Could Tip the Balance of Power

The breen now has a serious advantage over the federation.

The applications for a personal cloaking device are many, both for combat and espionage–and these advantages belong to the Breen.

Despite playing a huge role in the Dominion War, the Breen are still largely mysterious, and their radical new cloaking technology also makes them one of Star Trek’s most dangerous as well. With this device, the Breen could infiltrate key weapons and scientific bases, gaining access to classified research. The Breen could also use it to sabotage diplomatic negotiations and carry out assassinations. The Breen already has an aura of mystery, and this only enhances it. The applications for a personal cloaking device are many, both for combat and espionage–and these advantages belong to the Breen.

Sons of Star Trek #2 is on sale now from IDW Publishing!

Star Trek: Best Book-Only Characters

The Star Trek novels introduce unique characters like Akaar and Treir, adding depth to the expansive Starfleet universe.
Characters like Nick Keller and Elias Vaughn bring new perspectives to the post- DS9 era, facing challenging galactic events.
Mackenzie Calhoun leads the USS Excalibur in a new hero ship series, showcasing tactical genius in the New Frontier books.

Just like the universe itself, the Star Trek franchise is huge and far-reaching, encompassing several television shows, and numerous video games, movies, and books. While many of Star Trek 's most iconic characters appear in various series and films, there are many other great characters who only feature in alternative media sources. For instance, the final frontier has spawned some memorable video game-based characters .

Star Trek: 8 Most Powerful Federation Starships, Ranked

Yet perhaps the richest source of characters is the now questionably canon series of books that take place following The Next Generation and Deep Space Nine . From fresh takes on classic species like the Andorians and Orions, to some of Starfleet's finest officers, the Star Trek novels are a treasure trove of notable figures.

Leonard James Akaar

First appearence: star trek mission gamma book one: twilight.

Author: David R. George III
Publication Date: September 2002

Leonard James Akaar is unique among novel-only characters in that he does, in fact, make a blink-and-you'll-miss-it appearance on televised Trek . "Friday's Child," an episode of The Original Series , ends with his birth; however, the Capellan royal would not be seriously fleshed out until 2002's Mission Gamma: Twilight . By the time of the Deep Space 9 novels, Akaar had risen through the ranks of Starfleet to become an influential admiral with the ear of the Federation president.

Akaar's strategic mindset and steely resolve proved essential in preserving the Federation through some of its darkest periods, including the Borg invasion depicted in the Star Trek: Destiny series. The Starfleet legend may have been born in The Original Series , but the Star Trek novels were where he made his name.

First Appearence: Star Trek: Demons of Air and Darkness

Author: Keith R. A. DeCandido
Publication Date: September 2001

Star Trek features many inspirational female characters, from Kira Nerys to Katherine Janeway. However, few are as resourceful or as motivated as Treir , an Orion Dabo girl who transformed Quark's Bar into a highly successful business during the post- DS9 novels. Following her escape from Orion servitude, Treir earned her place as Quark's right-hand woman by implementing a series of radical reforms, including hiring a Dabo boy to attract more customers.

Star Trek: The Fates Of Every Live-Action TV Show's Main Character

Treir may not play a significant role in the canon-shattering events depicted in the Deep Space 9 novels, but this ruthless businesswoman helped to make Star Trek 's prose universe feel like a living, breathing place. If anyone is capable of giving Quark a run for his latinum, it's her.

Nick Keller

First appearence: star trek new earth: challenger.

Author: Diane Carey
Publication Date: August 2000

New Earth , a series of six novels that take place between Star Trek: The Motion Picture and The Wrath of Khan , was intended to act as a backdoor pilot for a new narrative focusing on Commander Nick Keller . In the final novel, Keller takes command of a makeshift starship in order to defend the human colony of Belle Terre from alien attack. Keller was conflicted between overthrowing his inept captain and preserving the lives of his comrades, and it's a great shame that a full series based on the space cowboy's adventures never emerged.

Interestingly, author Diane Carey based Keller's appearance on Scott Bakula, who would go on to play Captain Jonathan Archer in Star Trek: Enterprise . Keller, however, would make only two more appearances in the Star Trek universe, with both being part of the multi-series Gateways crossover event.

Elias Vaughn

First appearence: star trek: avatar (book one).

Author: S. D. Perry
Publication Date: July 2001

Elias Vaughn was a Starfleet officer and intelligence operative who joined Deep Space 9's command staff following the end of the Dominion War . Despite only holding the rank of commander, Vaughn's expertise proved a boon to the Federation outpost, and he played a role in several key events, including the USS Defiant 's post-war exploration of the Gamma Quadrant (depicted in the Mission Gamma sub-series).

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Vaughn was haunted by the death of his wife, Ruriko, and his troubled relationship with his estranged daughter, Prynn. This relationship was complicated by the fact that Prynn was also assigned to Deep Space 9. However, father and daughter were eventually able to reconcile–but not without some bumps along the way.

Christine Vale

First appearence: star trek: the belly of the beast.

Author: Dean Wesley Smith

While William Riker's USS Titan has made notable appearances in Star Trek: Lower Decks , the starship's adventures were originally chronicled in a series of spin-off novels. These books featured Christine Vale , a former detective turned Starfleet officer, as Riker's second-in-command. Vale was initially unwilling to take the post, as she disliked the idea of Riker working so closely with his wife, Deanna Troi.

Luckily, Vale took the post, which allowed her to act as a counterweight to any of Riker's Troi-related biases. During her time aboard the USS Titan , she helped to explore the Beta Quadrant and fend off a Borg invasion. Indeed, her record was so good that, following Riker's promotion to admiral, she took command of the Luna -class starship.

Thirishar ch'Thane

From their initial appearance in 1967's "Journey to Babel" and 2001's "The Andorian Incident," references to Star Trek 's Andorians were true and far between. One important detail was disclosed in The Next Generation , however: Andorians have four sexes , with all four required for successful reproduction.

The character of Thirishar ch'Thane (or "Shar") was a response to this premise. Shar served as Deep Space Nine's science officer following the end of the Dominion War, but was torn between his commitments to Starfleet and to his mating group, who wished him to return to Andor. This dilemma was further complicated by a dangerous decline in Andorian fertility, which threatened to cause the Andorians' extinction in the long term. Shar was eventually able to use his scientific knowledge to help solve the Andorian fertility crisis.

The Jem'Hadar are one of Star Trek 's most iconic creations , a powerful race of warriors motivated by their addiction to the chemical ketracel-white. During the Dominion War of 2373–2375, the Jem'Hadar were central to the Dominion assaults which nearly overwhelmed the Federation Alliance.

8 Best Starfleet Ships During The Dominion War

After the war's conclusion, Taran'atar , a Jem'Hadar without a ketracel-white dependency, was sent to Deep Space Nine as a cultural observer. Taran'atar's struggle to adjust to the Alpha Quadrant during peacetime makes for fascinating reading, as does seeing the fearsome warrior growing closer to his former enemies. Taran'atar's story takes some strange twists and turns, but he remains a fascinating character.

