The USS Taurus is the testbed for the redesign of the 20-year-old New Orleans class starship. The class proved very popular in the pre-Dominion years and during the conflict. It was after the war that the 34 ships lost during that time were examined more closely. It was found that the ship was fairly adequate in combat but not able to outrun what it couldn't fight, which accounted for the losses. Starfleet then began to redesign the New Orleans. It wasn't until the Defiant class sized production in 2379 that the refitted New Orleans designs were put in the shipyards.

Work began on the USS Taurus in 2380. It was completed significantly of schedule in 2383, and was subjected to several rigorous trial runs and shakedown cruises. Finally in 2385, it was commissioned and the class designation was changed from Frigate to Explorer / Escort. The changes were mainly to the ship's defenses, armament and propulsion. It is able to handle (in theory) two Romulan Warbirds, and outrun anything it can't fight.