Defender (ship-design program)

The Defender program was a starship design project dating from the early years of the New Republic, in which the nascent Republic Engineering Corporation shipbuilding conglomerate developed plans for a "pocket Star Destroyer," a starfighter carrier, and a new snubfighter.

Only the starfighter was developed rapidly, seeing some service in the years after Endor, but while apparently respected and capable, it never seemed to have become commonplace; the two capital-ship designs were delayed by Grand Admiral Thrawn's campaigns and Operation Shadow Hand, and only entered service as part of the larger New Class Modernization Program, in which they became the Nebula-class Star Destroyer and the Defender-class assault carrier, and lent their basic hull designs to the Endurance-class fleet carrier and Majestic-class heavy cruiser.

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