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From the deep: successor submarine concepts surface
Wednesday, 12 September, 2007
BAE Systems has lifted the veil on hitherto unseen submarine concept studies undertaken by the company to help inform its future work on a successor deterrent submarine class for the UK Royal Navy.
The results are now being taken forward by the company’s Submarine Solutions business as part of a wider package of future submarine concept engineering studies being performed by a UK industry ‘rainbow’ team in conjunction with the Ministry of Defence. “Our aim was to ‘flex’ the brains of a small design team to assess the art of the possible and see what sort of solutions could be applicable to a submarine entering service in the timeframe anticipated for the successor boats,” a BAE Systems source told the DSEi Show Daily. “We undertook a wide range of studies to examine the key design drivers, and also explore ways to make a future submarine more affordable.” The two concepts exhibit markedly different approaches.
The so-called Concept 35 (above right) is described as a “reasonably conservative” evolution of the previous Vanguard design. However, it introduces shaftless electric drive and improvements to overcome equipment obsolescence (including extensive use of military offthe- shelf and commercial off-the-shelf equipment).
The radical Advanced Hull Form (top left) concept represents a more ambitious approach. Its distinctive design, which arose from an effort to relocate much equipment outside the pressure hull, could offer manoeuvrability and stability benefits, according to BAE. The UK government plans to replace the Royal Navy’s four Vanguard class ballistic missile submarines from 2024 as part of plans to renew the Trident deterrent. The Future Submarines Integrated Project Team was established earlier this year in the MoD’s Defence Equipment and Support Organisation to manage the replacement deterrent.
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