The Dalriada have, for the past 50 years since they discovered the first Federation scouts to this sector, made a concerted effort to remain a mystery to their cousins from the Federation.  They have systematically hidden their technological differences, creating real-space warp drives when their own engineers had long used hyperspace (as with Federation dimensional warp
drives) for faster-than-light travel for centuries, developing ion drives similar to Federation impulse drives rather than reveal their gravity drive technology, and, above all, hiding their ability to generate stable artificial wormholes.  This has only recently become apparent to a Federation, which now finds itself ill prepared to deal with a growingly hostile Dalriadan Alliance.  Most of the Federation information comes from two encounters:  the Q-ship DSF SPECIAL DELIVERY and DSF APOCALYPSE.  On beginning a study of Dalriadan starship technology, one thing becomes abundantly clear.  The Dalriadan Alliance warships are like nothing the Federation has ever encountered.

The Dalriada have, in the span of 20 years, nearly caught up to the UFP in the area of normal space warp drive technology and ion drive systems. However, for the last century or more, their propulsion systems have been based on a gravity wedge sublight and a hyperspace (dimensional warp) FTL drive.  Their ships use gravity wedge driven missiles which can deliver a variety of warhead from high explosive matter/antimatter charges like photon torpedoes use to shatter their opponent, to bomb-pumped X-ray lasers which slice through shielding and hull material with ease because the power of a laser system which can be bomb-pumped and separated from the ship is so much greater than is possible with a phaser or unphased laser system aboard a ship where the crew need to be shielded from the radiation that the system generated, to ECM drones that disrupt the target ship's passive and active electronic warfare systems.

Owing to these massive differences in design philosophy, the Dalriadan starships look much different than their Federation cousins.  Owing to the traditional use of a hyperspace drive, much like dimensional warp, and only relatively recently, the addition of warp drive to make travel in Federation- controlled areas more convenient for their neighbors, the Dalriadan ships have a much different plan than a Federation ship.  Their lines are sleek and their hulls are shaped like a cigar with flattened ends.

Additionally, Dalriadan warships have wildly hammer-headed bows and sterns to allow for bow and stern chase weapons.  Their long sides provided ample room for weapons bays.  Thus, the ships fight with the bulk of their firepower concentrated in broadsides which deliver a withering punch as the ship is turned perpendicular to the course of their target.

NOTE:  While I draw on a number of different science fiction writers for my ideas on science fiction technology, I would like to make a special note crediting the work of David Weber whose Honor Harrington series has been a great inspiration for this section and for the ships of the Dalriadan Alliance.