Kestrel Class
and Aryabhatta Class
Diagrams

Kestrel
class Aryabhatta class Kestrel and Aryabhatta
 

Kestrel deck plans, part 1 Kestrel deck plans, part

2
created by Allen
Rolfes (see notes) created by Allen
Rolfes (see notes)
 

Aryabhatta deck plans, part 1 Aryabhatta deck plans, part

2
created by Allen
Rolfes (see notes) created by Allen
Rolfes (see notes)

Scenes

Approaching a ring planet Rendezvous with Lancaster

created by Thomas Pemberton created by Thomas Pemberton
 

USS Lowell with USS Ursus Aryabhatta exploring a Nebula

 created by Thomas Pemberton created by Thomas Pemberton
 

USS Kestrel at Saturn USS Kestrel and the rising sun

created by Jan Seebald created by Jan Seebald
 

USS Kestrel in turquoise space USS Kestrel fighting Orions

created by Jan Seebald created by Jan Seebald
 

3D model for SF
Command 3D model for SF
Command
created by Chris Harris created by Chris Harris
 

3D scene from SF
Command 3D scene from SF
Command
created by Chris Harris created by Chris Harris
 

3D scene
from SF
Command
created by Chris Harris

History

In the first decades of the 23rd century, Starfleet starship designs generally reflected the
philosophy that "bigger is better." This belief was grounded in the experiences of veterans of the
Earth-Romulan War (2156 to 2160) who had learned firsthand as United Earth Stellar Navy (UESN)
Academy cadets and junior officers how the mighty, half-million-ton dreadnoughts of the UESN had
smashed the bloated, underpowered gasbags that made up the Romulan fleet. These young men
and women had risen to command the most powerful fleet in known space and were determined to
maintain that superiority against rivals then known or foreseen. Doing so required ships of ever
greater speed, endurance, and firepower. This philosophy was typified by the ships of the Lancaster
and Questzalcoatl classes, which had entered service in 2205 and 2215, respectively. Both classes
were large battleships with immensely powerful reactors designed for high-speed, long-duration
cruises. They mounted overwhelming weaponry and extremely robust shielding that ensured
superiority in ship-to-ship combat. These mighty ships had been designed to penetrate deep into
hostile territory, to engage enemy battle fleets, and to ultimately prevail through an overwhelming
concentration of firepower. This strategy had proven effective in the Earth-Romulan War of the
previous century and still guided the Federation's military planning in the early 23rd century.

However, the strategic environment had undergone enormous changes since the end of the Earth-
Romulan War. In the early 2160s, large numbers of decommissioned medium and heavy cruisers
had helped fuel an exuberant period of colonization beyond the core worlds of the Federation. By
2220, the Federation comprised some 35 member systems and hundreds of colonies, all of which
needed to be defended. Although Starfleet Command had hoped its powerful Lancaster-class
cruisers and Questzalcoatl-class semidreadnoughts could pacify large volumes of space and deter
aggression by their very presence, border incursions, smuggling, and raids on outlying Federation
colonies still occurred with alarming frequency. Because these powerful ships were extremely
expensive to build, operate, and maintain, sufficient numbers were never available to patrol the ever
expanding borders of the Federation. In numerous instances, raiders or smugglers successfully
lured a sector's single Lancaster or Questzalcoatl in one direction while carrying out a cross-border
raid in another. Therefore, the strengths of a battleship—speed, power, and endurance—were
strategic liabilities in ships required to monitor and patrol the vast borders of the Federation.

By 2221, the growing costs of defending these scores of new colonies led to a Starfleet Command
Directive calling for the development of large numbers of light cruisers, destroyers, and scouts at
or near preexisting colonies along borders with potentially hostile powers. Such ships could quickly
challenge and investigate each incursion and summon reinforcements, in the form of heavy
cruisers held in reserve areas, when necessary. However, a more economical cruiser to replace the
Lancaster and Questzalcoatl classes was not expected to be ready for at least another 5 years.
Indeed, Valley Forge cruisers were not to enter service until 2227. Until that time, Starfleet had to
rely upon older light cruisers of the Paris class (NCC-882), which had originally been scheduled for
withdrawal from front-line service in 2223, and units of the obsolete Moskva class (NCC-374) which
had entered service in 2179 and were reactivated after being mothballed at the Qualor II Starfleet
Storage and Disposition Center.

