A small, heavily armed warship designed against the Borg and given to Deep Space Nine's crew.
The USS Defiant was a Defiant-class escort, a small and heavily armed warship created in response to the Borg threat after the battle of Wolf 359. Its compact hull carried strong shields and weapons, and its design put firepower ahead of comfort. It was assigned to Deep Space Nine under Commander Benjamin Sisko as a way to prepare for the Dominion.
The ship became one of the station's primary assets, flown by Sisko and officers such as Chief O'Brien, Major Kira, Lieutenant Commander Worf and Jadzia Dax. Under a treaty with the Romulans it was fitted with a cloaking device that allowed it to carry out secret missions. The Defiant carried the crew into the Gamma Quadrant and into the front lines of the Dominion War.
It took part in several decisive operations and was seen as a ship that could fight above its size. Officers such as Worf became closely associated with it, and its crew formed close bonds. The Defiant remained a central part of the series and a symbol of Starfleet's turn to a harder, more defensive stance.