The Iliad Strike Destroyer was designed by the Bintari as an escort and light warship. Working in tandem with Shantor Scouts, the Iliad could deliver additional ballistic firepower while also augmenting the fleet's close range x-ray laser firepower. Armed slightly better than the Shantor and more manueverable, the smaller Iliad Strike Destroyer saw great success in the K'Thonn Rebellion where its ability to shift from anti-shipping to anti-fighter missions proved to be invaluable.

Following the development of tachyon cannons in 2056 the Iliad Strike Destroyer saw its first major class refit. Ripping out the side twin x-ray lasers and the heavily armored forward x-ray laser, the Beta model Iliad installed three of the new tachyon cannons. This development demonstrated the shift in Bintari fleet doctrine following the K'Thonn Rebellion, as shift that found extended tactical range to be worth the increases recharge rate of the tachyon cannons over conventional laser weapons.

A third model of Iliad was produced to testbed the experimental tachyon defense net. The tachyon defense net's design allowed it to saturate target areas with dispersed beam fire, allowing greater anti-fighter defense -- something that was needed after fighting the K'Thonn heavy fighters. The Gamma model Iliad saw only limited service, with most of the Alpha Iliads instead being refitted slowly but surely to the Beta model.

As of 2060, nineteen Iliad Strike Destroyers remained in service; eight Alpha models, nine Beta models, and only two Gamma models. Due to other major military funding the number of new construction Iliads had fallen considerably in the intervening decade, though new production is planned in the future.