In starship classification, pilot starship, also known as a pilot ships, was a spacecraft type designed or retrofitted for executing sudden bursts of movements. Pilot ships included a dedicated pilot specialist bridge officer station and pilot maneuver mechanics. These maneuvers consisted of sudden movements achieved by triggering afterburners, barrel rolls and retrorockets. (STO website: The Iconian War: Introduction To Pilot Ships)

Pilot ships were developed by the Khitomer Alliance at Utopia Planitia in the early 2410s decade. This type of escort was inspired by the dramatic flight maneuvers performed by Red Squad of Starfleet Academy but hard to reproduce in a large starship. Tom Paris, a Federation Starfleet ace pilot since the 24th century, and the staff of the Utopia Planitia Fleet Yards combined elements from the nimble Flyer-class heavy shuttle with the Defiant-class warships to launch the USS Mercury in the year 2410, the baseline for the first nine pilot escort ship classes. (STO website: The Iconian War: Fed Pilot Ship Stats)

History and specifications[]

The Khitomer Alliance developed new tier 6-rated starship classes to combat the Iconian Whole and their Herald forces during the Iconian War. Captain Tom Paris, a former Federation Starfleet admiral, worked with the Utopia Planitia Fleet Yards on the USS Mercury (NCC-47802), and assumed command of the ship upon its launch in the year 2410. It was one of nine prototypes, three for each Khitomer Alliance power. (STO website: The Iconian War: Fed Pilot Ship Stats)

Due to their unusual flight capabilities, command of several prototypes was given to 'misfits'. One of the first engagements was a mission behind the lines during the Iconian War. (STO - Iconian War mission: "Delta Flight")

Ships of the nine classes then saw action in major engagements at the Herald Sphere surrounding Iconia, and the last-line defense of Earth. (STO - Iconian War mission: "Delta Flight")

In 2411, due to the success of the pilot ship line, Federation Starfleet, the Klingon Defense Force and the Romulan Republic Navy Force called on their members to contribute additional ship classes. The call was answered by the Andorians, the Letheans and the inhabitants of New Romulus for the Federation, Klingon Empire and the Romulan Republic, respectively. The Andorian classes were an upgrade of the Kumari-line escorts, whereas the Romulans had unearthed and enhanced designs of the extinct Dewans, a former servitor race of the Iconian Empire. (STO website: Emergence: Stats of the Allied Pilot Escort Bundle!)

Pilot starship classes[]

