The Class 546 Cruiser was an experimental light cruiser model developed by Kuat Drive Yards and utilized by the Galactic Empire late in the Galactic Civil War. It was based on the design of the Arquitens-class command cruiser and was intended to succeed it, although the Class 546 was developed too late in the war to enter full-scale production. They were sought after by many Imperial remnants after the war.
Designed and manufactured by Kuat Drive Yards, the Class 546 Cruiser was based on the design of the Arquitens-class command cruiser. It was intended to serve as a multi-purpose light cruiser that could fulfill a variety of roles, including protecting remote Imperial assets, performing detached patrol duties throughout the Outer Rim Territories, and supporting larger battle groups.
The Class 546 was significantly larger than the Arquitens, measuring 500 meters in length, while the Arquitens-class was only 325 meters long. The Class 546 was equipped with three primary engines as well as four secondary engines. In front of the engines was room for up to 16 large cargo containers that could allow the Class 546 to carry up to one extra year of consumables. Like the Arquitens, the Class 546 had two forward spars, but instead of externally docking a few starfighters, it served as a launch tube that used magnetic force to shoot out TIE fighters from its internal hangar bay. The hangar could carry a squadron of TIE/ln space superiority starfighters or TIE/IN interceptors. There were two other smaller hangars towards the rear of the vessel on the port and starboard sides that could carry AAL-14 dropships.
The Class 546 Cruiser was armed with four quad medium turbolaser batteries, two on the dorsal side and two on the ventral side, twelve quad laser batteries, six forward-facing concussion missile launchers, and two tractor beam projectors. The vessel was protected by deflector shields, and was equipped with a class 1.5 hyperdrive, faster than the class 2 hyperdrive found on most other Imperial capital ships. It had a crew of 900 officers and enlisted personnel, although it could operate with a crew as low as 100. It could carry up to 200 passengers, usually stormtroopers.