To call the VCX-820 a freighter is somewhat misleading, as the ship was designed from the keel up as a dedicated military vessel and has more in common with a dedicated gunship than any of the light freighters rolling off the production lines at Corellian Engineering Corporation or Kuat Drive Yards. Conceived as a fast and well-armed escort vessel to guard convoys of merchant vessels, while ostensibly itself serving a transport role, the finished vessel would not convince anyone of its peaceful intent. Drawing inspiration from the ancient Sith Fury-class Interceptor, the VCX-820’s designers utilized a similar “U” shaped hull, albeit on a much smaller scale, with a cockpit protruding from the bend of the “U”. Although this somewhat restricts lateral view, the placement protects the pilot from enemy fire from most angles. This, coupled with the ship’s good maneuverability and above average shields provide crews with high survival rates, an important feature, as the ship was often the only escort for otherwise defenseless freighters in dangerous shipping routes.

The VCX-820’s ion engines provide the ship with superior thrust, enabling the vessel to better the top speed of many contemporary light freighters, and no few fighter class vessels. Coupled with a heavy armament of laser cannons and a single centrally mounted proton torpedo launcher, the VCX-820 can make light work of most pirate or criminal vessels and even do a credible job against most dedicated gunships. Crews enjoy the state-of-the-art electronics and the ergonomics of the ship, which prioritize crew comfort, a boon on long voyages. The original designers are known to have permitted a number of smaller shipyards to produce licensed copies of the vessel, and it has recently begun to appear in higher numbers, although controversially, a number have fallen into the hands of pirate gangs, the very scourge the ship was designed to combat in the first place.