They were designed by an evil engineer at starclad to counter long range frigate and bomber spamming. They will shred them early game and make good work out of anything stupid enough to approach them. They however start to loose there charm mid game when flak frigates are rampant or when they encounter a fleet composed of flak frigates and aoe damage attacks. Due to their light armor they are shredded and don't stand a chance. 

E.g when facing 2 corsev battlecruisers mid game with demolition team, boarding party accompanied by flak frigates and hoshikos then they are absolutely murdered. Don't bother sending them with hoshikos--they will be F* left right and centre by the sheer damage pontential and range of demolition team.

So what happens when the rebel tec titan nick named The Rambo in my family of gamers enters the battlefield? What you get is a massive rpg with insane splash damage. Bye bye Corvettes and thank you for the experience points. 

For the Advent and TEC, they require 1 lab.  For the Vasari, they require 2.

As was said, around that time, they're basically a safe, anti-everything unit that can be spammed cheaply until Flak starts hitting the field in good numbers. 

meeeeechaa behave.. we've had enough venting posts..

besides who doesn't love a f-22 raptor with machine guns, sidewinder missiles and tank buster shells. 

They have those?

I prefer my corvettes little.... and red.   Someone had to do it.... 

And here I thought a corvette was a warship, a little smaller then a frigate but bigger then a fast attack craft.