The Soyuz class looks similar as the Miranda class. The main difference is that the Soyuz´s hull is extended at the stern, and additional sensor pods are attached to the stern top and bottom.
Type System Defence Craft
Unit Run U.S.S. Bozeman, NCC-1941
U.S.S. Soyuz
plus 130 built. None remain in service with the Federation.
Commissioned 2270 - 2293
Dimensions
Length 245 m
Width 150 m
Height 63 m
Decks 18 excluding nacelles
Mass 310,000 tons
Crew 130
Warp Speeds
Normal Cruise Warp 5
Maximum Cruise Warp 6
Maximum Rated Warp 8 for one hour
Armament 4 x Type VII Phaser banks 18 x Type VI Phaser banks, total output 22,500 TeraWatts Defence Systems Shield system, total capacity 540,000 TeraWatts
Standard Duranium single hull
Standard level Structural Integrity Field
Strength Indices (Galaxy Class = 1,000)
Beam Firepower 450
Torpedo Firepower 0
Weapon Range & Accuracy 50
Shield Strength 200
Hull Armour 10
Speed 540
Combat Manoeuvrability 12,000
Overall Strength Index 230
Diplomatic Capability Grade 3
Expected Lifetime 50 years
Refit Cycle
Minor 5 years
Standard 15 years
Major 30 years

In the late 2260's the Federations outermost colony worlds began to suffer significantly at the hands of raiding parties. Some of these were the usual mix of mercenaries and criminals, but at least some of the most serious attacks were strongly suspected to have been carried out by Klingon forces eager to test themselves against Federation targets.

In response, Starfleet deployed extra starship assets to the colony worlds, but this was never going to be a practical proposition; many of these worlds had populations in the thousands, and it was simply not worth keeping even one starship in a system to protect such a target. Starfleet wanted to produce a new class of ship for colony defence, but the resources to set up a new production line were simply not available. The Soyuz class was fielded as a compromise solution. By basing the ship on the already successful Miranda class Starfleet avoided much of the design and set-up costs, while a pool of personnel familiar with the design already existed.

The basic Miranda design was modified in order to make the Soyuz as easy to build as possible. The colony defence role called for the ship to be based in one system for long periods of time, rather than conducting extended patrols; any combat would likely be at impulse speed and would take place within a single system also. The typical raiding party would be equipped with relatively light weapons and defences, but the Soyuz would need to have a considerable reserve of offensive firepower to deal with Klingon opponents. Starfleet decided to delete the roll bar mounted photon torpedo pod from the design and replace it with a pair of turrets mounting twin heavy phasers; this would provide excellent firepower at close range while allowing the complex systems and personnel associated with long range torpedoes to be removed.