A solution to this dilemma came from an unexpected quarter: Starfleet's Exploratory Command.
The old United Earth Space Probe Agency (UESPA) had hoped that the end of the Romulan War
would ensure its future as a service independent of the UESN. Instead, with the establishment of
the United Federation of Planets' Starfleet, the UESPA was again yoked to the UESN, this time as a
restraint upon any militarist tendencies. Although Exploratory Command and Tactical Command
generally received equal levels of funding through the mid-2190s, by the turn of the 23rd century,
some 70% of Starfleet appropriations was devoted to military programs. As the 2210s drew to a
close, no new dedicated exploratory cruisers had been appropriated for service with Starfleet for
over 15 years. Instead, Exploratory Command were forced to make due with obsolete cruisers
transferred from Tactical Command. However, these cruisers were often too large, too expensive,
and too old to perform missions for the perpetually underfunded Exploratory Command. In
addition, they usually required extensive, expensive modification in drydock to prepare them for
service with Exploratory Command. Heavy cruisers of the time (and, indeed, present-day explorer-
type vessels, such as those of the Galaxy class), carried extensive life-support machinery and ships
stores to enable five-year-long missions without refueling or replenishment from starbases or
support vessels. However, as starship cruising speeds increased and expansion of the Federation
met with resistance from friendly, neutral, and hostile powers, unsupported exploratory missions
rarely lasted more than two years. What Exploratory Command needed were smaller, dedicated
exploratory cruisers they could design from the keel up. With Earth-based companies either
unwilling or unable to abandon more-profitable large cruisers to construct smaller ships,
Exploratory Command turned to the Andorians.
In 2218, the Andorian ship-building industry was in dire straits indeed. During each year of the
Earth-Romulan War, naval ship yards in orbit about the Andorian core worlds had churned out ships
of local design totaling several million tons' displacement. However, after 2161 few Andorian
designs found favor with the new Starfleet as large, more advanced ships with widely separated
primary and secondary hulls designed on Earth were preferred for reasons of safety, performance,
and flexibility. In contrast, Andorian ships usually combined all ship's equipment into a single hull
(occasionally with an abbreviated secondary hull) with integrated nacelles. Earth's attempted
embargo on matter/antimatter (M/AM) reactor technology after the war, of course, did nothing to
advance starship development on Andor.

     

In 2218, work on the Aryabhatta-class scout project was quietly begun on Andor. Exploratory
Command had finally convinced the Federation Council that a new class of dedicated explorers
would be more effective and less expensive to build, operate, and maintain than would a rag-tag
fleet of converted, obsolete military cruisers. The only stipulation was that construction of this new
class would in no way interfere with the introduction of the projected new Valley Forge-class
cruiser, whose specifications were not even to be set until 2223, at the earliest. Ten scouts of the
Aryabhatta class were authorized.

Generally free of interference from Tactical Command and the Federation Council, the design stage
of the Aryabhatta project proceeded extremely smoothly. The new exploratory cruiser was to have a
displacement of some 70,000 tons. The drive system included a SSWR-X reactor and Apollo IV
nacelles mounted outboard on the winglike primary hull. The reactors and nacelles, both of Earth
design, were to allow a sustained speed of wf 5.3 and a top speed of wf 6.9, which were similar to
those of military cruisers introduced several years earlier. The primary hull was a thick, rounded
crescent, which housed most of the crew spaces, computer core, life-support machinery, scientific
equipment, and deuterium tanks. The broad upper and lower surfaces of the primary hull
supported sensor panels and antennas for short- and long-range scanning. The short, rounded
secondary hull housed the shuttlecraft bay with dorsal access, the M/AM reactor, and additional
scientific equipment and ended with a 16-m-diameter caudal bulb containing a long-range,
omnidirectional scanner. Shielding and weaponry were minimal. Unsupported endurance was two
years.

