Feature 1 | AIRCRAFT CARRIERS
MoD and industry, Thales UK is
responsible for leading the platform CVF design breaks new ground
design, power and propulsion and
aviation teams. Thales is also working The CVF design breaks new ground in the specialised area of aircraft
with BAE Systems in delivering the carrier design, in which only three western countries – the US, UK and
CVF’s mission systems, including the France – have expertise, and a number of innovations have been
development and manufacture of the incorporated.
communications element. In the longer The adaptable design is based on the selection of the Joint Strike
term, the company is committed to Fighter STOVL variant to be embarked but great care has been
playing a full role in supporting the taken to ensure that CVF could be adapted for conventional carrier
carriers in service.’ aircraft. While fitted with ski-jump to operate STOVL aircraft on build,
The Thales UK-led CVF design each ship can be altered later in its service life to accommodate
and procurement teams are based in catapults and arrestor gear to fly conventional aircraft. This ‘adaptable’
Bristol, and the company’s Crawley- design provides a measure of ‘future proofing’ for the vessels’
based naval communications in-service life.
business will be responsible for the High levels of built-in automation have been incorporated to help
communications aspects. the Royal Navy’s drive for ‘lean manning.’ Extensive modelling and
Earlier, Bath-based naval design analysis has been undertaken to determine manning requirements
and engineering company BMT - design features such as the highly mechanized weapons handling
Defence Services Ltd, a subsidiary of system allows significant manpower reductions and reduces whole
BMT Group Ltd, which produced the life cost. Likewise a high degree of machinery automation has been
original, winning innovative platform achieved through an Integrated Platform Management System (IPMS),
design, had also welcomed the decision designed to minimise marine engineering complement and optimize the
to move to the manufacturing phase of plant operation.
CVF. ‘BMT is proud to see the CVF The CVF’s unique twin-island layout will enable much better visibility
project pass through this pivotal stage of flight-deck than conventional designs, says the Alliance. This design
of its development. The success of innovation formed part of a radical re-examination of flight deck
our initial platform design highlights operations with a focus on maximising sortie rate and operational
our unique combination of skills and effectiveness. This involved careful modeling of aircraft landing, take-off
capabilities, which encompass the and parking requirements for both ski-jump and catapult/arrestor gear
maritime sector sovereign capabilities operations, lift positioning, and deck park safety zones.
required to design and support complex The ship power and propulsion systems on CVF will utilise Integrated
warships, auxiliaries and submarines, Electric Propulsion (IEP), as used in most modern cruise vessels and
from concept to point of build. We have recent warships, although CVF will be the largest and most powerful IEP
much to offer during this new phase warship in the world.
in the areas of integration, assurance, CVF will also be the first UK capital warship to be designed and
test, acceptance and future support of built to Lloyd’s Register’s naval ship rules. Noteworthy design features
this new naval platform,’ said Roger include the carrier’s novel hullform, designed using extensive modeling
Cooper, Managing Director of BMT to ensure achievement of speed, seakeeping and manoeuvring
Defence Services Ltd. requirements, but with a continuing focus on ease of fabrication. The
Construction of a hull section at vessel has also been designed with better conditions for crew in mind;
Portsmouth is expected to generate for example no crew sleeping under the ship’s flight-deck, with an
1200 jobs; construction of hull sections all cabin configuration, dedicated recreation spaces, and maximum
at Govan is expected to help sustain utilisation of IT.
over 3000 jobs on the Clyde; whilst Dedicated pipe and cable passageways and pipe ducts will ease
construction of a hull section at Barrow- integration issues and reduce cost compared with a traditional warship,
in-Furness is expected to generate and the first fully integrated waste management system in a warship
400 jobs in Barrow with additional designed in from start to meet projected future environmental standards
employment in the North East. Work at will be fitted.
BAE Systems Insyte at Frimley, Surrey The design enables the operation of more than twice as many
is expected to generate145 jobs; work larger and heavier aircraft compared with existing Invincible class,
under contract to Thales UK at Bristol but carrying the same sized crew. The CVF also displaces about three
and Crawley is expected to generate times as much as an Invincible class ship, has four times the internal hull
around 250 jobs and assembly of the volume, carries 70 per cent more ship and aircraft fuel, and has 75 per
ships at Rosyth is expected to generate cent more un-refuelled range.
1600 jobs. WT
16 Warship Technology July/August 2008
WWTJul-Aug08_p14+15+16+17.indd Sec1:16TJul-Aug08_p14+15+16+17.indd Sec1:16 77/22/08 7:08:56 PM/22/08 7:08:56 PM
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