Type: Medium Frigate
Planned Initially: 19
Built: 26
In Service: 9
Preceded by: None
Succeeded by: Lexington
The Challenger-class frigates were the first ever class of frigate in the Federation Fleet. The vessels are named after minesweepers of the US Navy, save the lead ship, which was named after the Space Shuttle Challenger.
Instead of the large cruisers and destroyers or the small fighters, the Federation decided to create a new vessel, which would be classified as a Frigate. The name was selected by John B.G., and the plane was developed by Gateway as the project FF-01, thus starting the tradition of Frigates having an FF numerical values for the class, until they are commissioned.