As final preparations were being made for Aryabhatta's constructor's trials in February 2221,
Starfleet issued its Command Directive calling for the centrifugal basing of scouts and light
cruisers. Because no other new ships of these types could be designed and constructed before
2224, Tactical Command persuaded Starfleet Command that the security of the Federation would
best be served by quickly militarizing the Aryabhatta class. These new light cruisers, to be called
Kestrels (NCC-1406) were to mount a more powerful drive system and stronger offensive and
defensive weaponry. Tactical Command estimated that if production were divided between Human
and Andorian shipyards, delivery of a class of 30 ships could begin in mid- to late 2222 and be
completed within 3 years. Exploratory Command was, of course, incensed, but because of its
chronic lack of support in the Federation Council, had no choice but to comply with the decision.
However, a compromise was reached in which 5 of the 15 ships produced at Andorian yards and
10 of the 30 ships produced at Human yards would be Aryabhatta scouts built to original
specifications; the remaining 10 Andor-built ships and 20 Earth-built ships would be Kestrels.
Therefore, Exploratory Command would eventually receive 15 Aryabhattas rather than the 10
originally planned, although delivery was to be extended over 3 years rather than 18 months.

     
     

Kestrel-class cruisers carried the upgraded SSWR-X-A reactor and scaled-down versions of the new
Merlin nacelles (designed for the upcoming Valley Forge class), which were better able to achieve
high warp speeds on demand (maximum, wf 7.4) as well as higher cruising speeds (wf 5.5).
Weaponry included phaser cannons and the newly-developed photon torpedo. Both energetic and
physical shielding were increased to withstand sustained phaser volleys and nuclear warhead
detonations. Most scientific facilities were removed to increase spaces for munitions, shield
generators, damage control, a larger sickbay with casualty center, and a more powerful, more
dynamic impulse drive. The exploratory bridge module with an emphasis on science stations was
replaced with a combat bridge with high capacity links to weapons-control processors and target
acquisition sensors. The low draft typical of "neckless" Andorian designs and the extensive
countermeasures suite contributed to Kestrel's small sensor profile. Long-range passive sensors
allowed Kestrel to quietly scan extensive areas of the frontier for enemy raiders and scoutships.
Unsupported endurance was approximately 6 months.
      

The lead ship of the new class, USS Kestrel (NCC-1406), entered service with Tactical Command in
February 2223. By December 2223, 8 Kestrels had joined Starfleet. Most were sent to patrol the
Federation's borders with the Klingon and Romulan Empires. Working with the Lancaster- and
Quetzalcoatl-class cruisers already on station, the Kestrels formed the outer shell of the
Federation's defensive sphere. Because they were small, stealthy, and less expensive to maintain,
Kestrels were well suited to silently monitoring border areas for raiders and smugglers. Kestrels
immediately became popular with crews for their powerful weaponry, robust shielding, and agility
at both warp and impulse speeds. They were also popular with the starship buffs in the general
public. Reports in the popular press likened Kestrel to a energetic snapping turtle: fast and well-
armored with a nasty bite.

     

At the January 2225 combined fleet exercises near Wolf 359, a team of 6 Kestrels was able to
prevent various combinations of 3 Lancaster cruisers from achieving orbit around the system's
second planet within the allotted time. They employed newly developed destroyer squadron tactics
based on the work of the fabled 20th century United States Navy commander Arleigh Burke and
modifications of Andorian "antiparallel" weaving attacks. These exercises showed that faster and
more maneuverable, although more lightly armed, Kestrels could impede or halt advances by larger,
more heavily armed ships.
      
