Feature 1 | SUBMARINES
But much more remains to be done, not
least because the current Astute design
is already encumbered by much legacy
engineering. Rear Admiral Mathews
points out that the original ‘minimum
change’ mandate laid down for the Astute
programme had resulted in a design ‘60%
of which is bespoke, and much already
obsolete’.
Industry is therefore being challenged to
produce batch prices so that the potential
savings accruing from multiple buys can
be properly understood. Funding has been
earmarked in the MoD budget for seven
boats, although this is conditional on the
enterprise delivering the savings to which
it has committed, and on securing the final
approval of the Treasury.
While BAE Systems has delivered
significant improvements in productivity
over the last four years, as well as paring Much more remains to be done to drive down costs and enhance the Astute design, not
back its fixed overhead, it acknowledges least because the current design is already encumbered by legacy engineering.
that material costs remain a huge issue
(approximately half the cost of an Astute
class SSN is materials). ‘What we have to capability upgrades and better management similar innovation is now required in the
do is get right down into the supply chain of obsolescence). hull, machinery, and electrical aspects of Warshipad:Layout 1 27/3/08 12:02 Page 1
to understand the cost drivers,’ said Rear According to BAE Systems, the adoption the Astute design. ‘We need to look at the
Admiral Mathews. ‘We also need to look of COTS electronics has reduced hardware secondary propulsion plant, ship service
at the submarine design itself and look at costs to just 15% of the cost of a build-to- equipments, electrical systems, indeed the
those areas where re-engineering could print solution. Rather than use ruggedised whole evolution of the marine engineering
result in major cost savings through-life.’ hardware, standard boards have been architecture. There are many areas where I
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A collaborative approach with the enclosed in Common Cabinets to provide believe we can improve efficiency and bring
Defence Equipment and Support protection against the effects of shock and down costs.’
organisation’s Submarine Production EMC. Two major initiatives are supporting
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Integrated Project Team has already There is also a transition towards open the Astute affordability cause. The first
3rd Annual
enabled BAE Systems Submarine Solutions architectures, facilitating reductions in both is a so-called Design for Cost Reduction
to introduce innovations to progressively acquisition and through-life cost, enabling programme under which BAE Systems
Global Conference and Trade-show
reduce Astute costs. This has been achieved the independent update of functions, Submarine Solutions is exploring a
Palacio de Congresos, Cadiz, Spain
in a number of ways: by challenging and allowing the use of COTS software. wide range of cost-saving measures
Wednesday 12th - Friday 14th November 2008
existing requirements; the introduction of Other advantages cited include the earlier including selective re-engineering,
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‘lean’ design principles; closer working with integration of software (through the use of more efficient manufacture processes, First in class, First for content, First for contact
suppliers; looking for alternative sources development environments) and hardware amended commercial practices, wider
MAST is the senior-level global conference and trade-show launched and
of supply; and by adopting alternative independence (allowing for later definition use of commercially available systems
organised by renowned international maritime security and defence leaders from
standards and commercial off-the-shelf of functionality for new platforms). and components, and further overhead government, industry, research & development, and academia.
(COTS) products. Another affordability initiative being reductions.
MAST unites a unique ‘three tiers’ of respected decision makers (operational end-users,
One area where savings have been pursued is in the visual system area. Thales One example was BAE Systems’ recent
policy makers, capability managers; procurement executives and attachés; technical
already found is in the combat system. is supplying its CM010 optronic mast to selection of Northrop Grumman’s Sperry
directors and r&d specialists) to discuss, debate, and discover future maritime security and
According to BAE Systems, some 40 meet the visuals system requirement for Marine business unit as the preferred s
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defence capabilities, concepts and enabling technologies.
initiatives will together save more than the first three boats, but BAE Systems is bidder to supply the platform management
If you make just one maritime security and defence event this year, make it matter: make it MAST
£60 million on the combat system unit currently competing the requirement for system (PMS) for Audacious.
price cost for Boat 4 compared to a ‘build Boat 4 and beyond in an effort to procure According to Sperry Marine, the
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to print’ Boat 3 combat system. Many of ‘a more affordable visual system for Astute company’s ‘innovative approach to
Endorsed by the Spanish Navy Diamond industry sponsor Technical sponsors
these savings are being realised through the submarines 4 to 7’, adding that technology configuring COTS hardware and software
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adoption of COTS hardware and software, ‘has moved on and we are aware of other to meet exacting military and commercial
and moves to introduce open system systems out there’. applications…will reduce costs and v
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architectures (allowing for incremental Rear Admiral Mathews asserts that minimise programme risk’. It adds: ‘The
Silver industry sponsors
16 Warship Technology May 2008
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WT May 08 - p14+16+17.indd 16 23/04/2008 16:10:56
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