Mackenzie Calhoun

First appearence: star trek new frontier: house of cards.

Author: Peter David
Publication Date: July 1997

In 1997, Pocket Books published the first of Peter David's New Frontier books. While these novels included several characters from TV Trek (mostly notably Commander Shelby from "The Best of Both Worlds" ), they focused on a new hero ship, the USS Excalibur , and a new captain: Mackenzie Calhoun . Calhoun, an alien warrior modeled after Mel Gibson, was depicted as a tactical genius capable of beating Starfleet's toughest challenges–including the infamous Kobayashi Maru test.

Calhoun soon became a fan-favorite, with his New Frontier series including over 20 volumes. The Xenanian captain was even popular enough to be made into an action figure, the only example of this honor being bestowed on a character originating from any of Star Trek 's novels.

Created by Gene Roddenberry

First Film Star Trek: The Motion Picture

Latest Film Star Trek Beyond

First TV Show Star Trek: The Original Series

Latest TV Show Star Trek: Strange New Worlds

Creation Year 1966

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Most Powerful Star Trek Ships, Ranked

What is the most feared ship in the entire galaxy?

How do you quantify starship power in the Star Trek universe ?

Is it the armament? The speed? The shields? The sheer size of a vessel? Or perhaps it’s the captain and crew at the helm?

We believe it’s all of those things and more, so we took 46 of the most noteworthy Star Trek starships and placed them in a head-to-head battle.

Which iconic ship came out on top? Find out below.

Warp ahead for our rankings of the most powerful Star Trek ships ever.

An illustrated starship flies past a nebula that looks like a jack-o-lantern.

Star Trek: 6 Worst Things Done By The Federation, Ranked

The Federation certainly doesn't have clean hands in the Star Trek franchise. These examples demonstrate them at their worst.

The Federation's dark side is revealed through blackmailing and trickery in political and wartime scenarios.
The actions of key figures like Captain Sisko and Janeway raise ethical questions about Federation ideals.
Section 31's drastic measures, including attempted genocide, show the darker side of the Federation's morality.

Star Trek 's United Federation of Planets may ostensibly be the franchise's good guys, but even sci-fi's most progressive utopia has a few skeletons in its closet. This is hardly surprising: Captain Jonathan Archer, a key figure in the founding of the Federation, was not averse to indulging in occasional piracy or torture during his time in command of the Enterprise NX-01. And, while the Federation has many positive aspects, it seems that the apple doesn't fall far from the tree regarding the great power's flaws.

6 Biggest Retcons To Star Trek History

Many of the Federation's worst excesses can be explained (if not excused) by the existence of dire threats or states of widespread conflict . Some, however, are more personal, leading to long-held fan grudges that still simmer decades after the acts themselves. From political machinations to every flavor of war crime, the Federation is hardly blameless, even if the ends sometimes justify the means.

6 Blackmailing Qo'nos

That's one way to win a war.

Star Trek: Discovery: "Will You Take My Hand?" (Season 1, Episode 15)

Fans remain split on Star Trek: Discovery. Is it a bold new take on the classic franchise, or does it miss the point by several light-years? Whatever the case, one thing is clear when it comes to the Federation's actions at the end of the show's first season: they're as villainous as they are incoherent. Discovery 's debut season focuses on a dangerous conflict between the Federation and the militaristic Klingon Empire ; faced with the risk of imminent defeat, the Federation enlists the help of Emperor Georgiou, a genocidal dictator from the Mirror Universe.

Georgiou's scheme is as silly as anyone should expect from a Mirror Universe inhabitant. Discovery travels to the Klingon homeworld and hides a bomb inside the planet's crust. While Georgiou's initial plot to destroy the planet is foiled, the Federation uses the bomb as leverage, essentially blackmailing the Klingons into accepting a puppet ruler with pro-Federation policies. Enforced regime change on a grand scale is hardly the action of a benevolent state, suggesting that the Federation is less virtuous than it likes to pretend.

5 Tricking The Romulans

Desperate times call for desperate measures.

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine: "In the Pale Moonlight" (Season 6, Episode 19)

"In the Pale Moonlight" is one of the Star Trek franchise's most iconic episodes. Set during the Federation's darkest days, the episode sees Captain Sisko enlist the help of former spy Elim Garak to bring the Romulan Star Empire into the war on the allied side. The devious Romulans are unwilling to join forces with their Federation rivals, so Sisko and Garak are forced to use a blend of deception and diplomacy to achieve their strategic goals.

8 Coolest Starships From Star Trek: The Next Generation

Admittedly, Garak is responsible for many of the scheme's more villainous aspects, such as orchestrating the death of a Romulan senator to implicate the Dominion. However, Sisko (and by extension the Federation) is a driving force behind the plot. Bringing the Romulans into the war proves essential for ensuring an eventual Federation victory, but the Federation's methodology for doing so remains questionable. Yet, as Sisko points out, he will simply have to live with his villainy.

4 The Forced Deportation Of The Ba'ku

Do the ends ever justify the means.

Star Trek: Insurrection

Deep Space Nine 's Dominion War sent shockwaves throughout the franchise, with its impact felt in a range of TV shows, novels, and movies. Indeed, despite featuring characters from The Next Generation , Star Trek: Insurrection (1998) examines the Federation's ethics during wartime. Dominion forces are overwhelming the Federation Alliance at every turn, but the planet of Ba'ku may prove to be a secret weapon. The Federation plans to use Ba'ku's naturally medicinal environment as a hospital for its war effort, but there's a problem.

The planet is already home to the Ba'ku people , and the Federation becomes embroiled in a plot to forcibly relocate the native population to another planet. This policy becomes even harder to defend once it becomes apparent that the supposedly friendly Son'a have their own vendetta against the Ba'ku. It's no wonder, then, that Captain Picard and his crew elected to defy the Federation in this case. Picard may be one of the Federation's most famous figures, but he refuses to be complicit in its wrongdoing.

3 Using Bioweapons To Poison A Planet

Did captain sisko go too far.

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine: "For the Uniform" (Season 5, Episode 13)

When does the quest for justice become a bloody hunt for revenge? This question is posed by "For the Uniform," an episode that pits the morally gray Captain Sisko against the traitorous Eddington, a member of the Maquis terrorist group . The Maquis plan to deploy biological weapons to drive the alien Cardassians away from planets which the Marquis claim for themselves. Sisko, however, turns the plot on its head by using his biological weapons against the planets, making them uninhabitable for humans.

Star Trek: Things You Didn’t Know About Benjamin Sisko

Sisko's decision to devastate an entire planet is one of Star Trek 's most shocking moments, and this is emphasized by Worf's initial hesitation to obey Sisko's command. Sisko believes that drastic action is the only way to force Eddington to surrender, but fans continue to debate whether the Emissary of the Prophets let his emotions cloud his judgment. Eddington made a fool of Sisko by betraying and then openly attacking the Federation—in doing so, he pushed Sisko into ordering one of the Federation's most evil acts.

