On the verge of losing its edge in ship-to-ship actions, the Klingon Defense Force was in desperate need on a heavy hitting, low cost ship. In battle, the existing B'rel and K'tinga fleets were simply outgunned and K'vort and Vorcha fleets were over gunned. The preferred Hit-and-Run tactic had become less effective as the enemy escorts improved and proliferated, making sustained strategic advances excessively slow and costly. It was during the period just prior to the DOMINION WARS, Klingon Empire was at war with the Federation, that the KDF convinced the High Counsel to authorize a new, inexpensive, light-cruiser, the K'vort'Cha. With significantly more hitting power and improved survivability than the venerable K'tinga, it was ideal to return to the Hit-and Run tactics so loved by Klingons.

Within a period of 14 months the first of three K'vort'Cha prototypes were ready to be tested.

Following the Klingon belief that the best test is in battle and the first of the K'vort'Cha's was wreaking havoc on unsuspecting convoys and small military installations. These battle tests demonstrated the viability of the K'vort'Cha design while showing several designs flaws. Improvements in the final production model included a faster cloak system that reduces the lag time between the dropping of the cloak to when the shields have been raised. This also allows the ship's Commander to fire more quickly on the unsuspecting enemy. The original armament placed on the first K'vort'Cha has been replaced with the new high-threshold, high-yield Disruptor Cannon, which increases the power and rate of fire. Also added was the new, and vastly improved, targeting system, making sudden pinpoint strikes more effective and efficient. Finally, a new set of tactical analysis subsystems has improved the tactical officer's ability to analyze enemy actions enabling the return of Hit & Run tactics. While it retained the classical Klingon profile it is obvious to anyone who sees it the K'vort'Cha is the next step in Klingon Ship design.