Editing Defiant Class (section)

==OPERATIONS==

As the Defiant-class is a spaceframe designed primarily for tactical and defensive operations, its primary mission types are rather one-sided when compared to most other ships that serve in the Federation fleet. 

Tactical and Defensive Operations are typical missions including protection of Federation assets in the form of colonies and space stations from anticipated threat forces. 

Patrol and Interdiction missions include the patrol of established neutral zones, shipping lanes and recognized regions of dispute and/or conflict. 

Reconnaissance missions include scouting of areas deemed worthy of note by Starfleet Intelligence. 

Emergency/Search and Rescue missions include answering standard Federation emergency beacons, extraction of Federation or Non-Federation citizens in distress, retrieval of Federation or Non-Federation spacecraft in distress, small-scale planetary evacuation - medium or large scale planetary evacuation is not feasible. 

Secondary Scientific Investigations:  In some cases, a Defiant is found to be the most suitable platform from which to perform certain scientific applications.  They include experiments and research that requires increased shielding to observe certain phenomena, or a weapons platform from which to test new technologies.