2 The Attempted Genocide Of The Founders

When does warfare become a war crime.

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine: "What You Leave Behind" (Season 7, Episodes 25 & 26)

The Federation may be a place of intellectual progress and equality, but its benevolence conceals a seedy underbelly. Section 31, a Federation intelligence agency with a broad remit and a questionable moral compass. Section 31 and its agents are responsible for some heinous actions, such as blackmailing Starfleet officers and employing villains from the Mirror Universe . However, Section 31's most radical scheme involves the attempted genocide of the Dominion's Founders.

The Federation, via Section 31, infects the Founders with a morphogenic virus that is designed to exterminate the species. While this would bring about the end of the devastating Dominion War, it demonstrates that the road to hell is paved with good intentions. Luckily, good intentions save the Federation in the long run, as curing the disease convinces the Founders to end the war.

1 Janeway's Murder (?) Of Tuvix

Can kathryn janeway ever be redeemed.

Star Trek: Voyager : "Tuvix" (Season 2, Episode 24)

Kathryn Janeway may be just one Starfleet captain, but she and her starship represent the whole of the Federation's presence in the far-off Delta Quadrant . As such, many of her actions have raised fans' eyebrows, from allying with the Borg against Species 872 to falling in love with a holographic character (and deleting his wife from the program). However, viewers are especially disgusted by Janeway's treatment of Tuvix, a hybrid inadvertently created from the Vulcan Tuvok and the Talaxian Neelix.

United Federation of Planets

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The United Federation of Planets (abbreviated as UFP and commonly referred to as the Federation ) was a supranational interstellar union of multiple planetary constituent political entities under a single central government , founded on the principles of liberty , equality , peace , justice , and progress, with the purpose of furthering the universal rights of all sentient life. Federation members exchange knowledge and resources to facilitate peaceful cooperation, scientific development, space exploration, and mutual defense. ( TOS : " Arena ", " A Taste of Armageddon ", " Spectre of the Gun ", " And the Children Shall Lead "; DS9 : " Battle Lines "; VOY : " Innocence "; Star Trek: First Contact )

One of the most powerful interstellar states in known space, it encompassed eight thousand light years . The total number of formal member worlds was over one hundred and fifty in the 24th century ( Star Trek: First Contact ). At its height, at an unstated time between the 25th and 31st century , it numbered three hundred and fifty members ( DIS : " Die Trying "). Unlike its imperial rivals – especially the Klingon Empire and the Romulan Star Empire – who derived power from a single species subjugating other races. ( TOS : " Errand of Mercy ", " A Private Little War "; Star Trek Nemesis ; ENT : " United "), the Federation's various member worlds joined voluntarily and were equals in the Federation's democratic society ( TNG : " Attached "; DS9 : " Emissary ", " Rapture "; VOY : " The Void "; DS9 : " Paradise Lost "; VOY : " Author, Author ").

Starfleet was incorporated to maintain exploratory, scientific, diplomatic, and defense functions ( TOS : " The Cage ", " Where No Man Has Gone Before ", " Journey to Babel ").

In the alternate reality , Captain Christopher Pike described the Federation as a " peacekeeping and humanitarian armada ." ( Star Trek )

Federation culture, values, and technology had vast influence; across space and time, as well as other dimensions and subspace domains. Encountering numerous clashing ideologies, some conflicts escalated into significant resistance, such as armed conflict, and even temporal incursions intended to prevent key historical events from occurring.

Anthem of the United Federation of Planets ( listen file info )
2 Federation territory
3.1.1 Executive agencies
3.2 The legislature
3.3 The judiciary
3.4 Federation law
3.5 Membership
4 Exploration and defense
6.1 Among Klingons
6.2 Among the Dominion
6.3 Among others
7.1 See also
7.2 Related topics
7.3.1 Insignia
7.4 External links

History [ ]

The founding ceremony of the Federation in 2161

The four founding species of the Federation (clockwise from top left): Humans, Vulcans, Andorians, and Tellarites

The Federation was founded in San Francisco , Earth in 2161 . ( TNG : " The Outcast "; ENT : " Zero Hour ", " These Are the Voyages... ") The seeds of the Federation were planted during the Babel Crisis of 2154 , during which a temporary alliance was formed to search for a Romulan drone ship preying on local vessels. It was this that first brought together the species that founded the Federation: Humans , Vulcans , Andorians , and Tellarites . ( ENT : " United ") Sometime around January 2155 , these four species as well as others, including the Denobulans , the Rigelians , and the Coridanites , began talks to create what was later considered a direct precursor to the Federation: the Coalition of Planets . ( ENT : " Demons ") The Earth-Romulan War , which broke out in 2156 and was won by an alliance of forces from Earth, Andoria, Vulcan, and Tellar in 2160 , immediately preceded the foundation of the Federation, which took place the following year between dignitaries of these four planets. ( ENT : " In a Mirror, Darkly, Part II ", " These Are the Voyages... ")

Although the Federation's intentions were peaceful, around it were other, more belligerent powers such as the Klingon and Romulan Empires . As it expanded through the admittance of more and more worlds, it came into conflict with these powers. In the 23rd century , its main adversary was the Klingon Empire, with a war taking place in 2256-57 , and another briefly erupting between the two in 2267 , before being halted by the Organians . ( TOS : " Errand of Mercy ") However, tensions eased considerably towards the end of the century, with the Khitomer Conference of 2293 being a substantial turning point. ( Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country ) This conference saw the signing of the Khitomer Accords , which effectively ended hostile relations.

At the start of the 24th century , the Federation began an unprecedented period of peaceful exploration of the galaxy, free of major conflicts, as its main adversary of the previous century, the Klingon Empire, was now at peace with it. However, relations with the Romulans remained hostile, albeit at a low, "cold war" level. During the 24th century, there were a series series of conflicts as the Federation came into contact with other races, such as the Cardassians , the Talarians , the Tholians , and the Tzenkethi . ( TNG : " The Icarus Factor ", " Suddenly Human ", " The Wounded "; DS9 : " The Adversary ", " Paradise Lost ")

In the alternate timeline created by the disappearance of the USS Enterprise -C into a temporal rift , the Federation became embroiled in a war with the Klingon Empire that lasted until at least 2366 . ( TNG : " Yesterday's Enterprise ")

Starfleet forces engaging the Borg

Then, however, the period of peaceful exploration came to an abrupt end. In 2365 , the Federation encountered its single worst threat, in the cybernetic hivemind known as the Borg . One of the most powerful and destructive forces in the entire galaxy, the Borg invaded the Federation twice within less than a decade. They were unlike anything the Federation had ever encountered, and were only foiled by chance and resourcefulness. The Federation was thus schooled in the fact that, in the vast, unexplored reaches of the galaxy beyond what they knew, there were threats that they could not even imagine. ( TNG : " Q Who ", " The Best of Both Worlds ", " The Best of Both Worlds, Part II "; Star Trek: First Contact )

