The Steamrunner is also equipped with a Warp current sensor. This is an independent subspace graviton field-current scanner, allowing Steamrunner Class to track ships at high warp by locking onto the eddy currents from the threat ship's warp field, and then follow the currents by using multi-model image mapping. TACTICAL SENSORS. The Steamrunner-class was designed specifically for patrolling the borders of the Federation. It responding to border incursions, watching for piracy or other illegal operations. The class was also occasionally used for intelligence gathering, skimming the edge of neighbouring powers to monitor fleet movements.
The Steamrunner design was fielded in the early 2370s along with the Saber as part of a major fleet wide program of modernization and a reaction to the new Borg threat. Essentially the Steamrunner's serve a similar function as the modern day Intrepid Class - a smaller, faster counterpart which would be deployed in large numbers to augment the more capable designs.. Notes: The Steamrunner is a warship, designated as an escort vessel, like the Defiant class but slightly less powerful. The Steamrunner class also features a new hull design with the nacelles built into the structure.