The list of guest stars in this episode is like a Who's Who of Star Trek guest actors.
Salome Jens (Female Founder)
Kenneth Marshall (Eddington)
Martha Hackett (Romulan Commander T'Rul - she would play Seska on VOY)
John Fleck (Ornithar, he would play the Suliban, Silik, on ENT)
The debut of the Defiant! Back in the mid '90s, I recall there was feedback on the online forums that the show didn't have a starship. While the runabouts were ok, some wanted a more powerful Starfleet ship presence.
While this ship use a different design than the "twin nacelles on pylons" look, it certainly packs a punch.