The Breen hit the heart of Starfleet

Then, in 2370 , contact was made with the Dominion , the predominant ruling power over much of the Gamma Quadrant . After numerous skirmishes, misfortunes suffered by the Cardassian Union allowed for their eventual incorporation into the Dominion, and the subsequent Dominion invasion of the Alpha Quadrant. The Dominion/Cardassian forces were also joined by the reclusive but immensely powerful race known as the Breen . The ensuing war was the greatest crisis to be faced by the Federation, with the Federation forming an alliance with the Klingons and Romulans to defeat the Dominion. Although the Alliance eventually emerged victorious, many of the Federation's important member worlds, such as Betazed , Coridanite , and Benzar , had been temporarily occupied before the Dominion's offensive could be turned back. Thousands of Federation Starfleet vessels and millions of lives were lost, in what turned out be, as of the late 24th century, the bloodiest conflict in Federation history. ( DS9 : " By Inferno's Light ", et al. ) The most devastating and demoralizing offensive occurred in 2375 , when the Breen hit the Federation at its heart, with a surprise attack on Starfleet Headquarters on Earth. ( DS9 : " The Changing Face of Evil ")

However, the aftermath of the Dominion and Borg invasions allowed the Federation to establish new relations with many of its former adversaries, the Romulans in particular. In 2379, cooperation took place between the crew of a Federation Starfleet vessel, the USS Enterprise -E , and Romulan forces to defeat the Reman Praetor Shinzon , whose actions would have destroyed both Earth and the Romulan Star Empire. It was hoped that this would mark the beginning of an end to hostility between the Federation and the Romulan Star Empire, marking the beginnings of détente with a traditional enemy of the Federation. ( Star Trek Nemesis )

Upon the discovery of an impending supernova of the Romulan sun , the Romulans requested aid from the Federation. Although 14 members opposed aiding the Romulans and threatened to secede, Starfleet mobilized a massive rescue armada comprised of ten thousand warp-capable ferries to aid in the evacuation efforts, which assembled over Mars. On First Contact Day of 2385 , an attack on Mars was carried out by androids that were secretly compromised by the Romulan cabal Zhat Vash . With over 90,000 casualties and the evacuation fleet destroyed, Starfleet not only abandoned its support for evacuating Romulus, which was destroyed in 2387 , but the Federation Council also placed a ban on creating or researching artificial lifeforms that would not be lifted again until 2399 . ( PIC : " Remembrance ", " Et in Arcadia Ego, Part 2 ")

In at least one version of the 26th century , the Klingon Empire and races such as the Ithenites and Xindi joined the Federation. In the 2550s of this timeline, the Federation proved instrumental in halting an invasion of the galaxy by a power known as the Sphere-Builders . This action caused the Sphere-Builders to try to stop the Federation from ever being formed by manipulating the Xindi into attempting to destroy Earth in 2153. An attempt to change history was unsuccessful. ( ENT : " Azati Prime ", " Zero Hour ")

Charles Vance , Commander in chief of Starfleet Command in the year 3189 stated that that the Federation had spent much of the 30th century fighting the Temporal Cold War ( DIS : " Die Trying ") to maintain the integrity and outcome of its subjective history. This conflict endured into the 31st century ( ENT : " Storm Front ", " Storm Front, Part II "). Following the end of the Temporal Wars , time travel was outlawed and all time travel technology was destroyed. ( DIS : " That Hope Is You, Part 1 ")

Midway through the 30th century , the galaxy's major powers began to exhaust dilithium supplies, prompting the Federation to mandate that its member worlds develop an alternative warp drive design. However, none of the new designs proved reliable, and the most promising alternative, Ni'Var 's SB-19 , was deemed too dangerous by its creators, and only kept going because the Federation would not allow it to be shuttered. In roughly 3069 , a disastrous event known as " The Burn " occurred where almost all dilithium mysteriously went inert, resulting in thousands of near-simultaneous warp core breaches that killed countless people. This event made widespread interstellar travel untenable and caused the Federation to collapse as a major political entity; however, its ideals and spirit survived through "true believers", who upheld its beliefs in the hope it would rise from the ashes. ( DIS : " That Hope Is You, Part 1 ", " People of Earth ", " Unification III ").

As of 3189, only 38 members remained in the Federation, though many other planets still adhered to Federation values. ( DIS : " Die Trying ") Ni'Var, incorrectly believing SB-19 responsible for "The Burn" until 3189, was among the planets that seceded. ( DIS : " Unification III ")

Five months after the defeat of the Emerald Chain and the securing of new dilithium supplies from Theta Zeta , the Federation had expanded to 59 member worlds, including Trill (planet) . By the end of 3190, both Ni'Var and Earth had rejoined the Federation. Andoria had entered talks to return as well, which would bring all the founding Federation members back into the fold after over a century. ( DIS : " Kobayashi Maru ", " All is Possible ", " Coming Home ")

Federation territory [ ]

Federation space was located approximately thirty thousand light years from the core of the galaxy , located within the Orion Arm , on the border of the Alpha and Beta Quadrants . ( TNG : " The Nth Degree "; DIS : " Magic to Make the Sanest Man Go Mad "; VOY Season 7 production art )

By 2267 , its territory had expanded across "a thousand planets". Because of the cosmopolitan nature of the United Federation of Planets, its territory included at least 150 member worlds, spanning across 8,000 light-years of interstellar space, with thousands of colonies and outposts, vast expanses of uninhabited space, and even planets inhabited by pre-warp civilizations , directly incorporated under the political jurisdiction of Federation space as of 2370 . ( TOS : " Metamorphosis "; TNG : " Homeward "; DS9 : " Battle Lines "; VOY : " Innocence "; Star Trek: First Contact )

Entering or being within Federation space had jurisdictional implications, e.g., possible health and safety inspections , the enforcement of the Prime Directive , and certain goods - such as Romulan ale - being banned. (e.g., TNG : " The Enemy ", " Future Imperfect ", " Aquiel ", " Gambit, Part II "; Star Trek: Insurrection )

By 3189 , approximately 120 years after the galaxy wide event known as " The Burn ", which decimated warp faring civilization, the Federation was reduced to only 38 formal member worlds, from a high of 350. ( DIS : " Die Trying ") By 3190 this had increased to 58. ( DIS : " Kobayashi Maru ")

Government [ ]

The Federation's government was structured as that of a federal constitutional republic , with much of its facilities located on Earth . ( TOS : " Amok Time "; DS9 : " Rapture "; VOY : " In the Flesh "; Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home )

The executive branch [ ]

Seal of the President of the United Federation of Planets

The executive branch was responsible for the day-to-day management of the Federation. The democratically-elected Federation President was the head of this branch. ( DS9 : " Paradise Lost "; Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home ) The Federation President served as both the head of state and head of government; as chief executive officer of the government, the President determined most of the Federation's foreign policy, managed budgetary concerns, and served as supreme commander of the Federation's military forces. ( Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country ) The President's office was located in the Earth city of Paris on the European continent. ( Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country ; DS9 : " Homefront ", " Paradise Lost "; DIS : " Will You Take My Hand? ")

