RN Project Cabot and Atlantic Bastion

[Kirkhill]

UK to Field 6 Common Combat Vessels to Command Drone Fleets Against Russian Naval Threats

UK to field six Common Combat Vessels to command drone fleets and strengthen NATO's maritime deterrence against Russia

www.armyrecognition.com

Another article on how the CCV might fit in.

 

[Kirkhill]

UK DIP Details Platform Types to Underpin Royal Navy Hybrid Force Structure and Atlantic Fleet Series - Naval News

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.

 

[Kirkhill]

Deleted Double Post

 

[Kirkhill]

"At least a quarter of the £5 billion announced for drone warfare is going towards a “hybrid fleet,” a fundamental re-imagining of the Royal Navy. The UK’s sole ballistic missile defence capability – the Type 45 destroyers – will no longer be replaced by a like-for-like. Instead, a network of Crewed Combat Vessels (CCVs) will act as control hubs for specialised, uncrewed boats.

"These would include Type 91 missile barges, Type 92 and Type 93 anti-submarine and underwater surveillance platforms, and Type 94 radar vessels. In principle, distributing the sense, decide and strike functions across the navy offers several advantages."

The new technologies in the UK defence investment plan

The Defence Investment Plan provides £5 billion for drone warfare.

theconversation.com

Some concern about 5 BUKP being pretty paltry.

But if the effectors are containerised and covered under the separate munitions budget, likewise for the sensors....

Consider that the Type 91, 92 and 94s were all configured around the Autonomous USVs, like the Dutch Multifunctional Support Ship based on the Damen Fast Crew Supplier 5009, the British XV Patrick Blackett based on the Damen Fast Crew Supplier 4008 or the USNs MUSVs modeled after the Leidos/Swiftships Fast Supply Vessel Riley Claire/Nomad.

The British solution cost 7 MUKP for the Patrick Blackett
Fast Supply Vessels like the Riley Claire cost less than 10 MUSD.
The USN is offering 15 MUSD to anybody that can supply a similar vessel ready to receive containers and sail autonomously.

The British Cetus XLUUV XV Excalibur has as unit cost of 15 MUKP or 20 MUSD.

So.

5 BUKP = 6.8 BUSD

6800 MUSD divided by 20 MUSD per bare seaworthy hull (USV or UUV) = 340 autonomous platforms capable of riding out Sea State 4 to 6 while carrying 2 to 4 40 ft sea cans at speeds of up to 25 knots.

340 Type 91 Missile barges, Type 92 ASW sloops, Type 93 XLUUVs and Type 94 AAW Pickets (Sea Giraffes?)