The SuQ'Jagh Armored Assault Cruiser integrates lessons learned during the Klingons invasion of Cardassian during the early stages of the Dominion War. Before the Klingons were forcibly evicted from Cardassian space it became apparent that the existing troop transports and assault craft suffered too high an attrition rate.

The Klingons set out to design an assault cruiser that would be both survivable while being able to deliver an above average number of marine contingents - not only for planetary assault missions, but also as boarding parties to ravage crippled enemy ships in combat.

The end result is of mixed quality. The ship is heavily armored and shielded for survivability and able to hold several breaching pods, but there was simply no room to place a cloaking device on the vessel without ripping out the already spartan troop quarters.