The Federation Cabinet was a special executive committee to the President of the United Federation of Planets. ( DS9 : " Extreme Measures ")

Executive agencies [ ]

The Federation also maintained a number of executive agencies that assisted in the administration of its affairs:

Central Bureau of Penology
Department of Cartography
Department of Temporal Investigations
ebs terranews
Federation Archaeology Council
Federation Astronomical Committee
Federation Bureau of Industrialization
Federation Bureau of Planetary Treaties
Federation Central
Federation Command
Federation Food and Drug Administration
Federation Naval Patrol
Federation News Network
Federation News Service
Federation Science Bureau
Federation Science Council
Starfleet – see below
Terraform Command
UFP Standards Measurement Bureau
United Earth Space Probe Agency (UESPA) (existed from the 21st and at least into the 23rd century )

In addition, at least one rogue agency, known as Section 31 , was known to have operated in the name of the Federation. ( DS9 : " Inquisition ")

The legislature [ ]

A sitting of the Federation Council

The Federation Council and the Federation Central made up the bicameral legislature of the Federation. ( TOS : " Amok Time ") Composed of representatives from the various member worlds , the Federation Council held the power to create, amend, and ratify Federation law. ( DS9 : " Rapture "; TNG : " Force of Nature ", " Journey's End "; Star Trek: Insurrection ) The Federation Council also held a great deal of influence over the operations of the Federation's military and humanitarian service, Starfleet . It sometimes served as the judging body of specially-convened courts-martial , and on occasion issued operational orders to Starfleet. ( Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home ; TNG : " The Defector ") The Council also held influence over the making of Federation foreign policy. ( DS9 : " The Way of the Warrior ", " For the Cause ") The Council's meeting chamber was in the Earth city of San Francisco, on the west coast of the North American continent. ( Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home )

The judiciary [ ]

The judiciary was the branch of government responsible for resolving legal disputes. It consisted of a hierarchy of courts, with the Federation Supreme Court at its apex. ( DS9 : " Doctor Bashir, I Presume ") Federation courts sometimes relied on panels of citizens known as juries. The Federation Grand Jury heard testimony as part of criminal investigations, while the Federation Special Jury tried war criminals. ( DS9 : " The Ascent ", " Waltz ") Alongside the civilian courts, Starfleet had its own system of courts martial. ( TOS : " Court Martial "; TNG : " The Pegasus "; DS9 : " For the Uniform ", " Time's Orphan "; Star Trek: Insurrection )

Federation law [ ]

The Federation Charter, as seen aboard the USS Voyager in 2377

The fundamental political principles and laws of the Federation derived from two important documents:

The Charter of the United Federation of Planets was the document ratified by the original members of the United Federation of Planets at the organization's founding in 2161 . Caste-based discrimination was prohibited under the Charter. ( TNG : " The Outcast "; DS9 : " Accession "; ENT : " Zero Hour ", " These Are the Voyages... ")
The Constitution of the United Federation of Planets incorporated a series of enumerated rights to which all sentient beings were regarded as being entitled, collectively referred to as the Guarantees. The Seventh Guarantee of the Federation Constitution protected individuals from self-incrimination, while the Twelfth Guarantee protected the rights of artists. ( TNG : " The Drumhead ", " The Perfect Mate "; VOY : " Author, Author ")

Other rights and responsibilities for citizens derived from:

Starfleet Charter
The Federation Judicial Code , which provided guidelines and regulations related to legal issues.
General Orders and Regulations , a series of guidelines used to instruct members of Starfleet on the proper etiquette and policy in a situation that requires consultation for a resolution.
The Federation Uniform Code of Justice , which formed the legal basis of Starfleet court martial proceedings.

Membership [ ]

Admittance into the Federation can be granted either by invitation or successful petition submitted by a world, civilization, or government desiring to join voluntarily. In the second case, membership was granted only upon satisfaction of meeting certain requirements and conditions. Firstly, the government of the prospective member submitted an official petition to the Federation Council, outlining its desire to join. A lengthy, thorough investigation of the prospective member's culture followed, including copying records from the applicant's central computer. ( TNG : " The Hunted ") This investigation could last several years, and was done to ascertain whether or not the culture genuinely shared the values of the Federation: values of benevolence, peaceful co-existence and co-operation, the rule of law , justice, and equal rights and freedoms. ( DS9 : " Rapture "; TNG : " The Measure Of A Man ", " Attached ") For example, the discovery on the petitioning planet, Angosia III , of enhanced soldiers being unjustly and indefinitely imprisoned without treatment in times of peace was considered unacceptable in Captain Jean-Luc Picard 's official evaluation of the planet for the Federation. ( TNG : " The Hunted ")

Even before the investigation, the prospective member had to meet certain requirements. These included the following:

It had to have an "advanced level of technology." The Federation's baseline definition of this term was the capability for faster-than-light space travel. ( TNG : " First Contact "; Star Trek: Insurrection )
Its government should have achieved stable planetary political unity, demonstrating a resolution of social and political differences and a respect of the rights of the individual. Membership was still considered if there was an isolated faction present that did not want membership, but this was a rare case. ( TNG : " The Hunted ", " Attached ")
No form of caste discrimination was to be practiced. ( DS9 : " Accession ")

Every acceding member had to go through the same admittance process, which included a specific timetable. In mid-2372, Bajoran First Minister Shakaar Edon successfully negotiated the admittance timetable for Bajor to be cut in half. ( DS9 : " Crossfire ") Roughly one year later, in mid-2373, Bajor's petition for membership was accepted. ( DS9 : " Rapture ")

Individual groups could give up their status as Federation citizens, as was the result when the settlers of Dorvan V elected to remain on their world even after it was ceded to the Cardassians. ( TNG : " Journey's End ")

In the mid- 2380s , 14 member species threatened to secede in opposition to Starfleet's plan to assist the Romulan Star Empire evacuation ahead of the Romulan supernova . ( PIC : " Remembrance ")

In 2401 , a faction of the Borg was granted provisional membership under the leadership of a Queen from an alternate timeline who had merged with Dr. Agnes Jurati and sought to create a better Borg Collective. ( PIC : " Farewell ")

At some point between the 24th and the 31st century, Federation membership reached a high point of 350 members. ( DIS : " Die Trying ")

As a consequence of The Burn , by the 31st century, Federation membership had reduced to 38 member worlds, not including Earth or Trill . ( DIS : " People of Earth ", " Die Trying ", " Forget Me Not ")

Withdrawing from the Federation and giving up membership was possible and happened especially after The Burn, when more then 300 members left the union. However, an unconditional and immediate withdrawal was not possible, implying a lengthy process and certain requirements to be met before wihdrawal. ( DIS : " All Is Possible ")

Exploration and defense [ ]

