This image was captured and altered by Mike Bremer for Bravofleet and is used here with kind permission

In the year 2369, Starfleet charged Utopia Planitia Shipyards and Avalon Shipyards to design and/or modify a vessel with both strong exploratory and defensive powers while the Sovereign project was still under development. Avalon began design and construction of what would later be called the Keltoi class of vessels, whereas Utopia Planitia built off of the existing Galaxy class Starframe. The result was the Galaxy Class Dreadnaught, a refit version with an upgraded power source, one more warp nacelle for warp stability and serious weapons upgrades. She has the same sensor capability as the standard Galaxy, but her weapons and defenses have nearly doubled in power and striking ability.