Upgrade R&D Department to Level 25 is a station mission in Star Trek Fleet Command with one objective: raise your R&D Department to level 25. It starts and finishes at warp 1, the game lists a recommended level of 1, and no ship needs to leave dock. The reward is 50,500 Tritanium and two 15 Minute Repair Speed Ups, and finishing it unlocks the Shipyard level 25 mission. It is a solid payout for an upgrade you need anyway.
Upgrade R&D Department to Level 25 objectives
The mission’s story line notes that the R&D Department unlocks further upgrades for the Shipyard and your ships. There is one objective and no choice split:
- Upgrade R&D Department to Level 25.
No system, hostile or donation is involved. The mission clears when the R&D Department reaches level 25.
Where and what warp
Warp 1 to start and warp 1 to complete, with no pickup system. Everything happens on your station.
The recommended level is 1. In practice the mission lands when your station can meet the level 25 requirements.
What R&D Department 25 costs
Current game data lists the level 25 upgrade at:
The unboosted build time is 2 days 7 hours 12 minutes. It requires Operations 25, Academy 25 and Dilithium Warehouse 25.
The upgrade asks for no Tritanium, so the full 50,500 Tritanium reward is free for other buildings. The refined gas is the part to watch: 80 3★ Uncommon Refined Gas is a step up from level 24, which needs only 3★ Common.
What level 25 does for research
The R&D Department raises your research speed with each level. At level 25 the bonus is 51%, up from 36% at level 20, which shortens every research you run from then on.
Upgrade R&D Department to Level 25 rewards
| Reward | Amount |
|---|---|
| Tritanium | 50,500 |
| 15 Minute Repair Speed Up | 2 |
Completing this mission unlocks Upgrade the Shipyard: Level 25, which pays 250,000 Tritanium.
How it compares with other R&D missions
| Mission | Tritanium | Speed ups |
|---|---|---|
| Upgrade R&D Department to Level 20 | 17,200 | 2 × 10 Minute Repair |
| Upgrade R&D Department to Level 25 | 50,500 | 2 × 15 Minute Repair |
| Upgrade R&D Department to Level 30 | 700,000 | 1 × 1 Hour Repair |
| Upgrade R&D Department to Level 40 | 10,000,000 | 4 × 3 Hour Repair |
Level 25 pays about three times what level 20 did, and level 30 jumps again to 700,000 Tritanium.
R&D Department 24 to 26 costs
| Level | Parsteel | Dilithium | Refined gas | Requirements |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 24 | 1,177,490 | 8,658 | 600 3★ Common | Operations 24, Academy 24, Defense Platform B 24 |
| 25 | 1,909,440 | 14,040 | 700 3★ Common, 80 3★ Uncommon | Operations 25, Academy 25, Dilithium Warehouse 25 |
| 26 | 2,983,500 | 21,938 | 900 3★ Common, 120 3★ Uncommon | Operations 26, Academy 26 |
Tips
Refine the 3★ Uncommon Gas early. Level 25 is the first of these steps to ask for it, and level 26 wants 120 more.
Bring Dilithium Warehouse 25 up alongside Operations 25 and Academy 25. It is the one requirement outside the usual Operations and Academy pair.
More station missions are on the mission guide.
