Probably Hanse Davion's greatest prize in the Fourth Succession War was the main Earthwerks BattleMech factory on Tikonov. This had been far and away the largest 'Mech producer in the Capellan Confederation and had a major wing devoted to the Cataphract, House Liao's successful heavy 'Mech design. An updated version of the Cataphract had the highest priority for the combined Federated Commonwealth armed forces, but the extensive nature of the changes, the size and integrated systems of the Cataphract assembly area, and the age of the Earthwerks factory combined to set the project behind schedule.
         The upgraded Cataphract came into production during the Clan Invasion and remained in production for the next thirty-five years. When the Tikonov Free Republic captured the world from the Syrtis Federation, they took the lessons they learned fighting Cataphracts to make them better.

         The new design uses the VOX 280 Extralight engine produced on Tikonov and makes the Cataphract able to jump using the Leviathan Lifters Jump Jets manufactured on Bryant. The model CTF-4TFR mounts a Dragon's Fire gauss rifle in the right torso in place of the old LBX cannon, and a copy of the General Motors Nova-5 Autocannon on the right arm. A brace of Intek lasers licensed from Johnston Industries and a Kallon Sure-Shot C3-SU advanced C3 system rounds out the new Cataphract's abilities.

         The modern Cataphract is used by the Tikonov Republican Guards, where its straight forward weapons systems and mobility are prized. Many enemies of the Ridziks have found a lance of Cataphracts firing on them from positions no heavy BattleMech has a business being in, thanks to the jump jets. This makes them a highly feared design.