The Volthao-class was a class of gunboat designed in the latter half of the 48,800s as a dedicated anti-fighter escort and picket ship for GACIAF's navy. The ship was developed primarily by Syvatii Unlimited, with Kualin Stardrives providing limited aid via documents and data from the Voszurka, which the Volthao would be replacing in GACIAF's fleet structure. Syvatii conducted most of the initial development program, including assembly of almost all of the prototype hulls, at Nacota III and other close GACIAF systems in the Asadol Sector. Accomplished teams at Etad Moric and Tuan on the Cuoa Shipyard would take over for the last six years of development in 48,883 ACT, completing systems integration, testing, and producing the production model that would be manufactured in numerous GACIAF shipyards across Ivesceel. The Volthao-class would be one of fifteen capital ship classes designed by Syvatii leading up to the 48,900s under the NACSD Program, the GACIAF administration's significant legislative push to give Syvatii Unlimited and other GACIAF groups that operated in the TAUFOG commercial space greater autonomy in the interest of expanding the administration's defense capability. The ships produced as NACSD projects, including the Volthao-class, would be the most advanced capital ships in TAUFOG for many decades following their commissioning.

Unlike its predecessor, the Voszurka-class, the Volthao-class did not carry any light anti-ship weapon systems in its standard configuration. Although the Voszurka had been an excellent general-purpose light capital ship, able to engage TAUFOG picket ships, criminal spacecraft, and strike craft, GACIAF's naval doctrine had seen significant revisions as the Shadow Fleet Crisis wore on, and the Navy increasingly sought out ships focused on specific functions, with few general-purpose vessels. Thus, the Volthao-class was equipped with only the weapon systems needed to act as a screening ship: 16 CCEA/s T501-1 beam turrets, 22 of the new ESN/Veda-4.56.1 model point defense turrets, and four missile launchers at the tip of the hull with 250 GAEDN/d T105 light missiles - less ordnance than the Voszurka, but each of the missiles were significantly more capable. The Volthao had less storage space than the Voszurka, but could carry almost twice the necessary supplies and enough fuel to operate for three times as many years before refueling. With much more durability and mobility thanks to its shields and secondary FTL drive, the Volthao-class, while not able to take on a patrol cruiser, was multiple time more effective at defending larger capital ships from missile and strike craft attacks than the Voszurka, and would be manufactured for many years.