Daedalus Class
The Daedalus-class battlecruiser, also referred to as a Deep Space Carrier and a 304, is the second generation of Earth battlecruiser, designed to fully integrate the various alien technologies that were "tacked on" to the Prometheus over its life. The first ship of this class, the Daedalus, appears in the Stargate Atlantis episode "The Siege, Part 3". The construction of Daedalus-class ships is a top priority for the United States; in the episode "The Ties That Bind", the Senate Appropriations Committee diverts 70% of the SGC's funding to 304 construction.
The bridge of the Daedalus class is located at the rear of the ship along the top of the hull. There are two hangar bays, each with space to accommodate eight F-302s. The hangars have force shields to prevent decompression when the doors are open. The Daedalus class contains technology reverse-engineered from the Goa'uld, such as ring transporters. It also has beaming technology, shields, and intergalactic hyperdrives provided by the Asgard. The hyperdrive of the Daedalus-class allows it to traverse the three million light-years between Earth and Atlantis in eighteen days; if powered by a ZPM, it can cover the same distance in four days. The ship carries multiple Mark III and Mark VIII tactical nuclear warheads and 32 railguns. The Daedalus and the Apollo have only been depicted to launch missiles dorsally, while the Odyssey is shown with ventral emplacements in "Family Ties". In "The Siege, Part 3", Hermiod overrides the safeguards on the Daedalus' beaming technology, allowing it to be used as a weapons delivery system.
In "Unending", the Asgard, about to become extinct, install their most powerful technologies on the Odyssey. Chief among these enhancements are powerful plasma beam weapons, stronger shields, and an advanced, self-powered computer core. The other 304s are eventually equipped with these technologies. A computer core was installed on Daedalus and the Phoenix (on the bridge) and possibly the other 304's, as well. With these enhancements, the Daedalus class is shown to be a match for Ancient, Wraith and Ori warships.
Read more about this topic: List Of Earth Starships In Stargate
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