The Norway is a design developed to fill a hole in the Federation's line of battle. Many ships existed in the fleet to perform exploratory, research, and diplomatic missions, but few were available that had the speed, agility, and armament to act as a proper screening unit in large fleet engagements. The Norway filled this gap, being equipped with a mix of short range anit-fighter weaponry and long range heavy weapon support. With average sensors and a reinforced shielding system, the Norway was a success. Despite this, few Norways have been built to date.