Type 8

Full Technical Readout
When discussing the Type 8, comparisons to the Type 6 are inevitable. The Type 8 is slightly longer and more streamlined. The Type 8 has proved extremely reliable and useful in service; the original plan was to replace the Type 6 in frontline service, relegating that shuttle to less important theatres and eventually replacing it altogether. However, with the Dominion war ongoing it has been decided to retain the Type 6 in service alongside its more modern successor. Production of the Type 8 continues, but it is thought that the proportion of these craft produced to the special operations standard has risen from 1% to over 75% since the outbreak of the Dominion war. This would make the Type 8 Starfleets standard near-system and in-system special ops craft.

Type 9

Full Technical Reaout
Relatively few Starfleet shuttlecraft are capable of undertaking true interstellar journeys, and those that are tend to be the larger classes. Although Starfleet has occasionally requested the resources to correct this situation, such projects have never been a high priority and have tended to be cancelled in their early stages. It was 2368 before Starfleet finally decided to really push for a new design to correct this deficiency; in this year a request was made for a new type of shuttle capable of carrying one or two people across distances of several light years in relative comfort, or of carrying up to four persons on shorter duration missions. The speed requested was much higher than most previous vessels, in line with the general trend towards much faster vessels which has been a recent feature of all Starfleet designs after recent advances in warp propulsion technology.

The design process was implemented late in 2368 and was almost completed by early next year when Starfleet halted the program and reassessed its requirement. It was decided that several new features should be included in the craft; these included an increase from one to two micro torpedo launchers, a more capable onboard computer system, and heavier weapons.

Type 11

Full Technical Reaout
The Type 11 Shuttlecraft is the new replacement for the old personal and cargo shuttles that was carried on the larger ships of the fleet. They are designed to add an extra capability and flexibility to the larger craft. Bio-neural gel packs have been included as standard, a step up from the Type 10 computer system which offers the gel packs as an upgrade only. Other technology incorporated is mostly centered around the warp core and nacelles.