The Republic-class Star Destroyer represents the subsequent design created by Walex Blissex, building upon his earlier work, the Victory-class Star Destroyer.
The Republic-class Star Destroyer was constructed by Rendili StarDrive for the use of the New Republic. Marketed as a Rendili creation because of its designer, the previous Rendili employee Walex Blissex, the move was largely political. It aimed to sway Rendili away from the influence of the Galactic Empire. The ship's rounded, almost organic form, suggested significant input from the Mon Calamari Shipyards. Although smaller than the Imperial-class Star Destroyer designed by Blissex's daughter, Lira, the Republic-class was a more effective design.
Despite costing only half as much and needing only one-fifth the crew compared to an Imperial-class, the Republic-class had 20% greater firepower than an Imperial I-class. However, it remained inferior to both the Imperial II-class Star Destroyer and the various Super Star Destroyers.
Its weaponry included 40 heavy turbolaser batteries, 40 heavy turbolaser cannons, 20 ion cannons, and 10 tractor beam projectors. Like the Imperial-class, the Republic-class also utilized a Class 2 hyperdrive.
At only 1,250 meters in length, the Republic-class was noticeably shorter than the Imperial-class, which measured 1,600 meters. To maintain a similar level of armament in a smaller frame, the ship had to reduce its cargo capacity and operational endurance. The Republic-class could carry enough consumables for 2 years of operation without resupply, matching the Imperial I-class but falling short of the Imperial II-class's 6 years.
It could accommodate only a single regiment of 3,200 ground troops and a single full New Republic wing. Republic-class vessels typically carried long-range starfighters, instead of short-range fighters such as Defender and K-wing starfighters.
The Republic-class was among the earliest warship designs created as part of the New Republic's standardization efforts. Due to renewed conflict during the Thrawn campaign in 9 ABY and the return of Emperor Palpatine the following year, production of the Republic-class, along with other ships, was eventually restarted on a smaller scale, and the new ships were distributed throughout the fleet.
The Star Destroyer of the Republic-class was excluded from the New Class Modernization Program, which instead focused on developing its larger vessels based on the Nebula-class Star Destroyer hull-design from Republic Engineering Corporation. Nevertheless, by the time of the Black Fleet Crisis, the New Republic had managed to construct a significant number of Republic-class ships.
The first official depiction of the Republic-class Star Destroyer appeared in Cracken's Threat Dossier. Its design features numerous rounded elements, a significant departure from typical Star Destroyer aesthetics. This design was later confirmed by a subsequent portrayal in Invasion: Revelations 3.
In Part 12 of Jason Fry's endnotes for The Essential Guide to Warfare, Paul R. Urquhart contemplated including a statement in the book suggesting that the Republic-class Star Destroyer and the MC80B Star Cruiser were intended to be the same vessel under different names, but this idea was ultimately omitted from the final version.