In the Halo 4 Essential Visual Guide, I think, the Strident-class was stated to be able to take on Covenant capitol ships in a 1-on-1 battle.

: In any case it's a mistake to discount a
: frigate as a serious contender in fleet combat. There are a lot of metrics
: beyond specifications that make them often the perfect ship for many
: missions in the years following the war.

Yeah, I know. I just miss the years when Covenant warships were something to be feared and point defense systems actually existed.