Steller Systems press release
Steller Systems’ Fearless Class is designed to provide capability as an uncrewed vehicle mothership, in order to give raiding support as well as being a landing ship, capable of delivering vehicles, personnel and equipment over large distances into the littoral.
Fearless provides 800 Lane Metres of space, accessed through hatches as well as a stern ramp capable of supporting vessels up to 20m in length and 30 tonnes in weight. This enables the embarkation Commando Insertion Craft, Uncrewed Surface and Submerged Vessels, Extra Large Autonomous Underwater Vehicles as well as Future All Terrain and other amphibious type vehicles.
Survivability has been integrated into the ship from the start, taking into account the instability of the future operating environment. The ship has a capable combat system in order to provide a layered air defence umbrella to enable its operations and those of its payloads to be effective.
The hull has been designed using our Hull Tune™ by Steller Systems optimisation suite to ensure the best balance between hydrodynamic efficiency and stability. The innovative propulsion system uses tractor podded propulsion systems with contrarotating electrically driven shafts that combine with the hull to allow the vessel to move at 30 knots whilst using less power than a Type 23 frigate. This enables the vessel to reposition rapidly to deliver effects to the beach, then rapidly leave the threat area to conduct other operations or reload. The optimisation saves fuel, reduces signatures and reduces the acquisition cost.
The design is highly modular with upper deck spaces for containers, NavyPODS or additional weapon systems. The hangar has space for two Merlin-sized helicopters or a mix of helicopters and Uncrewed Aerial Vehicles. With access between the flight deck and the garage, many options are available to enable missions such as MCM, ASW, ISTAR, Humanitarian Aid, ASuW, MEDEVAC, Inter and Intra-theatre lift etc.
There may be fewer Lane Metres than a traditional LPD, but the ship’s ability to launch and recover assets in higher sea states found 100nm offshore and the ability to undertake distributed operations whilst minimising the criticality of a few larger ships gives Fearless the edge. It is a well-protected hybrid surface combatant.
Key Particulars:
- LOA: 170m
- LWL: 170m
- Beam: 27m
- Displacement: 15,500 Full
- Range: 7000nm @ 18kts
- Max Speed: 30+ knots
Benefits:
- Highly efficient design
- Cost-effective surface combatant
- Mothership and landing ship
- Designed to deliver full-spectrum capability