class name	pilot classification	original faction	lead ship	service periods
Ajax-class	engineering pilot escort	Starfleet	USS Ajax (NCC-47800)	2410s
Alameda-class	pilot raider	Starfleet	USS Alameda (NCC-91986)	2410s
B'rel-class	legendary pilot bird of prey	IKS B'rel	2280s-2410s
Cheirax-class	bio-warship	Undine	Cheirax	2410s
Chimesh-class	Andorian pilot escort	Andorians	USS Chimesh	2410s
Courier pilot raider	pilot raider	Couriers	Courier	3180s
D4x-class	pilot bird of prey	Klingon Empire		2260s, 2400s-2410s
Defiant-class	legendary pilot warship	Starfleet	USS Defiant (NX-74205)	2370s-2410s
Deimos-class	pilot destroyer	Starfleet	USS Deimos	2380s
Dynnasia-class	Dewan pilot escort	Romulan Republic Navy	DWS Dynnasia	2410s
Eagle-class	Terran pilot raider	Imperial Starfleet	ISS Eagle (NCC-96750)	2410s
Equinox-class	pilot scout ship	Starfleet	USS Equinox (NCC-97270)	2410s
Hunter-class	pilot raider	Gorn Hegemony	GHS Hunter	2250s-2410s
Jaeih-class	science pilot escort	Romulan Republic Navy	RRW Jaeih	2410s
Jellyfish-class	experimental scout vessel	Vulcans	VSS Jellyfish	2380s-2410s
Jem'Hadar attack ship	pilot attack ship	Vanguard Fleet	Vanguard Pilot Attack Ship	2410s
Icarus-class	science pilot escort	Starfleet	USS Icarus (NCC-47801)	2410s
Ikkabar-class	Dewan pilot escort	Romulan Republic Navy	DWS Ikkabar	2410s
Khaiell-class	engineering pilot escort	Romulan Republic Navy	RRW Khaiell	2410s
Klavek-class	science pilot raptor	Klingons	IKS Klavek	2410s
Kortar-class	tactical pilot raptor	Klingons	IKS Kortar	2410s
Kuthar-class	Andorian pilot escort	Andorians	USS Kuthar	2410s
Kwejian frigate	Kwejian pilot frigate	Kwejians	-	3180s-3190s
La Sirena-class	heavy raider	Federation	La Sirena	2410s
M'Chla-class	fleet pilot bird of prey	Klingons	IKS M'Chla	2250s-2410s
M'Chla-class	pilot bird of prey	Klingons	IKS M'Chla	2250s-2410s
Ma-Karn-class (Theta-class)	heavy raider	Miradorn	2360s-2410s
Magee-class	fleet light pilot escort	Starfleet	USS Magee (NCC-1411)	2190s-2410s
Mars-class	pilot escort	Starfleet	USS Le Guin (NCC-325060)	3060s-33rd century
Mercury-class	tactical pilot escort	Starfleet	USS Mercury (NCC-47802)	2410s
Nemosin-class	Lethean pilot escort	Letheans	LRS Nemosin	2410s
Nova-class	fleet pilot scout ship	Starfleet	USS Nova (NCC-73515)	2370s-2550s
Nova One-class	pilot raider	Nova Fleet	Nova One	2410s
Okhala-class	tactical pilot escort	Romulan Republic Navy	RRW Okhala	2410s
Okinawa-class	pilot raider	Starfleet	USS Okinawa (NCC-150)	2270s-2410s
Oniros-class	Lethean pilot escort	Letheans	LRS Oniros	2410s
Pioneer-class	pilot heavy frigate	Starfleet	USS Pioneer (NCC-1500)	2260s-2410s
Pioneer II-class	pilot heavy frigate	Starfleet	USS Pioneer (NCC-1500)	2270s-2410s
Plymouth-class	pilot heavy frigate	Starfleet	USS Plymouth (NCC-91830)	2410s
Predator-class	heavy escort	Hirogen	HHV Predator	2410s
Qui'tu-class	engineering pilot raptor	Klingons	IKS Qui'tu	2410s
Rex-class	Alliance pilot escort	Allied Fleet Service	AFS Rex (CSN-04)	2410s
Risian corvette	Risian pilot corvette	Risa	RXS Cetus (32)	2400s-2410s
Shran-class	light pilot escort	Starfleet	USS Shran (NCC-91413)	2410s
Thozyn-class	Andorian pilot escort	Andorians	USS Thozyn	2410s
Vandros-class	Dewan pilot escort	Romulan Republic Navy	DWS Vandros	2410s
Ventura-class	pilot raider	Starfleet	USS Ventura (NCC-140)	2240s-2410s
Xechas-class	Lethean pilot escort	Letheans	LRS Xechas	2410s

Gallery[]

USS Ajax, Ajax-class prototype

USS Icarus, Icarus-class prototype

IKS Qui'Tu, Qui'Tu-class prototype

IKS Klavek, Klavek-class prototype

IKS Kortar, Kortar-class prototype

RRW Khaiell, Khaiell-class prototype

RRW Jaeih, Jaeih-class prototype

RRW Okhala, Okhala-class prototype

Appendices[]

Connections[]

Starship classification
By type	argosy • assault cruiser • assault ship • attack cruiser • attack fighter • battlecruiser • battle frigate • battleship • bird-of-prey • bomber • cargo transport • carrier • colony ship • combat support tender • command battlecruiser • construction ship • corsair • corvette • courier • cruiser • cutter • destroyer • dreadnought • escort • explorer • fast attack ship • fast cruiser • flagship • freighter • frigate • fuel ship • gunboat • heavy cruiser • heavy destroyer • heavy escort • hospital ship • in-system courier • liaison cutter • light cruiser • light frigate • medical frigate • medium cruiser • mining freighter • missile cruiser • monitor • multi-mission explorer • passenger liner • patrol cruiser • personnel carrier • pilot escort • prison barge • repair tender • research vessel • research cruiser • runabout • science vessel • science spearhead • scout • sleeper ship • star battleship • star cruiser • strike cruiser • super carrier • super-heavy cruiser • support frigate • surveyor • tanker • tender • timeship • transport • tug • warbird • warpshuttle • weapon ship
Alphanumeric	I • II • III • IV • V • VI • VII • VIII • IX • X • XI • XII • XIII • XIV • XV • XVI

Appearances and references[]

Appearances[]

• STO website: The Iconian War: Introduction To Pilot Ships
• STO website: The Iconian War: Fed Pilot Ship Stats
• STO website: Emergence: Stats of the Allied Pilot Escort Bundle!

References[]

External links[]

• Pilot Maneuvers article at Star Trek Online Wiki.

• "Introduction To Pilot Ships" Iconian War dev blog at the STO website.
• "Fed Pilot Ship Stats" Iconian War dev blog at the STO website.