Starfleet emblem (2401)

Starfleet was the deep-space exploratory and defensive service maintained by the United Federation of Planets. Its principal functions were the advancement of Federation knowledge about the galaxy, the advancement of Federation knowledge of science and technology, and the defense of the Federation. In addition, it also played a significant diplomatic role. As per its mandate of deep-space exploration, its personnel were frequently brought into contact with cultures and sentient species whose existences were previously unknown to the Federation. Federation Starfleet officers therefore acted as official representatives of the Federation in these cases. Also, Federation Starfleet vessels were frequently used to ferry ambassadors on diplomatic missions. ( TNG : " The Last Outpost "; TOS : " Journey to Babel "; ENT : " United "; ENT : " Babel One ")

Economy [ ]

While money was not "necessary" for the daily running of Federation life, Federation citizens were not restricted from engaging in capitalism, trade, or business. ( TOS : " The Trouble with Tribbles "). The extent to which the Federation economic policy necessitated or even obligated the abolition of money, however, it was noted that during the mid- 23rd century , con man Harry Mudd robbed a bank on Betazed. Using a time crystal , Mudd was able to learn everything about the bank's complex security measures, a fact he bragged about to Ash Tyler during their imprisonment in 2256 . ( DIS : " Magic to Make the Sanest Man Go Mad ").

Most references to economics within the Federation allude specifically to Earth. By the founding of the Federation in the 22nd century, capitalism was no longer the economic system of Earth , being replaced by the New World Economy . According to Tom Paris , it was around this time that "money went the way of the dinosaur." ( VOY : " Dark Frontier ")

Q once noted that the auction Vash was conducting at Quark's aboard Deep Space 9 was a case of her "engaging in base commerce and setting Federation ethics back two hundred years." ( DS9 : " Q-Less ")

Under the New World Economy, material needs and money no longer existed and Humanity had grown out of its infancy. People were no longer obsessed with the accumulation of things, effectively eliminating hunger and want and the need for possessions. The challenge and driving force then were to self-improvement, self-enrichment, and the betterment of all Humanity. ( Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home ; TNG : " The Neutral Zone ", " The Price ", " Time's Arrow, Part II "; Star Trek: First Contact ).

The Federation itself did engage in trade with friendly powers and organizations. Although most items and services were provided by the Federation, some luxury items and services could still be requisitioned as late as the 24th century using Federation credits , the Federation continued to deal with other cultures which had money-based economies, and private businesses from other races such as the Ferengi were sometimes permitted on Federation stations such as Deep Space 9 , despite being scornful of the Federation's disregard for currency. ( TNG : " Encounter at Farpoint ", " The Price "; VOY : " Caretaker "; DS9 : " In the Cards ", " Who Mourns for Morn? ")

Reputation [ ]

Due to its size and history, the United Federation of Planets gained a reputation among the neighboring populations and beyond. Some of that reputation was based on dissemination of factual information, and some was fabricated or exaggerated for various purposes or simply through negligence.

Among Klingons [ ]

Klingon propaganda in the 23rd century claimed that the Federation committed atrocities against its prisoners, keeping them in death camps and torturing them for their scientific and military secrets. When beamed aboard the USS Enterprise in 2268 , Mara reminded her husband Kang of these claims. Captain James T. Kirk remarked that she had much to learn about the Federation. ( TOS : " Day of the Dove ") In the aftermath of the so-called Genesis Incident, the Klingon Ambassador publicly referred to the Federation as behaving "like a gang of intergalactic criminals". ( Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home ). In the 2290s, the daughter of the Klingon Chancellor, Azetbur , called it a "Homo Sapiens only club". ( Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country )

Prior to the breakdown of relations between the Federation and Klingon Empire, which eventually led to the Federation-Klingon War , Kurn opposed the decision to break the treaty but was overruled in the Klingon Council . He later stated to Worf that the reason for his opposition was " because Gowron underestimates the Federation. He thinks they're soft, weak, but he is wrong. Sooner or later, there will be war. " ( DS9 : " Sons of Mogh ")

Among the Dominion [ ]

While the Dominion 's leaders considered themselves to be superior, they viewed the Federation as a threat. Following the Battle of the Omarion Nebula , which eliminated the threat of the Obsidian Order and Tal Shiar , the Changeling posing as Colonel Lovok stated that " after today the only real threats to us from the Alpha Quadrant are the Klingons and the Federation. And I doubt either of them will be a threat for much longer. " ( DS9 : " The Die is Cast ")

As the Dominion cold war pressed on, Benjamin Sisko was told by Weyoun that " the Dominion has endured for over two thousand years, and will continue to endure, until long after the Federation has crumbled into dust . " ( DS9 : " To the Death ") Likewise, following the Dominion's arrival in the Alpha Quadrant, following their acquisition of the Cardassian Union , the Cardassian government's new leader, Dukat , encouraged Captain Benjamin Sisko to convince the Federation to follow Cardassia's example, and offered him "a chance to save your precious Federation," adding that " joining the Dominion will save billions of lives and keep the Federation from fading into the mists of history. " ( DS9 : " By Inferno's Light ")

Later, during the Dominion War, it was Weyoun's belief that for the Dominion to absorb the Federation, following their theoretical defeat, that " holding on to a prize as vast as the Federation isn't going to be easy. It's going to require an enormous number of ships, a massive occupation army and constant vigilance. " Ultimately, Weyoun personally believed that " the key to holding the Federation is Earth. If there's going to be an organized resistance against us, its birthplace will be there. " ( DS9 : " Sacrifice of Angels ")

Even towards the end of the war, the Dominion, and Weyoun in particular, seems to possess a poor understanding of the Federation. When one of the Founders announced plans for Dominion forces to fall back to Cardassian territory and rearm themselves, Weyoun mistakenly believed the Federation would not go on the offensive, due to the Federation being " at its very nature, timid. " ( DS9 : " The Dogs of War ")

Among others [ ]

In 2269 , the Enterprise apprehended Lokai , a native of the planet Cheron , who was responsible for the theft of a Federation shuttlecraft from Starbase 4 . Following his apprehension, and, upon his initial interrogation by Captain Kirk, Lokai stated that he had heard about the starship and the "United Fleet of Planets" to which it belonged. Kirk quickly corrected Lokai, stating the correct name of the Federation. ( TOS : " Let That Be Your Last Battlefield ")

Many desired association with the Federation. In the 2360s, multiple governments requested membership in the United Federation of Planets. Among these were government of Angosia III and one of the two governments of Kesprytt III . ( TNG : " The Hunted ", " Attached ") In 2369 , the Bajoran Provisional Government chose to become affiliated with the Federation and entrusted much of the operation of Deep Space 9 to the Federation's Starfleet. ( DS9 : " Emissary ")

