In 2426, the Terran Hegemony's Center of Strategic Studies, in conjunction with the Hegemony Naval Command, was tasked identifying and correction any deficiencies in the organization and deployment of Hegemony naval assets. The ten-year in-depth study identified a problem endemic to most nations of that era: lack of assets to meet mission objective. The Hegemony navy needed a WarShip capable of performing the duties of a destroyer and yet able to fight like a cruiser.
         The Navy was skeptical after the Quixote fiasco, but listened nonetheless. The Riga-class frigate- a Boeing Interstellar design- was presented as one answer. After two years of negotiations and political maneuvering, the Riga was authorized. In 2438, construction began, completing eighteen months later, and commissioned in 2440. Rigas were produced until the new Congress-class began production in 2542.
         The Riga was specifically designed for extended operations and independent duty. The ship's new maneuvering drives maximized fuel efficiency without sacrificing speed, and the Riga's energy based weapon system exemplified the ship's mission by removing ammunition dependency. The navy felt the ship lacked sufficient firepower at shorter ranges, however, and insisted on the addition of autocannons. A compromise was reached, leading to the inclusion of large magazine stores for the cannons. The ship's armored hull gave the Riga the protection of a battlecruiser, while two squadrons of fighters were included to protect the ship from fighters. The Riga also served as an escort ship for the Monsoon and Aegis-class WarShips during fleet deployments. They fought well during the Reunification War, proving their ability to conduct long-range operations. They were eventually retired in 2735 to make room for the new Sovetskii Soyuz-class heavy cruisers; the final Ships were mothballed in 2740.