A Starfleet class of the 32nd century with four detached warp nacelles, seen at Federation Headquarters and represented by ships such as the USS Mitchell and USS Locherer in Star Trek: Discovery.
The Merian class is one of the far-future Starfleet designs introduced when Discovery arrives in the 32nd century. Like its contemporaries it uses programmable matter and nacelles that float free of the hull, in this case four of them.
Ships of the type are seen among the fleet sheltering at Federation Headquarters in Die Trying and in later fleet scenes. The USS Mitchell is mentioned in Rubicon and takes part in the defence of Earth in Coming Home; in the final season it is fitted with the new pathway drive. The USS Locherer captures the warp pod of Moll and L'ak in Erigah. The class is seen again in Star Trek: Starfleet Academy, which is set in the same era.