How the Klingons Acquired Warp Drive: The Ancient Invasion by the Hur'q

The short answer is, they didn’t. The Klingons were invaded by a hostile race called the Hur’q, who were beaten back and eventually conquered by the Klingons. It was from the Hur’q that the Klingons obtained warp drive, and from other races that they have obtained all sorts of other technologies.

According to the manual for Star Trek: Klingon Academy, the Klingons acquired warp drive from the Hur'q, by capturing and reverse-engineering some of their ships when they resisted their incursions. This explained how the Klingons, despite not being focused on technological research, managed to make the societal jump to interstellar travel.

In the "Star Trek" universe, the Hur'q are an ancient and largely extinct species known to have invaded the Klingon homeworld, Qo'noS, thousands of years prior to the events of most "Star Trek" series. During this invasion, the Klingons were said to have learned much from the Hur'q, including various aspects of technology.

It is often implied in the "Star Trek" lore that the Klingons acquired spacefaring technology and other advanced knowledge from the Hur'q following the invasion. However, saying that the Klingons "stole" space flight might be a bit simplistic. The Klingons certainly benefited from the technology left behind, but they also had a strong tradition of engineering, combat, and exploration on their own.

The interaction between the Hur'q and the Klingons serves as a backdrop to explain the rapid rise of the Klingon Empire and their advanced technology, despite their warrior culture that might otherwise prioritize combat over scientific advancement.

Sources: DS9: The Sword of Kahless, ENT: Affliction, Game: Star Trek Klingon Academy