DCNS SMX-25 concept
Posted on 10/27/2010 6:11:55 AM PDT by sukhoi-30mki
Euronaval 2010: Specialised UAV ships becoming the rage? October 27, 2010
Shipbuilders are looking to the future producing designs that cater for the launch of UAVs.
While helicopter landing spots are now a regular feature, even on small naval patrol vessels, naval engineers are turning their attentions to the facilities that might be needed as more and more conventional and vertical take-off and landing UAVs begin to embark on vessels at sea.
DCNS' SMX-25 submarine concept is perhaps one of the most extraordinary vessel designs on display at Euronaval. The diesel electric submarine has been designed to launch UAVs and UUVs as well as deliver special forces personnel.
Its conning tower is wider and lower in the water compared to conventional submarines. Inside the tower is a hangar facility for VTOL UAV and a deck lift which takes the aircraft onto deck where it can be launched and recovered.
DCNS computer animations show a Schiebel Camcopter being removed from the SMX hangar compartment and being launched and recovered providing an eye in the sky for commanders involved in a special forces operation.
Marseille and Nantes-based naval architects, Bureau Mauric, are displaying their designs for what it calls 70m Drone Carrier, an offshore patrol trimaran patrol vessel with a large 1000 square metres of landing deck area which has separate UAV and helicopter landing spots potentially allowing for simultaneous operations.
Another DCNS design called the Advansea, on display at Euronaval also has two separate landing spots for manned helicopters and VTOL UAVs.
By Tony Osborne, Paris
DCNS SMX-25 concept
I went to a presentation of the design for the new British type 26 frigate, and there is provision for a whole slew of UAV’s, USV’s and ROV’s in a stern well.
Let’s see if they actually fund and build them.
the pic is very “Sea Hunt”.
Let me know when they progress to robot subs (USV)to launch the robot planes (UAV)
Japanese design?
French
Well, nothing is certain, not in today’s economic climate, but the design stage is well advanced, and the current UK government has stated that there will be 19 capital ships. Six will be type 45’s, so that leaves 13 of the new type 26 to replace the existing type 22’s and 23’s.
A glimpse of the first modern Islamic Navy?
I worked with some British Naval Engineers, in an exchange program with the USN, on some small UAV carrier concepts last year.
If by some miracle the LCS can be canceled, there might be some hope for the US Navy to have UAV carriers in a couple decades.
Robot subs are UUVs - surface is USV.
There are some concepts/prototypes (very small scale) for USVs that launch and recover UAVs, actually.
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Certain countries, specifically in the PacRim area, have a great concentration of UAV/USV coursework in their maritime and aeronautical engineering programs.
Its the future.
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