Feature 4 | Unmanned Vehicles
The Fire scout is a being a smaller aircraft; the possibility
VTOl UaV. of launch and recovery in more severe
weather conditions; the possibility of
carrying more than one aircraft in the
same space on the ship and thus being
able to address multiple threats. “These
aspects all point towards the features of
the ship that should be addressed in the
concept/design process,” noted the BVT
representatives.
“It is argued that flight deck and hangar
arrangements need to be optimised on
any future frigate or destroyer design,
to maximise the availability of the
aircraft. The following features should be
considered to improve performance and
availability: shaped full-width hangar or a
hangar with open deck passages on each
side to improve air wake effects; medium
and larger sized frigates and destroyers
could be considered for an under-deck
hangar; an exhaust arrangement that takes
the plume clear of the pilot’s approach
and as far away from the flight deck as
possible; a catwalk that removes the
need for safety nets and provides a useful
space for stowage of flight deck material
and equipment and leaves the flight
deck itself clear should be considered,”
Conventional practice is adopted without impacts upon replenishment at sea, BVT Surface Fleet’s author’s concluded,
a full assessment of the effectiveness of the humanitarian and causality support. noting that “monohulls are believed to
facility and consideration of optimisation The advantages of being able to deploy be more attractive than trimaran hull
of interfaces,” noted the authors of the UAVs as compared with a helicopter are: forms for aircraft operations owing to
paper. “Yet when the ship is in service speed of deployment; risks/redundancy lower ship motions over a larger range
the helicopter provides arguably the most associated with losing the aircraft; stealth of conditions.” WT
significant tactical system on the ship.
Its roles include: electronic surveillance/
and countermeasures; weapon launch
platform; search and rescue capability;
replenishment at sea; and humanitarian
and casualty support.”
“The integration of a helicopter
and or UAV into a frigate or destroyer
involves almost every aspect of both
the aircraft and the parent ship,” they
noted. “The incorporation of the aircraft
represents a significant proportion of the
vessel’s capability in terms of its ‘Fight/
Operational’ function.”
The inclusion of a helicopter (or UAV)
into a frigate or smaller destroyer will
influence the design of the ship more than
any other weapon system, particularly
if the aircraft is organic to the ship –
that is, has hangar facilities. The main
disadvantage of UAVs as compared to General arrangement proposed frigate with under-deck hangar (courtesy: BVT Surface
a helicopter is smaller payload which Fleet).
28 Warship Technology March 2010
WT_Mar-2010_p26-27-28.indd 28 23/02/2010 16:00:43
Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44