cross-posted from: https://lemmy.zip/post/687105
Designed to be Starfleets first purpose built warship to defend against the Borg.
The Defiant played a crucial role in the Dominion War until its destruction in the Chin’Toka system by the new Dominion/Breen alliance.
The Defiant Class USS São Paulo NCC-75633 was assigned to Deep Space Nine following the loss of the Defiant. The São Paulo was renamed by special dispensation from Starfleet Operations to USS Defiant in honour of its predecessor. Unlike most succeeding starships the new Defiant’s registry remained NX-74205 and was not given the A designation.
The new USS Defiant remained in service for many years and is currently on display at the Fleet Museum.
They outright said in DS9 that it was supposed to be a fleet or swarm. The idea was that a large number of Defiant Class ships would attack. With how fast and maneuverable they are they wouldn’t be large sitting ducks like Nebula, Galaxay or Excelsior classes.