Procrustes, 17 May 2020. In reading through various discussions of the likely capabilities to issue forth from the Canadian Surface Combatant (CSC) bid competition, one might be struck by an odd thought. Are defence planners in league with industry officials in trying to sneak in a potential ballistic missile defence […]
Advanced Concepts in Ship Design
10 posts
The British government announced that the first of the Royal Navy's Type 26 frigates will be laid down within the month after an order was placed and contract signed with BAE Systems to deliver the first batch of global combat ships. They will be the first three of eight vessels […]
There's been increasing interest in autonomous service vehicles (ASV) and the USN Sea Hunter appears to be the most advanced and complex of the lot. It is claimed this “robotic ship” will be able to "operate in open seas over thousands of kilometres for months at a time” as it […]
Mr. Milewski’s underlying assumption in the article is stated in his byline: “Cost of Arctic patrol ships' design sparks warning of another procurement ‘fiasco.’ ” The facts offered in support of the article by the CBC include: Ottawa will pay Irving Shipbuilding $288 million just to design — not build […]
Michael Byers and Stewart Webb have authored an interesting report published by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives and the Rideau Institute entitled “Titanic Blunder: Arctic/Offshore Patrol Ships on Course for Disaster.” Byers and Webb claim that the government is heading for disaster with the AOPS project: the ships are […]
I would like to take up Stan Weeks’ challenge in his article on “Density as a Ship Design Factor.” Stan references a U.S. Government Accountability Office report. Those interested can find it on line here. Concerns expressed with the Arleigh Burke-class (DDG-51) Flight III design option not only relate to […]
A report on 24 January 2012 from the US Government Accountability Office (GAO) to the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense on the US Navy’s future surface combatant plans raises the issue of ship density; the extent to which ships have equipment, piping, and other hardware tightly packed within the ship […]
Recent concerns over escalating costs with the LCS project were addressed by the U.S. Secretary of the Navy, Mr. Donald C. Winter. Recent press reports (See: Geoff Fein, "First Four LCS Could Be Facing 72 Percent Cost Increase," Defense Daily, 17 March 2007) indicate the USN will seek $519M US […]
Based on a comprehensive review of the Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) acquisition program, Secretary of the Navy Donald C. Winter announced today that he is prepared to lift a previously issued stop work order for construction of LCS 3. The ship is currently under contract to Lockheed Martin Corp. Maritime […]
Lexington Institute Paper, "Modularity, the Littoral Combat Ship and the Future of The United States Navy" is available here. The Lexington Institute paper provides a general overview and somewhat one-sided assessment of the Littoral Combat Ship (LCS). The paper is very limited on its treatment of the origins of the […]