Speed has always been a hallmark of Star Trek’s futuristic starships, from warp-capable vessels to those breaking the very laws of physics. Whether you’re chasing temporal anomalies or exploring the farthest reaches of the galaxy, these five ships represent the pinnacle of propulsion in the Star Trek universe.
1. USS Prometheus (NX-59650)
- Top Speed: Warp 9.99+
- Class: Prometheus-class
- First Appearance: Star Trek: Voyager – “Message in a Bottle” (2374)
- Commanding Officer: No permanent captain; operated by Starfleet Medical AI during the episode
- Timeline: 24th Century
An experimental warship designed for deep-space tactical missions, the Prometheus boasted multi-vector assault mode and regenerative shielding. During its test run, the ship was hijacked by Romulans and then recovered with the help of the Doctor and an advanced EMH Mk II. Its speed was so great, it exceeded known warp scales.
2. USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-J)
- Top Speed: Unknown (possible transdimensional or quantum slipstream propulsion)
- Class: Universe-class
- First Appearance: Star Trek: Enterprise – “Azati Prime” (circa 2560s)
- Commanding Officer: Unknown
- Timeline: 26th Century (Temporal Cold War)
The Enterprise-J appeared briefly during the Temporal Cold War, seen by Captain Archer in an alternate future. Its systems suggest advanced propulsion far beyond 24th-century capabilities, possibly involving transdimensional travel. The ship fought in the historic Battle of Procyon V against the Sphere Builders.
3. Borg Cube
- Top Speed: Transwarp (estimated many times Warp 10)
- Class: Cube
- First Appearance: Star Trek: The Next Generation – “Q Who” (2365)
- Commanding Entity: The Borg Collective (no individual captain)
- Timeline: 24th–25th Century (multiple appearances)
Borg Cubes are terrifying both in size and speed. They traverse transwarp conduits—wormhole-like corridors in subspace—making them nearly impossible to outrun. Their decentralized command structure means each Cube functions as part of a massive, synchronized hive mind.
4. USS Voyager (NCC-74656) – with Quantum Slipstream Drive
- Top Speed: Quantum Slipstream (Warp 9.9999+ equivalent)
- Class: Intrepid-class
- First Appearance of Slipstream Modification: Star Trek: Voyager – “Hope and Fear” (2375)
- Commanding Officer: Captain Kathryn Janeway
- Timeline: 24th Century
While stranded in the Delta Quadrant, the USS Voyager briefly equipped a quantum slipstream drive, a highly experimental propulsion system capable of slashing travel time across the galaxy. Although unstable, it demonstrated one of the fastest potential methods of travel for a Federation ship.
5. Voth City Ship
- Top Speed: Transwarp (exact value unknown)
- Class: Unknown
- First Appearance: Star Trek: Voyager – “Distant Origin” (2373)
- Commanding Officer: Minister Odala
- Timeline: 24th Century (Delta Quadrant)
The Voth City Ship is one of the largest and most technologically advanced vessels ever encountered by the Federation. Belonging to a species descended from Earth’s dinosaurs, the Voth use transwarp, cloaking, and gravimetric technologies far beyond Federation understanding. This mobile city is as much a society as it is a ship.
Notable Mention: USS Discovery (NCC-1031) – Spore Drive
Top Speed: Instantaneous (travel across the galaxy in seconds)
Class: Crossfield-class
First Appearance: Star Trek: Discovery – “The Vulcan Hello” (2256)
Commanding Officer: Captain Gabriel Lorca / later Captain Michael Burnham
Timeline: 23rd Century (Section 31 era), later 32nd Century
The Spore Drive is a quantum propulsion system that allows the USS Discovery to travel instantaneously through the mycelial network, a subspace web connecting all points in the universe. Unlike warp or transwarp, it doesn’t rely on traditional movement through space—it’s more like teleportation on a galactic scale.
This revolutionary system bypasses all known limitations of warp travel. In fact, the Discovery was able to jump from the Alpha Quadrant to the Beta Quadrant in seconds, and even travel to alternate universes and forward through time. Piloted by the genetically modified Lt. Paul Stamets (using a biological interface), the drive is so advanced that Starfleet classified it and later removed it from active use—until the 32nd century, when it became one of the few working propulsion systems in a post-warp galaxy.
Why It’s Special:
- True instantaneous travel
- Can access other universes
- Travels without traditional fuel or subspace reliance
- Functions even when subspace is damaged or inaccessible
If we’re talking raw travel capability, Discovery with the Spore Drive might just be the fastest ship in all of Star Trek—by a wide margin.
Engage! 🚀