The Akira Class starship entered service in 2364 and has quickly become the pride of Starfleet’s next generation of starships. Akira Class vessels are part of the new belief that smaller, faster, more maneuverable Starships are needed to better serve Starfleet's, and, by extension, the Federation's needs.

Initial production of the Akira class began at the ASDB Integration Facility, New Aberdeen Fleetyards, Aldebaran, and has since expanded to include the ASDB Integration Facility, Utopia Planitia, Mars where nearly 15 of these vessels enter service each year, and the newly revamped Atlas V Assembly Facility, Deneb V along with the Antares Fleetyard.

The Akira class was heavily armed with an amazing nineteen torpedo launchers, capable of firing either photon or quantum torpedoes, as well as tricobalt devices. The weapons pod carried 13 launchers (11 photon, 2 quantum); and the saucer section housed the other 6 launchers. One located under and one above the deflector dish, and 4 firing sideways (2 port, 2 starboard). The ship carried a total complement of 375 torpedoes.

The weapons pod could also be converted to carry specialized scientific sensors for exploration and research missions.

However, one of the ship's defining features was its large main shuttlebay. One of the largest such facilities on any Federation vessel, the Akira's shuttlebay encompassed almost a third of the ship's saucer section, allowing the Akira-class to act as a fighter carrier as well as a cruiser. Its complement of forty fighters exit through the forward shuttlebay doors and returned through one of two aft bays.

The large complement of shuttles also allowed the Akira-class to act as a rescue ship for evacuation missions, especially in situations where transporters didn't work or weren't suitable.

The Akira-class heavy cruisers were equipped with Type-X phasers, Mk 80 torpedo launchers, and LF-35 linear warp engines. These starships were designed to operate for 18 years without a major overhaul and refit.

Source: ACTD - Advanced Starship Design Bureau