Following its forced relocation to the Inner Sphere, Clan Nova Cat faced a daunting task replacing equipment lost in the withdrawal from Clan Space. As an Elemental, Khan Santin West took a special interest in rebuilding his BattleArmor forces. With many new designs from both the Inner Sphere and the Clans starting to reach the battlefield in numbers, Khan West charged his Scientist Caste with developing a new Nova Cat design to match them.

         Starting with the basic Elemental suit, the Scientists improved mobility by increasing jump performance using the "Jump Booster" pioneered by the Gray Death Legion in their Scout BattleArmor. The Installation of this bulky equipment required some changes in the design. Armor protection was reduced and twin shoulder mounted single-shot dual short-range missile launchers replaced the detachable multi-shot short-range missile launcher. A fixed heavy flamer was substituted for the right arm modular weapon system. As an effective anti-infantry weapon in its own right, the left arm anti-personnel weapon was removed. The inclusion of a powerful searchlight has proven to be a useful addition both on and off the battlefield.
         The final styling was influenced by the Nova Cat's new home in the Draconis Combine; with echoes of ancient Samurai armor clear to see.
         In 3062, development was interrupted as the Nova Cats were caught up in hostilities between the Ghost Bears and House Kurita. The few operational prototypes proved successful against the Bears, and full-scale production was finally started in 3067.

         Clan Diamond Shark (now Clan Sea Fox) was quick to smell profit. By offering the Nova Cats cut rate prices on weapons and supplies in exchange for the blueprints, the Sharks merchants were soon trading Clan BattleArmor manufactured in factories on Twycross, Trondheim and Itabiana to the Ghost Bears and Vlad Ward's Wolves.
         During the time of the Jihad and the recovery from that war, the suit's deployment and manufacturing expanded to all of the Clans.   Solaris and the Allied Mercenary Command also build and use the design, finding it a highly capable and flexible weapon of war.