The first WarShip design placed in space by the Tikonov Free Republic, the Riga escort frigate is fast enough to support the Mouhnr but lacks capital scale weaponary or parasite craft. It is small enough though that they can be produced on the ground and launched into space, making it easy to maintain them as well. It has the standard Republic crew of 80 men and women, but they have comfortable quarters. It also has quarters for BattleArmored marines, making the ship more comfortable and useful in long escort operations.
         The cargo bay is larger than its rated mass would generally suggest, a fact which puzzled many analysts at first. In the years since its inception though, the reason for this has become understood. The Tikonov armed forces have largely ended the practice of using DropShips to move military units, instead hauling them on Riga's. It is common to see a company of BattleMechs or vehicles operating off one of these frigates, though this does affect fuel consumption and a Riga carrying such units suffers from lowered maximum acceleration. Still, these armed jump-capable escort/transport frigates have greatly improved Tikonov's strategic and tactical deployment operations.
         Rigas rarely act alone, usually deployed in squadron strength with larger ships to support them against heavier enemies. DropShips and fighters have also learned to fear them, and more than one attack on a Tikonov fleet has been halted by the mere arrival of a Riga squadron. Planetary garrisons have also learned to fear them, as the sight of such a squadron lowering through the clouds to land outside their capital often heralds the arrival of raiding BattleMechs.