Starfleet has been using Heavy Fighters since the Cardassian War of the 2340s and 50s. It was found that their Galor class cruisers were vulnerable to the attacks of multiple smaller adversaries and since Starfleet's heavier ships were at that time inferior to the very capable Galor class ships, heavy fighters bore the brunt of the Cardassians' attempts to advance until more durable Starfleet vessels were designed. As a result, there has been some model of heavy fighter in use in Starfleet since the early Peregrine class assault fighters.

The Scorpio Class Fighter is capable of acting as a heavy assault fighter or long-range scout ship. Its sensors are first-rate.

Starship: Scorpio
Registry Number: NCC-33171
Ship Class: Runabout
Type / Role: Scout / Explorer / Heavy Fighter
Comissioned: July 31, 2399
Bridge Plaque: "Fight the good fight!"
 

Length: 21.7 meters
Width: 16.2 meters
Draft: 5.3 meters
Mass: 68.5 tonnes
Number of Decks: 1
 

Standard Crew: 2
Maximum Capacity: 5
Standard Bunks: 2

Bioneural / isolinear enhanced LCARS-II computer core.

Computer Core Type: Bioneural
Maximum Storage: 1.4 million kiloquads
Data Transfer Rate: 2,100 kiloquads / second
 

Hyperlight Drive: Dilithium Matrix Warp Drive
Nacelles: 2
Maximum Cruise: Warp 8
Emergency Speed: Warp 9
Sustainable Field Output: 2500 cochranes
Sublight Drive: Twin Tandem Impulse
Maximum Cruise: 0.75c (for 5 minutes)

Shields Sustainable Load: 1,020 MW
Shields Auxilliary Load: Up to 65% of primary
Phaser Arrays: 2 Type IX Phaser Banks
2 Type V Phaser Arrays
Maximum Emitter Length: 25 Segments
Torpedo Launchers: 2 forward, 2 aft
Torpedo Payload: 200 13cm Quantum micro-torpedoes
Cloaking Device: None
 

Navigational Sensors: Enhanced: 1 primary, 1 secondary
Lateral Sensors: Enhanced: 3 array of 6 pallets
Probe Loadout: Capable of deploying 13cm micro-probes
 

Personnel Transporters: 1 3-person
Cargo Transporters: None
Emergency Transporters: 1 3-person