Reference News Network, September 10 report - According to the UK's Daily Telegraph website on September 7, automated missile ships may enhance the firepower of the Royal Navy in the face of a conscription crisis.
This week, BAE Systems will publicly display two concept ship designs at the London Defense Exhibition, which aim to enhance naval strength with low cost and minimal personnel configuration.
One of the new "Air Defense Command Ship" will be equipped with up to 128 missiles, laser weapons, decoy devices, guns, and drones.
The ship will also adopt highly onboard automation technology, achieving a "super-simplified" personnel configuration, and can serve as a mothership carrying up to six small vessels called "Deployable Sensor Effects Platforms."
Each small vessel will be equipped with dedicated sensor equipment and 32 missiles, and can operate with only 6 to 12 crew members, and can achieve full autonomy while at sea.
BAE Systems stated that the construction period for each small vessel is only 2 years, while the current construction period for the Royal Navy's frigates and destroyers is 5 to 6 years.
The company's design proposal is expected to participate in the bidding for the Royal Navy's "Type 83 Destroyer Project." This project aims to replace the current Type 45 (also known as the "Brave Class") destroyer fleet.
Steve Hart, Head of Maritime Business Development at BAE Systems, said: "The core of this proposal lies in increasing the combat capability of the fleet through a super-simplified personnel configuration model. This proposal can quickly enhance missile deployment capabilities and expand underwater sensor configurations."
He added that these design proposals stem from the need to increase naval strength with higher cost-effectiveness, "in a situation where budgets may be tighter, to quickly increase combat scale, and to supplement manned combat platforms."
Gavin Rudgley, a maritime engineer at BAE Systems, added: "The air defense command ship will carry core sensor equipment (i.e., the main radar system) and have the command function to identify targets and dispatch strike equipment (such as missiles). It will work in coordination with more miniaturized unmanned or super-simplified personnel configuration autonomous platforms, thereby forming additional tactical advantages. This is the direction of future warfare."
BAE Systems will announce the preliminary design at the International Defense and Security Equipment Exhibition held in London on September 9. The exhibition is the largest defense exhibition in Europe and is supported by the UK Ministry of Defence.
Currently, the Royal Navy is increasingly focusing on unmanned systems. On one hand, the Ukraine conflict has highlighted the growing importance of drones on the battlefield; on the other hand, personnel issues have forced it to retire some ships earlier.
In June this year, Andrew Burns, Commander of the Royal Navy Fleet, stated that the worrying shortage of personnel could put the UK at risk of security in the new era of global threats.
When asked about the biggest challenge currently facing the Royal Navy, he openly stated: "The current issue is personnel. It's not just about insufficient numbers and difficulty in recruitment, but also about how to retain existing personnel."
Before issuing this warning, the Royal Navy had failed to meet its recruitment targets every year since 2011.
Data from the UK Ministry of Defence shows that in the 2023-2024 fiscal year, only 2,450 people joined the Royal Navy. This means a recruitment shortfall of over 1,500, with a deficit ratio of 40%.
Burns said that future Royal Navy recruitment may reduce the number of active personnel recruited, while introducing more types of positions.
These new positions may include protecting underwater infrastructure or operating unmanned ship formations. (Translated by Wu Mei)
Original: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7548323646457004595/
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