At the Defence and Security Equipment International (DSEI) 2023 exhibition, taking place at ExCel London from 12-15 September, Team Resolute – a UK-based collaboration between Navantia UK, BMT, and Harland & Wolff – unveiled its evolved design for the FSS ships. The three platforms to be delivered under the programme will be operated by the UK’s Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) in support of RN CSG and other operational requirements.
The navy’s two Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carriers, around which the CSG capability is based, are anticipated to have an operational life of up to 50 years. The FSS ships will need the design flexibility to be adaptable to any changes in capability and operational requirements that may emerge over this timeframe. That flexibility is already built into the design, Simon Jones – BMT’s FSS chief engineer – told Naval News at DSEI.
The design has maximised the flexibility in capacity, he said. The FSS cargo holds are large, adaptable spaces for different types of stores and spares, including capacity to carry spares for different types of aircraft in the future. “There’s a lot of flexibility …. There’s a lot of cargo capacity in the ship for that,” Jones continued. “We don’t see any major challenges with being able to support that [requirement].”
The flexibility in the design is supported overall by space, weight, and power provision.
“We’re on the cusp of a big shift to more and more autonomous systems, and trying to understand what that might look like in the future is challenging,” Jones said, “but I think RFA ships typically are very flexible because of their inherent size and capacity. They can be relatively easily adapted.”
“Adaptability is about being able to re-role the ship in the future. We’re building a lot of infrastructure into the design to allow future capabilities to be installed quickly, ideally within a Fleet Time Opportunity.”
Simon Jones, BMT’s FSS chief engineer
Some of the capabilities and roles here could include maritime special operations (with adaptations including adding extra rigid-hull inflatable boats, operational planning spaces, and accommodation), plus container space to carry capabilities to support humanitarian assistance/disaster relief operations.
In a statement released on 12 September, Team Resolute said the evolved design is part of progress towards a mature design, within the delivery of the £1.6 billion manufacture contract.
Jones told the media briefing that the programme had reached, in July 2023, a point called ‘design chill’: “we’ve ‘chilled’ the general arrangement …. We’ve fixed the overall, general arrangement. There will be changes going forward, but we’re much more strict about the types of changes we can accept. That’s to drive the programme … and get [the ships] delivered on time.”
The programme has some key development milestones approaching, Jones continued.
First is gaining Classification Society plan approval, along with approvals from the Naval Authority Groups and the Maritime and Coastguard Agency.
Second, in design terms, “our progress now is towards system design reviews, where we review each element of the design,” said Jones. This leads to preliminary design review (PDR): this is “the transition from the functional design stage, which is where we are now, into detail design,” he added. The aim is to complete PDR within the first half of 2024.
Navantia will lead on the detail design, with BMT support to main the design intent, Jones explained.
The design review process then leads into ship build.
“The cutting-edge design … represents a significant advancement in naval logistics capability, offering enhanced operational efficiency and support to the RN,” the Team Resolute statement said. “The progressive approach to the design provides a pathway for the introduction of new technologies.” The statement added that the evolved design draws on BMT’s extensive design experience with several UK and international naval programmes, including: the RN’s carriers, Tide-class fleet tankers, and Type 31 Inspiration-class frigates; and the Royal Norwegian Navy’s Maud-class logistics and support vessel.
