A tachyon detection grid is a method of detecting cloaked starships. Originally developed by Starfleet it involves various starships or sentry posts transmitting tachyon beams between them to create a tachyon field. Any cloaked vessel attempting to navigate through the field would be exposed.
The first practical application was by a Starfleet task force led by the USS Enterprise-D in 2368. The grid successfully managed to detect a Romulan convoy as it attempted to penetrate Klingon space to assist the House of Duras during the Klingon Civil War. (TNG: "Redemption II")
After this successful test Starfleet upgraded its sensor posts along the Romulan Neutral Zone. (TNG: "Face of the Enemy")
The Klingons also made use of this technology using it to help protect their military installations, such as Ty'Gokor. (DS9: "Apocalypse Rising")
External link[]
- Tachyon detection grid article at Memory Alpha, the canon Star Trek wiki.