The UK new Defence Investment Plan (DIP) has detailed four platform types to be introduced into Royal Navy (RN) service
www.navalnews.com
So, situation to date
North Atlantic Strategy has four elements
Atlantic Net - Sense (Commercial partner to be announced imminently - based on autonomous sensors with year long durations)
Atlantic Bastion - ASW/Infrastructure Shield (Based on the Type 92 LUSV (ASW Sloop) and the Type 93 XLUUV)
Atlantic Shield - AAW/IAMD Shield (Bssed on the Type 94 LUSV (AAW Picket))
Atlantic Strike - LRPF/AAW (Based on the Type 91 LUSV (Missile Platform))
The LUSVs and XLUUVs will be expected to deploy autonomously for 30 days with no maintenance and remote supervision.
These will operate in conjuction with
7 Astute SSNs
6 Type 45 AAW Destroyers (to be phased out)
8 Type 26 ASW Frigates (2028-2035)
5 Type 31 GP Frigates (2026-2028)
6 Common Combat Vessels (originally proposed by BAE as Type 31 variants for Command and Control of the Hybrid Fleet)
4 OSV Motherships (to support minehunting and underwater infrastructure patrols)
Underwater infrastructure protection will also be managed by the commercial operators of the infrastructure. This will add to the Sense aspects, increasing the sensing of movements of ships and submarines.
Other Blue Water Assets
4 Vanguard SSBNs
2 Queen Elizabeth CVs
3 Bay Class LSD(A)s (to be phased out and replaced and/or expanded with new Amphibious Transport Ships)
8 River Class OPVs (to be modernized and/or expanded)
In addition the Royal Marines will be getting
60 Future All Terrain Vehicles (BVS10 Beowulfs to replace their BVS10 Vikings)
30? Joint Commando Craft (24 m, 60 tonne, 40-50 knots, long range, long endurance, capable of landing marines, ATVs and UGVs) - in conjunction with Norway for Norwegian style coasts (Rocky)
Weapons and Munitions
CCA UAVs launching from the Queen Elizabeth CVs by end of 2027 (Project Vanquish)
MQ-9 (STOL) launching from the Queen Elizabeth CVs for persistent sensing (AEW and Surface Search) - leading contender
UAVs and Heavy Lift Drones to replace phased out Wildcat Helicopters
Spearfish Torpedoes
CAMM SAMs
Martlet LMM Multipurpose Missiles
ASRAAM AAM/SAM Missiles
NLAW ATGMs
Sea Viper ABMs
NSM SSMs
Apache Weapons (JAGMs? Brimstones? APKWS IIs? Martlets? 30x113m Prox Rounds?)
Deep Precision Strike (2000 km by the 2030s)
Stratus Missile (RS - Hypersonic (500 km) and LO - Stealth (100 km) both designed for launch from Typhoons and Type 26s and 31s)
PrSM (US SRBMs in common with the US and Australian HIMARS/MRLS launchers)
Low Cost Cruise Missiles
One Way Effectors
Inexpensive Autonomous Weapons Systems for the Army, Marines and Special Forces
SPEARCAP3 and Standoff Weapons for the F35s
Directed Energy Weapons (DragonFire Lasers on the Type 45s from 2027)
New Ammuntion for the Type 31 guns (Volcano? Prox rounds for CUAS?)
6 new factories for energetics for the munitions.
www.armyrecognition.com
