The Xexon Caon-class interceptor was an advanced strike craft designed by Zenlian Drives and Syvatii Unlimited as a single-seat space superiority fighter with a heavy emphasis on both FTL and stealth capability. The Caon-class was initially classified internally as the 9012-T for the ASTSI development program under GACIAF's AFEMI initiative, later publicly classified as the Xexon Caon when the contract was finished. The design would utilize the most advanced technology GACIAF had available, and development would be delayed multiple times as new systems came out of Syvatii's teams with improved performance. This was accepted by GACIAF leadership as the organization wanted the best possible strike craft to take the place of the ubiquitous Xexon Teha-class. Significant effort was made by both TAUFOG and GACIAF teams to find the most optimized configurations and iterations of ship systems. The final production model of the Caon-class was three meters shorter in length and width relative to the Teha-class, with a compact fuselage that, despite its size, achieved massively increased performance in all metrics compared to its predecessor. While a large part of this was due to advancements in technology, the modifications made by Zenlian Drives to the traditional external and internal layout of Xexon strike craft also played a part in unlocking the capabilities of the Caon-class.

For the Caon-class, lead engineer Lasdesth Asaani took the base shape used by all ships in the Xexon line and, alongside his team consisting of the company's most skilled and experienced engineers, heavily modified the layout of many systems to efficiently use the space available. The loading and deployment mechanisms for the craft's missiles moved from the sides of the cockpit to the tips of the wing structure. This allowed for many sensors to be relocated to the cockpit area, which lessened the length of cables and connectors needed to link controls and the flight computer to the primary sources of information. Other equipment typically positioned aft of the cockpit was moved forward into some of the space originally taken up by the missile storage bays as well, expanding the compartments which contained critical systems such as the reactor, FTL drive system, and life support systems. The Caon-class was able to contain fuel tanks with greater proportional volume than the Teha-class because so many systems had been moved towards the front of the vessel. Combined with a pair of advanced Esphi Noat-model ion thrusters, the IPA-f25100 series, and two Esphi ET-SAC6050 TUI annihilation reactors, the Caon-class could operate for 216 standard days without needing to be fueled, although the craft was typically only given 60 days of supplies for pilots. Nonetheless, this was longer than most TAUFOG strike craft, and allowed GACIAF to deploy squadrons in locations without needing to spend time establishing supply lines.

Other than general performance improvements over the previous Xexon model, the Caon-class incorporated multiple technologies not available during the CACS and other development programs established by GACIAF in the early Shadow Fleet era. The Caon-class was outfitted with an auxiliary tactical FTL drive, with a rating of 4.2.28 compared to the primary drive's rating of 4.1.34. Although the tactical system was less capable than the primary, it still could achieve speeds close to 32.16 million c, and had a short cooldown between FTL phase transitions. This enabled the Caon to almost immediately jump to lightspeed after exiting by cycling between the two FTL drives, thus allowing the ship to position itself as necessary for passes on both strike craft and capital ships. The Caon-class also had the most advanced stealth systems in TAUFOG's history, utilizing Ophicys-21B alloy based on the hull plating of Shadow Fleet capital ships for its structure and a high-performance iteration of the Syvatii-manufactured Catho-Decacite composite, Catho-Natiisele, on the outer layer of the ship as well as many other components. For additional stealth capability, as well as light application in active combat, the Caon-class was also equipped with a light 2-node VATO-PHms system, the smallest model that Syvatii could develop with no significant tendency to malfunction. Alongside many highly-sensitive sensors, all types of communication transceivers to coordinate with GACIAF naval units and facilities, and many other technologies, the Caon-class could easily eliminate any TAUFOG strike craft, support craft, and even light capital ships without assistance.

The Caon-class was manufactured in massive quantities as soon as development concluded in 48,738 ACT. The initial unit production order placed by the GACIAF Procurement Office was 12.5 billion Caon-class strike craft, but the number would be continually increased as GACIAF observed both the capability and utility of the ship in operations, as well as the multiple Shadow Fleet attacks and numerous national conflicts among TAUFOG nations which left GACIAF unable to adequately act in some cases due to a lack of ships. The nature of the Caon-class, which was focused primarily on close fighter combat and less capable of strike operations or reconnaissance, fit well into GACIAF's updated doctrine, which called for a larger navy with increased numbers of specialized ships able to excel in given functions, as opposed to the pre-Shadow Fleet era approach of a individually less capable but more adaptable ships. With an expanded budgets and increased executive authority, GACIAF's Directors determined the administration could afford to invest in strike craft and capital ships for a navy which would be able to dominate both in equivalent categories with TAUFOG nations and as a whole via quality training and experience working together. GACIAF would introduce the Xexon Scyla-class as a multi-role strike craft based on the Caon-class in the early 48,800s, but that design would be produced in smaller numbers than the Caon-class, and used in support of active strike craft instead of taking any class' place.