     

An April 2226 action against Kzinti raiders in the Little Crescent sector is typical of yeomanly
service provided by Kestrels along the Federation frontier. After an automated border monitoring
station reported a distant sensor contact with a group of at least four ships of unidentified type,
USS Caudiptyrex (NCC-1411) and USS Goshawk (NCC-1423) were sent to investigate. They soon
discovered six Kzinti "Chak-Chuf" heavy cruisers en route to the Federation colony on Slavin H-3. By
harrying the Kzinti ships with alternating attack and suppression runs, the two Kestrels slowly
yielded space while inflicting considerable damage on the Kzinti. These delaying actions continued
for some 50 hours until USS Marduk (NCC-1281, Quetzalcoatl class) and USS Pearson (NCC-1220,
Lancaster class) arrived from Starbase 15 and began to engage the Kzinti. Five of the already
weakened invaders were soon destroyed, and the badly damaged sixth ship surrendered. After
Starfleet damage-control teams boarded and shut down her reactor, the Kzinti ship was tractored
back to Starbase 15. During their courageous defensive actions, the Kestrels were struck at least
25 times each by enemy phaser fire; however, serious casualties were avoided because of the
ships' robust rodinium hull plating and quickly regenerating energetic shielding. Both Caudiptyrex
and Goshawk were able to return under their own power to Starstation Nike, where they underwent
three months of repairs in drydock before returning to duty. These and similar engagements are
reflected in Goshawk's motto: "Flecti non frangi," meaning "To be bent but not broken."
Kestrel cruisers were also extremely effective in countering piracy and smuggling. Since ships and
crews were almost always stationed along the same sectors of the border, they became extremely
adept at recognizing any subspace or normal-space anomalies possibly indicating an attempt to
cross the border, even by stealthed ships. Starting in the 2220s, many of the patrols in the northern
sectors of Federation space were dedicated to preventing smuggling and piracy by the Orion
Syndicate. Although preying on Federation shipping was always a profitable enterprise, selling
commodities illegal in the Federation to willing Federation citizens was more lucrative and far less
dangerous. This smuggling was aided and abetted in some sectors by corrupt Federation officials,
who were only too willing to share the profit on sales of green Orion slave women, Janus stones,
the narcotic klis-maklis, and Droomian flame vipers. Kestrels also policed the Federation border to
prevent smuggling out of the Federation. This was necessary in 2229 when Federation citizens
began to arm both sides in an increasingly bloody civil war in the A Jej system. After Kestrels
intercepted numerous merchantmen carrying laser rifles, personal armor, hover tanks, atomic
warheads, intercontinental missiles, gravitic mines, and hunter/killer drones, Federation diplomats
were able to negotiate an end to the fighting. (The A Jej system joined the Federation in 2282.)

Exploratory Command received USS Aryabhatta (renumbered NCC-1446), the original lead ship of
the class in March 2222. The last of the remaining 14 cruisers was delivered in June 2225. Despite
the longer than expected wait, Exploratory Command was extremely pleased with the new class, as
it fulfilled all its wishes as a medium-range exploratory cruiser. Because of their relatively short
endurance of 2 years, Aryabhattas were primarily used to survey areas within Federation territory,
often more than a century after such areas had first been mapped by Human or Vulcan survey
ships. Longer-range missions beyond Federation borders were chiefly the job of larger ships, such
as those of the Horizon and Valley Forge classes. In their more than 30 years of service,
Aryabhattas are credited with mapping and exploring more than 500 star systems and establishing
contact with 31 civilizations, including the Trohii, the Min, the Roffoman, and the Bet'tag. Although
Aryabhattas served almost exclusively within areas nominally under Federation control, their
missions were not without danger. In 2234 USS Omar Khayyam (NCC-1456) was severely damaged
and lost 7 crewmen after being fired upon by the Ghonta during a first contact attempt that went
awry. (The Ghonta joined the Federation in 2265.)

