The UK Royal Navy (RN) has outlined its ambitions for the Maritime Integrated Air and Missile Defence and Strike (M-IAMDS) capability and associated Type 83 destroyer host platform planned for delivery under the Future Air Dominance System (FADS) programme.
Designed to deliver maritime integrated air and missile defence and long-range precision strike capabilities into the fleet from the mid-2030s, FADS is characterised as an interoperable, multi-domain ‘system of systems’ underpinned by themes of sense, decide, effect, connect and enable. Type 83, which the RN wants to see replace the current Type 45 destroyers from 2035 onwards, will host key weapons, sensors and command and control functionality, although the disaggregation of FADS components means that additional platforms may host M-IAMDS capability within the overall system architecture.
Another key component of FADS is advanced Force Threat Evaluation and Weapon Assignment (FTEWA) functionality enabled by Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning (AI/ML). Using advanced networking technology to link individual ship combat systems, FTEWA logic is intended to decide the optimum use of sensors, decision-making and effectors across the disaggregated force so as to defeat complex multi-threat, multi-axis attacks.
Speaking at the Navy Leaders CNE 2025 conference in Farnborough on 21 May, Commodore Michael Wood, Senior Responsible Owner (SRO) for the programme in Navy Command, characterised FADS as the navy’s highest priority future capability, and one of the most impactful of the next decade. “I have six projects within the programme,” he told delegates, “but in reality it is a portfolio of various programmes and projects which are moving across defence inside navy, in the air domain and in UK Strategic Command, all trying to deliver sequences of effects…in combination and concert.”
Elements of FADS are already being developed or de-risked. Examples include work to open up combat management systems under Project RECODE, investments in weapons effectors through Sea Viper Evolution and the Common Anti-air Modular Missile, and development of the next-generation StrikeNet communications and data architecture. “Those are moving on apace, and they’re also unlocking and de-risking the programme so that FADS will have a greater chance of success when it comes into service in the mid-2030s,” Commodore Wood said.
The big change from the past, he added, was that FADS is being designed specifically as a system of systems. “What we’ve done historically is build platforms uniquely with enough resilient capability inside them. That [legacy approach] doesn’t really work in an era of hypersonic, multi-spectral warfare, and certainly doesn’t work [at] a computer machine speed of warfare. So we need to change the paradigm, and the system with systems approach is one way of doing that.”
Furthermore, FADS adds a precision strike element. “Strike is a really important characteristic, because we want to be able to hit the archer before it shoots arrows at us,” said Commodore Wood. “We are operating in the Red Sea today with the Houthis, who are 60 miles away, with no particular capability to strike back at them.”
The FADS programme is currently in the Concept phase of the acquisition cycle, and is funded through its Assessment phase. According to Cdre Wood, this means a substantial amount of money has already been earmarked for demonstrators, assessments, evaluations and market engagement to advance the programme.
FADS is currently funded in its Concept and Assessment phase, which means a substantial amount of money has already been earmarked for demonstrators, assessments, evaluations and market engagement to advance the programme.
“I have passed through my Strategic Outline Case [and] we intend to go for the Outline Business Case for the…Type 83 destroyer in about April next year. That’s a pretty sporty timeline that I’m pushing the team towards.
“And then, to give us a bit more time to develop some of the combat management system, the radar solutions, and the Force TEWA solution, we will look for an OBC for that in around April 2027. “Then we will bring that all together in about 2028 for a Final Business Case [allowing us to go to] contract to start procuring the platform itself.”
However, Commodore Wood cautioned that momentum on FADS will hinge on the outcome of the Strategic Defence Review, and the government’s imminent Spending Review. “The Spending Review will be absolutely critical to determine the appetite of the UK to proceed with this programme,” he said.
Early characteristics for Type 83
Early concept development studies for Type 83, as the core host for FADS, have framed a minimally crewed complex warship of between 145 metres and 165 metres in length, and displacing between 6,000 tonnes and 10,000 tonnes. While Commodore Wood did not discuss ship numbers, industry sources have suggested a class of at least six vessels – replacing the Type 45 destroyers on-for-one – and an aspiration for eight.
Key characteristics included in an illustrative concept design shown at CNE2025 include: multiple Mk 41 vertical launch silos for an outload of between 72 and 128 IAMD and long-range strike effectors (with provisions to fit two Advanced Payload Modules for future hypersonic missiles in lieu of Mk 41 modules); a 57mm medium calibre gun for maritime interdiction, counter-FIAC and self-defence against surface and air threats; an integrated mast hosting multi-band, multi-mode sense capabilities (fixed-face active electronically scanned array radar, radar-band and communication-band electronic support measures and electro-optical/infrared sensors); directed energy weapons (DEW) for counter-UAS defence; trainable launchers for soft-kill decoys; an open architecture ‘app-based’ combat management system enabling rapid updates and embodying AI/ML-based FTEWA functionality; force-wide connectivity via the StrikeNet resilient mesh network; high levels of platform automation to drive down crew size; and a power management and propulsion system able to support high levels of dynamic demand from high-power radars and DEW.
“This is [going to be] a very different platform from Type 45,” said Commodore Wood. “We are not building Type 46: we are moving into the digital age , we’re moving into the electric propulsion age, we’re moving into the laser weapon/RF DEW age. Electronic attack will be important, and we’re going to rely very heavily on automation and lean crewing.”
FTEWA is recognised as a pivotal piece in the FADS jigsaw. “This [step change] is all about assigning the best effector to the best sensor to the best shooter so that we make the most of our combat engagements,” said Commodore Wood. “The challenge for us now is to try and do that at a system of systems level across the force. And not against one or two weapons coming in at 600 knots, but against multiple dozens of weapons hitting the force almost simultaneously across all azimuths and elevations, from very small targets to very large targets.”
The aspiration is for a FTEWA algorithm set that allows the human to sit ‘on the loop’ and veto engagements but not be part of the problem. So we are moving away from a system where people sit in operations rooms and try to coordinate a very complicated picture, to one where machines take over, and provide that engagement sequencing. The reason for that is that we can increase a much greater level of lethality, because we can increase the probability of kill for missile engagements, we can drive down the consumption of missiles, and we can drive down the cost per unit of engagement.”
While the FADS programme is still at a relatively early stage, the RN’s ambitious timeline means UK industry is already scoping candidate Type 83 platform solutions: BAE Systems has shown a Global Air Warfare Command Ship concept that evolves from the Type 26 frigate and Global Combat Ship derivatives for Australia and Canada; while Babcock is studying an enlarged Type 31 derivative known as Arrowhead 160.
Alongside Type 83 as the core host platform, the FADS programme is also exploring options for an uncrewed surface vessel – the Type 91 arsenal ship – that could accompany the destroyer to provide increased magazine depth. Commodore Wood acknowledged that Type 91 is, at this stage, still in the pre-concept phase and so relatively immature. “But if you can imagine, we can balance the high end exquisite complex platform with uncrewed mass to provide even more effectors across the force, and that gives us resilience in depth,” the SRO said.
