News
R&D Damen shipyard in Galati, Romania. Parts of the third
BMT completes FSC
and fourth vessels are to be built at Galati under the
supervision of Damen Schelde Naval Shipbuilding.
technology study
BMT Defence Services Ltd has successfully completed
a technology assessment and road-mapping study
for the UK Royal Navy’s Future Surface Combatant
(FSC) programme. The FSC is expected to build on
the capabilities of the existing Type 22 and Type 23
multi-purpose frigates that they will replace, as an
integral part of the balanced fleet required to support
the UK’s future defence commitments.
BMT and project partner Systems Engineering
& Assessment Ltd (SEA) carried out the study for
the Surface Combatants Directorate, a team in the Construction of the Royal Netherlands Navy’s new
Ministry of Defence (MoD) responsible for delivery patrol vessels is now under way at Damen schelde
of the FSC programme. Naval shipbuilding.
The study team identified potential technologies
for inclusion in the FSC concept design, considering
existing and required future capabilities, technology Aircraft Carriers
lifecycles, compatibility, design, cost and risk. More
than 50 individual technologies were examined in
France considers
areas such as: novel hullforms; power and propul-
Brazil carrier plan
sion; navigation, communication, radar and combat
systems; and deployed/embarked systems. Naval Spyglass has reported that whilst a second
The study, which took four months, produced aircraft carrier (Porte Avion 2 or PA 2) is no longer
a wide variety of detailed technology roadmaps, an immediate priority for the French Navy it is
technology maturity assessments and supporting considering a long-term project with Brazil for
information. The output of the study will help to new carriers.
inform the FSC Initial Gate business case, the first Even before the current economic crisis President
approval point in the design, development and Nicholas Sarkozy had decided to postpone a decision
construction programme. on PA 2 until 2011-12 because the Defence Ministry
BMT Defence Services is also a core member of could not find the €3.5 billion (US$5.5 billion)
the MoD’s new Naval Design Partnership (NDP), needed to fund the programme without compromis-
and in April 2008 the NDP began 12 months of ing other projects.
technical studies for the FSC concept design. In the aftermath of this announcement the French
Navy decided to study a longer term project for two
Construction nuclear-powered 60,000tonne carriers around 2020.
Dutch commence
The idea for the new project followed on from a
recent agreement with Brazil that involves French
patrol vessel build
assistance for the construction of Brazil’s first nuclear
submarine, with the French Navy now considering
Dutch State Secretary for Defence Jack de Vries laid a three-carrier programme with Brazil based on its
the keel of the first of four patrol vessels for the Royal proposed 60,000tonne carrier design.
Netherlands Navy in the dock at Damen Schelde Naval The French authorities had sought a three-carrier
Shipbuilding on 8 December, and also announced the building programme with the UK, based on the UK
names of the four vessels: Holland, Zeeland, Friesland Royal Navy’s CVF design, but London showed little
and Groningen. interest for fear it would disrupt CVF production.
The new vessels will be 108m in length and will
displace approximately 3750tonnes. They offer hangar Frigates & Destroyers
space and landing facilities for a NH90 helicopter or
equivalent. Their armament will consist of one 76mm
Daring home
Oto-Melara main gun and machine guns.
for trials
The first two patrol vessels are to be built at the
shipyard of Damen Schelde Naval Shipbuilding in HMS Daring arrived at her home port of Portsmouth
Vlissingen, with a number of sections being supplied by on 28 January and will undergo several more months
6 Warship Technology March 2009
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