     
     
Although the Aryabhatta and Kestrel classes were not the fastest, most numerous, or most heavily
armed ships of the early 23rd century, they had several important effects, which are still being felt
today. First, they had distinguished careers in their respective fields: exploration and defense of the
Federation. Second, their construction revived the then-moribund Andorian ship-building industry,
which is now one of the most important within the Federation. Finally, the success of these classes
led to ships of similar layout (nacelles attached to primary hulls) finding favor with Starfleet. This
layout continues to be popular until the present day, as evidenced by the Defiant, Steamrunner, and
Saber classes.

The Kestrel-class light cruiser USS Shrike (NCC-1434) and the Aryabhatta-class scout USS Prince
Henry (NCC-1447) are on display at the Starfleet Museum.

Commissioned Kestrel-Class Ships

USS Kestrel NCC-1406 USS Deinonychus NCC-1421

USS Falcon NCC-1407 USS Kite NCC-1422
USS Aquila NCC-1408 USS Goshawk NCC-1423
USS Warhawk NCC-1409 USS Accipiter NCC-1429
USS Kingfisher NCC-1410 USS Pterodactyl NCC-1430
USS Caudiptyrex NCC-1411 USS Rhamphorhynchus NCC-1431
USS Osprey NCC-1412 USS Mononykus NCC-1432
USS Vulture NCC-1413   USS Shrike NCC-1434
USS Pelecyornis NCC-1414 USS Owl NCC-1435
USS Harrier NCC-1415 USS Peregrine NCC-1436
USS Roc NCC-1416 USS Merlin NCC-1439
USS Diornis NCC-1417 USS Velociraptor NCC-1442
USS Harpy NCC-1418 USS Skua NCC-1443
USS Condor NCC-1419 USS Hobby NCC-1444
USS Krechet NCC-1420 USS Sparrowhawk NCC-1445

Commissioned Aryabhatta-Class Ships

USS Aryabhatta NCC-1446 USS Lowell NCC-1454

USS Prince Henry NCC-1447 USS Maury NCC-1455
USS John Burke NCC-1448 USS Omar Khayyam NCC-1456
USS Van Allen NCC-1449 USS Zheng He NCC-1457
 
USS Herschel NCC-1450 USS Lewis and Clark NCC-1458
USS Huygens NCC-1451 USS Amundsen NCC-1459
USS Kepler NCC-1452 USS Aristarchus NCC-1460
USS Lagrange NCC-1453

Kestrel-class Specifications

Standard displacement:
69,480 t

  Overall 1°
Hull 2°
Hull Nacelles
Length
[m] 111.60 70.51 68.47 100.00
Beam
[m] 112.44 112.44 24.95 8.42
Draft
[m] 22.13 22.13 18.24 8.42

Crew complement: 175 (28 officers + 147 crew)

Weapons: 6 Type V phaser turrets (6 × 1 mounts), 2 Type VI phaser cannons (fixed mounts), 2
torpedo tubes with 24 Mark II photon torpedoes
Embarked craft: 2 light cargo/personnel shuttlecraft, 2 personnel shuttlepods
Warp drive: SSWR-X-A spherical cavity M/AM reactor with 2 Merlin I nacelles
Velocity: wf 5.5, cruise; wf 7.1, supercruise; wf 7.4, maximum
Units commissioned: 30

Aryabhatta-class Specifications

Standard displacement:
75,111 t

  Overall 1°
Hull 2°
Hull Nacelles
Length
[m] 129.29 76.21 87.53 89.04
Beam
[m] 116.04 116.04 24.95 9.70
Draft
[m] 22.13 22.13 18.24 9.70

Crew complement: 194 (35 officers + 159 crew)

Weapons: 4 Type V phaser turrets (4 × 1 mounts)
Embarked craft: 2 light cargo/personnel shuttlecraft, 4 personnel shuttlepods
Warp drive: SSWR-X-B spherical cavity M/AM reactor with 2 Apollo IV nacelles
Velocity: wf 5.3, cruise; wf 6.6, supercruise; wf 6.9, maximum
Units commissioned: 15

Last modified: 03.02.17