Some had a rather nuanced view of the Federation. During the preparation for the First Battle of Deep Space 9 , in 2372, Quark expressed to Garak the direness of being stuck on the station, stating that " the worst part is, my only hope for salvation is the Federation. " Quark introduced Garak to the Earth concoction of root beer , which Quark described as being " bubbly and cloying and happy. Just like the Federation, " adding, " but you know what's really frightening? If you drink enough of it, you begin to like it. " Garak, who disliked the taste of the "vile" beverage, added that it was "insidious", to which Quark added, " just like the Federation. " Garak asked Quark if he thought they would " be able to save us? " Quark responded, " I hope so. " ( DS9 : " The Way of the Warrior ")

In 2375 , Ru'afo , a Son'a who was working in conjunction with Starfleet Vice Admiral Dougherty , expressed his views of the Federation, describing it as "old," adding " in the last twenty-four months, it's been challenged by every major power in the quadrant – the Borg , the Cardassians , the Dominion . They all smell the scent of death on the Federation. " Ru'afo suggested to Dougherty that it was for that very reason why the Federation Council " embraced [the Son'a's] offer, because it will give your dear Federation new life. " ( Star Trek: Insurrection )

Appendices [ ]

Background information [ ]

The United Federation of Planets was named by Gene L. Coon . ( AT : " Despite Yourself ")

In Star Trek: The Original Series , the Federation was depicted as a group with certain vulnerabilities. " If you look at the original series, it had the Federation with real strengths and weaknesses, " Robert Hewitt Wolfe pointed out. " I think Gene [Roddenberry] wanted to show that in times of crises people can get reactionary and that's not necessarily a good thing. " ( Cinefantastique , Vol. 28, No. 4/5, p. 43)

The Federation was dealt with more on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine than on Star Trek: Voyager . Robert Wolfe commented, " There was a realization [for the DS9 writing staff] – it started [in the show's third season], with TNG off the air and Voyager in the Delta Quadrant – that all the fun stuff of the Federation was ours to play with. " ( Cinefantastique , Vol. 28, No. 4/5, p. 28)

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine veered away from depicting the Federation typically. Ira Steven Behr commented, " Anything where we can have Federation people acting in ways that the Federation doesn't advise or support is interesting to me. " ( Cinefantastique , Vol. 25/26, No. 6/1, p. 109) On the other hand, the series' portrayal of the organization had to somewhat adhere to certain confines (such as with the design of the USS Defiant ). Said Behr, " Everything has to stay within the Federation and the Federation is not, if you asked Gene Roddenberry, a military organization. We're not the cops of the galaxy. " ( Cinefantastique , Vol. 27, No. 4/5, p. 102)

The premise of Star Trek: Enterprise always implied that a big part of the series would explore how the Federation was initiated and how things would change as the organization came into being. When Manny Coto took over as showrunner of the series for its fourth season , he opted to focus on this aspect of the show. ( Star Trek: The Official Starships Collection , issue 55, p. 15) Ever since then, exploring the origins of the Federation was important to him. " He very much wanted to see the laying of the foundation of the Federation, " André Bormanis recalled. " How did the Federation come to be? Who were the original charter members of the Federation, the United Federation of Planets? Why was it important to create […] this tremendous planetary alliance? Let's show how this United Federation of Planets came to be. Let's write that future history, and that was tremendously fun, and very much through the efforts of Manny Coto to take us in that direction. " While Coto was planning to deal with the birth of the Federation in the fourth season, this concept led to the idea of hiring Judith and Garfield Reeves-Stevens . " And Mike [Sussman] said, 'Well, Judy and Gar have written Federation , and so they've written 250 years of this history. Maybe, you know, they might be worth talking to,' " recounted Judith Reeves-Stevens. ("Before Her Time: Decommissioning Enterprise , Part One: New Voices", ENT Season 4 Blu-ray special features) She clarified, " I think it was specifically because they were laying the groundwork for the Federation. " ( ENT : " Observer Effect " audio commentary , ENT Season 4 Blu-ray special features) Jonathan Archer actor Scott Bakula noted, " I would have loved to have been able to explore that journey to the Federation and their creation of it […] to a greater extent. And I think that would have been, um, just more fun for the audience, […] just better, longer storytelling. " ("Before Her Time: Decommissioning Enterprise , Part Four: End of an Era", ENT Season 4 Blu-ray special features)

Gene Roddenberry depicted the United Federation of Planets as an idealistic version of the United Nations , one based on the enlightened principles of liberty, equality, justice, progress, and peaceful co-existence.

Actor Jason Isaacs commented about the Federation in general, " There are many people around who can passionately argue the notion that the Federation has that people can work together and there are harmonious solutions, diplomatic solutions, sort of thing, is fanciful and may be short-lived. " Isaacs believed that this sentiment synced with there being, in the real world nowadays, a political resurgence towards a more military stance and that the connection between this real-life situation and the aforementioned view of the Federation provided an impetus for creating Star Trek: Discovery . ("Discovering Discovery : The Concepts and Casting of Star Trek: Discovery ", DIS Season 1 DVD and Blu-ray special features)

Insignia [ ]

UFP pennant

A "UFP" pennant in TOS : " And the Children Shall Lead " was the first insignia that specifically represented the Federation.

The Federation seal was first shown in Star Trek: The Motion Picture . A new version with three bright stars was introduced in TNG : " Haven "; the three bright stars potentially representing Earth, Vulcan, and the Klingon Homeworld, though this concept was later dropped and the stars went undefined. ( Star Trek Sticker Book , pg. 9) The seal reappeared on a flag in ENT : " In a Mirror, Darkly, Part II ", whose final draft script stipulated that the flag was to display "the early Federation seal (as seen in Star Trek: The Motion Picture .)

External links [ ]

United Federation of Planets at Wikipedia
United Federation of Planets at Memory Beta , the wiki for licensed Star Trek works
The Economy of the Federation at Ex Astris Scientia
3 ISS Enterprise (NCC-1701)

IMAGES

Star Trek: The 15 Fastest Ships In The Federation Starfleet, Ranked
Ascension Class Federation Starship (1920 x 1200) : StarTrekWallpaper
Star Trek Online: Art of Federation Ships
Star Trek's Finest Federation Starships
Ex Astris Scientia
The 10 Finest Federation Starships in the Star Trek Universe

