Second, it cannot effectively engage more than one target at a time, as it has few hard points and its firepower would drastically drop. It has no laser cannons, although it does carry three squadrons of fighters. First, the Vindicator lacks antifighter measures. They are excellent early game offensive units and when coupled with Golan Defense Platforms make effective defensive fleet units. It features a very heavy armament for a ship if its size, in particular the Quad Turbolasers (a weapons system normally reserved for capital ships) enabling it to dish out severe damage against targeted vessels. It is heavily shielded and armored, able to withstand firepower from most capital ships for a time. The Vindicator is an offensive light frigate for the Imperial Remnant, Pentastar Alignment and Eriadu Authority. Later, the Pentastar Alignment would once again utilize the hull for the Enforcer-class Picket Cruiser, a patrol ship that would become a staple of this faction. The success of the Vindicator design led to the hull being used for the Immobilizer 418 Cruiser.

Most Vindicators were specifically outfitted so that the need for support ships (such as escort carriers) was not required.

Designed to function in situations where an Imperial Star Destroyer would be overkill (or was unavailable) and smaller vessels were not powerful enough. The Vindicator was designed by Sienar Fleet Systems as a heavily armed yet small heavy cruiser. It carries an armament of 24/2 Medium Turbolasers, 10/1 Quad Turbolasers, and 10/2 Ion Cannons.

The Vindicator-class Heavy Cruiser is a light frigate available to the Imperial Remnant in Eras 2–5 and the Pentastar Alignment and Eriadu Authority in Eras 1–5.

Vindicator class heavy cruiser