The Europa Light Carrier was developed as a stopgap solution to the Commonwealth’s need for a new, modern carrier prior to the development of a replacement for the aging Eisenhower Heavy Carriers. Because of its unabashed existence as a transitional hull, the Europa class was designed to be a light carrier that would be smaller and less capable than a heavy carrier, but also quite a bit cheaper to build and maintain.
Ships of this class are named for the moons of Jupiter.