Changes

The Rhode Island class was initially designed in the early 2380s as a replacement for the underwhelming Nova-class Scout, which in turn had been intended to replace the aging Oberth class survey vessels. Plans to update the class were scrapped during thirty years of near-constant warfare, until 2418 when the Fleet Modernisation Program uncovered the design and utilised modern construction techniques and technologies to ensure the class met the needs of deep space exploration in the early 25th century.

Unlike previous vessels used by Star Fleet in the late 24th and early 25th centuries, the Rhode Island seems to balance the various roles of scientific, exploration, and defense rather than be specifically designed to carry out one such duty. A Rhode Island can withstand fire from powerful disruptors of Klingon or Romulan design, while the Federation ship's impulse speed agility gives a daring Captain an advantage during an engagement.

== Specifications ==

{| class="wikitable"