Flexible

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Flexible Affordable Capability in Future
Surface CombatantsRUSI Future Maritime
Operations Conference 22-23 Nov 2006Nik Moss
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Versatile Surface Combatants for RN

• The Challenge
• Affordability
• Need to maximise commonality across future
  surface combatant fleet
• Evolve combat systems elements across current and
  future platforms
• Cannot afford total desired SC capability on all
  members of the class
• Flexibility
• Expect military priorities to continue to change
• Maximise utility of fleet with easy upgrade and
  role changes
• Modular capability elements to match task demands
  and improve effectiveness
• Design SC platform physical and electronic
  systems architectures to exploit future modular
  capabilities

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Versatile Surface Combatants for RN

• The Operational scope
• A wide range of demands
• Global reach
• Maritime Command Control
• Support Maritime Force Projection
• Protect Joint Mission Elements
• UK Maritime Security
• Maritime Interdiction
• MCM
• HO
• Disaster relief..
• Which require
• Networked C4ISR (land, air, sea surface, and
  sub-surface)
• Interoperability with other nations
• EMF, Naval fires, and precision strike for
  maritime force projection
• Task force protection (everything except T45 AAW)
• Countering asymmetric threats in theatre..

A wide range of roles and effects use
capability modules to tailor platform fit to
tasking needs
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Envisaged modular elements for an RN SC

• What are their characteristics?
• Specialist capabilities not required as core
  capability.
• Eg MCM systems, HO survey equipments, EMF
  facilities
• Enhancements to core combat systems capabilities
• Eg UAVs to support EMF insertion ops, precision
  attack
• Containerised to be transportable
• Ideally ISO 20ft containers
• Modularity has to be designed in from the
  beginning
• System architectures and ship designs have to
  cater for modularity in their design
• Maximum benefits will come from a commonality of
  approach
• Modularity requires a new approach to procurement
  and support

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Modular Components for a Flexible Ship
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A Balance of Core and Modular CS elements?

• Core combat system
• Primary weapon and sensor systems requiring major
  integration in ship structure, systems and with
  command systems
• Major physical sensors and weapons
• Tactical radar MRR/MFR
• Missile VLS
• Main gun
• Command and communications networks to support
  core systems and modular capabilities open
  architectures are an essential enabler
• Provides basic General Purpose frigate
• Modular enhancements and capabilities
• MCM UUV/USV systems
• Merlin helo ASW or other roles (helo containers
  for onboard support)
• EMF fit with additional RIBS, AUVs, RIBs
  equipment containers
• Additional accommodation for command team with
  planning and tactical data link facilities
• HO survey equipment
• UAV/USV fit for surveillance and other effects in
  the littoral
• Disaster relief supplies, medical facilities,..

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Implications for Systems Architecture
Container/Module
Stand alone module capability
Sensors
HMI
Processing
Core Ship System
Gateway
Simple gateway with module.
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Resilient Architecture
Container/Module
Redundancy in module as required.
Sensors
HMI
Sensors
HMI
Core Ship System
Processing
Complex Gateway
Processing
Processing
Processing
New module contains sensors and HMI but shares
processing with existing resilient core.
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Layering Information and Service Oriented
Architecture
MOSA
Middleware - Information Layer
Middleware - Service Layer
Platform/Infrastructure (Processing, Operating
System, Communications Physical Interfaces)
Internationally Based Consensus Standards
Procurement Policy
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Modular Combat System
Mission Module
Mission Module
Mission Module
CORE
Mission Module
Mission Module
Mission Module
Module systems maybe RT and non-RT
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Utopian Goal Homogenous Open Architecture
Services Shared Throughout Combat System
Single Information Model
Interoperability by Design!
Integration by Design!
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Reality Segmentation Legacy
Evolving common core combat system
Legacy Black Box
Mission Module
Open Apps

• EG - MCM managed independently of other CS
  components
• Supply chain for each component need have no
  knowledge of each other.
• Massive reduction in recurring integration costs
• Enables Plug and Fight concept

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3rd Party Software Integration
Information-model
Information Models for Both Systems Already
Exist,only conversion required
Information-model
Gateway Process
TM
Some segmentation inevitable issues like
security, legacy pull thro, commercial
arrangements.
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Organic MCM Capabilities

• Organic
• A capability that is vested in a non-specialist
  MCM platform, or vessel or platform that is not
  configured primarily for the conduct of MCM
  operations, which is able to deliver the required
  MCM effect immediately.
• Expect to deploy from Surface Combatants
• Modular capability packaging
• Ship Self Protective Measures
• Utility of Airborne Platforms?

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Organic MCM Package for Surface Combatant

• Ship self protective measures and tactics
• Machinery Quiet States
• Degaussing Closed Loop? Is it needed?
• Tactics speed
• Permanent Fit
• Obstacle Avoidance / Navigation sonar
• Provision for UUV/USV launch and recovery systems
  
• Mission planning, data analysis and MW command
  tools
• Elements could be embedded in the command system
• Alternatively much of the functionality could be
  part of the module supplied with the MCM package
  interfaced to the OSA core system
• Common consoles could be used to manage the MCM
  functionality in the command room

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Organic MCM Packaging

• Modular Packaging
• Environmentally controlled ISO containers
• Deck space and access
• Connections to ships power
• Heating, cooling and battery charging
• Connection to ships command system LAN
• Mission programming, data download
• Manpower
• Small number of MW specialists
• Command MCM Advisor
• UUV/USV operators
• Analyst
• Maintainer

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Organic MCM Packaging

• MCM Toolkit Options
• 2 medium UUVs (12.75 or 21)
• Sonar payloads (SAS, In Volume)
• Deep search or Reconnaissance
• 6 small UUVs (9 or smaller)
• Integrated payloads
• Shallow, Very Shallow or Confined water search
• 2 USVs (9 11m RHIB or possibly Semi-Subs)
• Acoustic and Magnetic sweeps
• Sub optimal hunting conditions and for
  un-huntable mines
• One Shot Disposal system
• Rails and ancillary equipment
• Sonar Towfish
• Area search SAS

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Accommodating MCM Modular capability
USV Stowage Deployment
Merlin Hangar and support
UUV Stowage Deployment/RecoveryQuarter deck or
amidships?
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Ship architecture for flexibility?
Merlin
T23 equivalent helo deck
Apache
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Benefits of modularity?

• Potential attractions?
• Increased operational flexibility of the
  platforms
• Reduce total combat systems elements required for
  SC fleet
• Maintenance and upgrade of modules ashore
• How to evaluate?
• Future flexibility is difficult to define and
  contract
• Need to balance core and modular combat system
  capabilities
• Need to define architectural requirements for
  platform and combat systems
• Statistical OA and cost modelling to test cost
  effectiveness is required to inform choices for
  the for future Surface Combatants
• Modularity requires a new approach to warship
  procurement and support

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