The Chiss heavy cruiser, alternatively referred to as the Chiss warship, represented a class of heavy cruiser in service to the Chiss Ascendancy's Expansionary Defense Fleet. These vessels, when their cloaking devices were inactive, were characterized by a multitude of lights and extensive weapon emplacements. Although Darth Vader noted its smaller size compared to a Star Destroyer, he recognized the potential threat posed by its array of flank-mounted weaponry. A notable starship of this class, the Steadfast, served Admiral Ar'alani in a rendezvous with Commander Eli Vanto of the Galactic Empire's naval branch following the Batonn insurgency. Furthermore, the Steadfast played a role in the retrieval of kidnapped Force-sensitive female Chiss children after a battle involving the Grysk and the Galactic Empire.
The Chiss warship made its initial appearance, though without a specific name, in Timothy Zahn's 2017 canon novel, Thrawn. Subsequently, it was depicted visually in Thrawn 6, the 2018 sixth installment of a comic book adaptation of the novel by Jody Houser, featuring artwork by Luke Ross. The designation of "Chiss heavy cruisers" was first established in Zahn's 2021 novel, Thrawn Ascendancy: Greater Good.
Within the Star Wars Legends continuity, Chiss heavy cruisers were previously identified as "Chiss assault cruisers" or "Chiss attack cruisers," debuting in Troy Denning's 2005 novel, Dark Nest III: The Swarm War.