COMMENTS

Federation starships
The Federation operated numerous varieties of starships. While the Prime Directive was observed aboard Starfleet vessels, this was not true of civilian ships. (TNG: "Angel One") Unnamed Federation starships Star Trek Ships: Expanded - UFP: Starfleet and Prehistory at The STArchive
The Fleet's In: 24th Century Federation Starships
The imposing task force led by Captain Riker above Coppelius was composed of Inquiry-class vessels, including Riker's own U.S.S. Zheng He.Representing the most up-to-date Federation design of the 24th century, the reinstated captain described these ships as the toughest, fastest, and most powerful ones that Starfleet had ever produced up until that time.
Federation starship registries
Star Trek. A list of Federation starship registries Only NA, NX and NCC registries are included. It has never been canonically established what the letters "NCC" or "NX" stand for, but in the 23rd and 24th centuries, "NX" (not to be confused with NX-class) seemed to be used to designate experimental or...
United Federation of Planets
In the fictional universe of Star Trek, the United Federation of Planets (UFP) is the interstellar government with which, as part of its space force Starfleet, most of the characters and starships of the franchise are affiliated.Commonly referred to as "the Federation", it was introduced in the original Star Trek television series.The survival, success, and growth of the Federation and its ...
Federation Starship Datalink
The Federation Starship Datalink was created in 1998 as an online resource for starship information. Since then many new sections have been created while still only using canon from TV series, movies, and official publications. ... Star Trek Chronology, Star Trek The Magazine, Star Trek Deep Space Nine Technical Manual, Starship Spotter, and ...
The Fleet's In: 24th Century Federation Starships
The series and films set in this era, namely Star Trek: The Next Generation, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Star Trek: Voyager, Star Trek: Picard, and the four movies helmed by the TNG crew, produced vast fleets that demonstrated the Federation's prestigious shipbuilding capabilities. Narrowing down choices, and ranking my favorites proved ...
Ex Astris Scientia
Starship Database. Earth & Federation Major Aliens Various Aliens Anomalous Starships Animated Abramsverse Discoverse. The database lists all canon starships and other spaceborne constructions of the Star Trek Universe by races and classes. Schematic side views and technical specs are included where available. The data is mainly based on the ...
Star Trek: The 12 Most Important Ships In Federation History ...
8. USS Discovery NCC-1031. Across the Federation's entire history, the USS Discovery NCC-1031 rates as the most unique starship, thanks to its Spore Drive. A sentient set of spores within the ...
The top 10 Star Trek Federation Ships of All Time
5. USS Excelsior NCC-2000. The USS Excelsior, introduced in Star Trek III: The Search for Spock, was one of the most advanced Federation ships of its time. Equipped with experimental technology, such as the transwarp drive, the Excelsior represented the cutting edge of Starfleet's engineering. Although its transwarp drive was ultimately ...
List of Star Trek Starfleet starships
List of Star Trek Starfleet starships. This is a list of Federation starships from the Star Trek universe. The list is organized first by ship class , then registration number, name, and finally where that vessel was referenced. These vessels appear or are mentioned in the original Star Trek series ( TOS ), Star Trek: The Animated Series ( TAS ...
Category:Federation starship classes
List of Federation starship classes . Federation starship classes. Category:Federation starship classes (alternate reality) Category:Federation starship classes (retconned) Section 31 starships. Unnamed Federation starships (24th century) Class III neutronic fuel carrier. Class 4 stardrive vessel. Akira class.
Sector 001: Federation Starships of First Contact
Star Trek: First Contact introduced fans to a bevy of new Federation starship designs, including the elegant U.S.S. Enterprise-E. In addition to Starfleet's Sovereign-class flagship, the Akira-, Steamrunner-, Saber- and Norway-classes all debuted on-screen during the pivotal Battle of Sector 001. Many of these vessels later played crucial roles ...
Star Trek: Most Powerful Federation Starships, Ranked
Star Trek is a huge media franchise with a long history of starships, the Starfleet Federation has had some incredible classes of ships in this time.
Starship Size Comparison Charts » Star Trek Minutiae
I decided to create one all-encompassing chart that would include many (if not quite all) of the Star Trek ships that are out there. The charts available below include those created by the Advanced Starship ... Pre-Federation Starships (to 2161) 1px = 1m • Updated 2022-05-09 Federation Starships (2161-2300) 1px = 1m • Updated 2023-07-03 ...
federation
The largest Starfleet starship to appear anywhere on screen is the upgraded Enterprise-J briefly seen in the episode "Azati Prime".It's described as being "almost 2 miles" in length (i.e. 3.2 kilometers) as compared to Borg cubes which are approx. 3 kilometers in length along each edge.The single largest constructed vessel we see in the Trek TV show is the "Voth City Ship" which measures 9 ...
Star Trek: SHIPS
Polar Lights 1/350 Star Trek TOS USS Enterprise Saucer Section. Price $129.95. Excluding Sales Tax. ... Star Trek The Official Starships Collection | U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701-J XL Ed. Price $128.95. Excluding Sales Tax. ... The Federation is not affiliated with or endorsed by Paramount Global.
Federation playable starship
There is a wide variety of Federation playable starships currently available in Star Trek Online for Starfleet, DSC Starfleet and TOS Starfleet characters. Most Federation ships are also available to Starfleet-aligned Romulan Republic and Dominion characters. There are three specific types of starship (if carriers are attributed to one of the pre-existing types), and each starship has multiple ...
Galaxy class
The Galaxy-class was a Starfleet heavy capital ship class first introduced in the mid 2360s. It was one of the largest and most powerful Federation starship classes of its time, with many serving in the Dominion War. Starfleet had previously operated another type of Galaxy-class starship in the 2250s. (TNG: "The Ensigns of Command") The Galaxy Class Starship Development Project took place at ...
Ships BEFORE The Federation
It's been a long road- don't! We've covered a lot of ships throughout Trek Central's history, but their time is finally here; Some of the Pre-Federation ship...
Star Trek's Most Mysterious Bad Guys Just Got a Huge Upgrade
Warning: contains spoilers for Sons of Star Trek #2!. Star Trek's Breen are one of the franchise's most mysterious races, and they just got a terrifying upgrade. The Breen remain an enigma, one the franchise is just beginning to touch on. The Breen are a formidable force, and as seen in the alternate universe of Sons of Star Trek, are on the winning side of a war against the Federation.
Constellation class
Sci-fi. Star Trek. The Constellation-class starship was a type of Federation star cruiser employed by Starfleet from the late 23rd century through the late 24th century. The Constellation-class began service as early as 2278, when the USS Constellation appeared on a Starship Mission Assignments chart on the bridge...
Star Trek: Best Book-Only Characters
Star Trek: 8 Most Powerful Federation Starships, Ranked Star Trek is a huge media franchise with a long history of starships, the Starfleet Federation has had some incredible classes of ships in ...
Most Powerful Star Trek Ships, Ranked
The speed? The shields? The sheer size of a vessel? Or perhaps it's the captain and crew at the helm? We believe it's all of those things and more, so we took 46 of the most noteworthy Star Trek starships and placed them in a head-to-head battle. Which iconic ship came out on top? Find out below. Warp ahead for our rankings of the most ...
Worst Things Done By The Federation In Star Trek
Star Trek: Voyager: "Tuvix" (Season 2, Episode 24) Kathryn Janeway may be just one Starfleet captain, but she and her starship represent the whole of the Federation's presence in the far-off Delta ...
United Federation of Planets
(Star Trek) Federation culture, values, and technology had vast influence; ... (Star Trek: The Official Starships Collection, issue 37, p. 15) Although the Federation's intentions were peaceful, around it were other, more belligerent powers such as the Klingon and Romulan Empires. As it expanded through the admittance of more and more worlds ...