© BAE Systems
Posted on 09/18/2007 5:07:58 AM PDT by sukhoi-30mki
BAE Systems' stealth ship concept to operate unmanned systems at sea
By Craig Hoyle
BAE Systems has revealed a conceptual design for a future stealthy naval vessel optimised for the launch, operation and recovery of unmanned systems - potentially including operational unmanned combat air vehicles - which it says could enter service in the post-2020 timeframe.
Drawing heavily from the design of BAE's new Type 45 destroyer for the UK Royal Navy, the notional UXB Combatant is pictured configured with twin flight decks suitable for helicopter and unmanned air vehicle operations, including one with a variable pitch ski jump to deploy short take-off systems.
BAE, which has researched the concept in partnership with companies including Rolls-Royce, says the 8,000t UXV design could provide a "cost-effective solution" to naval customers seeking the ability to operate "large numbers of small unmanned vehicles for extended periods".
The UK's Taranis UCAV demonstration project has, meanwhile, moved a step closer, with BAE having released CAD models of the design to suppliers ahead of first metal being cut in late September. Assembly activities will commence before year-end.
© BAE Systems
I wonder how an unmanned system would survive in a hostile environment. A ship is remarkably robust given damage control, the ability to quickly change yoke conditions and respond to hasty repairs to keep afloat. Even if all the hatches were remote controlled, it doesn’t take much to damage remote controls.
I’m a bit more concerned about the link to type 45. I have serious reservations about that class, which I hope will be unfounded.
I, for one, am wondering how effective UAVs would be against sophisticated opponents. I mean, how hard can it be to jam the telemetry links?
Something that engineers never seem to remember when they remain cosseted in the ivory tower long enough.
Theoretical systems do NOTHING.
“...it doesn’t take much to damage remote controls.”
I hear ya bro, my wife’s always sitting on ours..
Theoretically speaking, they do everything
The unmanned systems that they’re talking about are the Predator-type aircraft that the ship would launch. The ship itself is manned.
“how hard can it be to jam the telemetry links?”
It depends. It isn’t necessarily a trivial task, so the premise of your question is, I think, unfounded.
‘I don’t think the ship is unmanned. It’s a UCAV-carrier.’
Some of the posters on here must’ve thought the windows were for the computers to see out of! :D
Maybe I’m misreading the article, but I don’t think the ship is unmanned. I think it’s just intended for the deployment and retrieval of other unmanned systems (UAVs and the like). But then, it’s early, and I’m under caffeinated so I might be way off.
‘I have serious reservations about that class, which I hope will be unfounded.’
What are those reservations?
I read 8,000 tons and I typed 8,000 tons, but my mind saw 800 tons!
Need more coffee!!!!
Amen FRiend.
I never tire of telling the engineers at my papermill "if people could wipe their a$$ with 'theoretical paper,' you guys wouldn't need us."
‘I don’t know why they call it a “stealth” ship - it’s pretty easy to spot in this picture:’
Ah, but there are two ships in the picture - the one at the front has it’s stealth systems turned off, whereas the one at the back. . . . . . :)
< slaps head > D'oh!
Guess I flunked my military analyst's exam, huh?
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