Future Surface Combatant

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The Future Surface Combatant was the projected successor to Type 22 and Type 23 frigates in service of the British Royal Navy until the programme's de facto cancellation in late 2004. One or more classes of vessel however may yet fulfil the Future Surface Combatant capability in replacement of the Type 22 and Type 23 frigates.

1 Design
2 Fate of the FSC
3 Medium Sized Vessel Derivative
4 Versatile Surface Combatant
5 Global Corvette
6 See also
7 External links

[edit] Design

Although initially envisaged as anti-submarine warfare escorts, since 2001 the emphasis was shifted to a more general warfare role. The design of the ship had not yet been decided, but possibilities included a variation of the Type 45 destroyer hull form or a more radical trimaran design. To this end, the research vessel RV Triton was commissioned to test whether a trimaran could be used in such a large and complex vessel.

[edit] Fate of the FSC

The FSC project was cancelled around the beginning of 2005, and other projects have been pursued in its place:

MSVD (Medium Sized Vessel Derivative)
VSC (Versatile Surface Combatant)
Global Corvette

[edit] Medium Sized Vessel Derivative

With the end of the FSC proposal, various attempts have been made to resurrect the concept of a medium sized vessel to replace at least the four Type 22 Batch 3 frigates (it is likely that the Type 23 ships will undergo SLEP), one of which is called the Medium Sized Vessel Derivative (MSVD). Amongst the options are an "off the shelf" purchase of the Franco-Italian FREMM multi-role frigate, and a variation of the Type 45 destroyer optimised for ASW and surface warfare.

DML Frigate Concept (FC65) At DSEi 2005 in September, DML Group unveiled a new frigate design concept known as FC65, a potential alternative to existing designs for the Royal Navy’s Medium-sized Vessel Derivative requirement.

The FC65 is a high speed, long range, surface combatant, intended to offer good capability in both offensive and defensive roles. Approaching 150 metres in length and with a displacement of 6,600 tonnes loaded, the vessel is powered by twin MT30 gas turbines, with four large waterjets that allow it to reach its speed capability of 35 knots while being sufficiently efficient to provide the over 7,000 nautical miles endurance. Two Merlin helicopters can be hangar'ed, and the flight deck can accommodate large rotorcraft.

The FC65 features a versatile vertical launch system for both offensive and defensive stores, and has a Mk45 5-inch gun to provide shore bombardment support. Special Forces are catered for in the flexible internal cargo deck aft. This can be re-configured for military or non-military tasks. At 40 metres long and 12 metres wide, the space is large enough to allow transportation of a wide range of vehicles, stores, boats, personnel or other cargo.

The design deliberately focuses on rapid adaptability, and can be rapidly reconfigured for military and non-military roles and duties ranging from benign and constabulary to Task Group command and Land Attack/ASW functions. The platform has been optimised to allow sustained global operations with high endurance, and has the ability both to undertake a wide range of tasks unsupported, and to command task group operations.

[edit] Versatile Surface Combatant

The Versatile Surface Combatant (VSC) is the MOD's latest attempt to develop a replacement for existing frigates, succeeding the Future Surface Combatant (FSC) project which was effectively cancelled in late 2004. The project will provide a replacement for the 12-13 Type 23's upgraded Capability Upgrade Programme (CUP). The Type 23's have a designed service life of 18 years, but the combination of a much less stressful life than expected (they were originally designed to operate towed sonar arrays in North Atlantic winters) and upgrade programmes such as CUP have incrementally increased that, and they may now face a 35 year service life.

[edit] Global Corvette

The Global Corvette is the title used for a request for information issued by the MOD to industry (BAE Systems, VT Group et al) in mid-2004.

It has been suggested that the study could become a partial replacement for the Future Surface Combatant (FSC) project which was cancelled in late 2004.

The DPA's Future Business Group is currently managing the Global Corvette concept (apparently still under the FSC banner!) - but it should be emphasised that it is only at a very early, study based, stage in the development cycle.

Very little information has so far emerged about the MOD's thinking in connection with the Global Corvette. The size, shape and sophistication of the ship selected as the Global Corvette will be determined during the Assessment Phase, however the DPA has issued a Request for Information (RFI) to industry to help inform the User Requirements Document now being developed. In response to the RFI, BAE Systems, VT Group, Thales and Rolls-Royce responded in Autumn 2004 with information on a broad range of concepts and designs. Options range from in diversity from a well equipped Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV) to an advanced and very capable "corvette" along the lines of the USN's Littoral Combat Ship programme (LCS). Displacements range between 1500 and 3000 tonnes.

It is very important to differentiate between the two extremes. Unsophisticated, and relatively low-technology warships of up to 2000 tonnes optimised to undertake duties such as anti-drug and anti-piracy patrols in low threat situations can be built for as little as £25-30 million (e.g. the OPV(H)). But a fast, well armed, high technology, network enabled, small warship built using innovative materials and techniques would cost £120-170 million. The Assessment Phase will include detailed cost-benefit analysis of the more hulls or improved capability trade-off against various requirements.

The role of the Global Corvette is still to be fully defined, but desired capabilities include an ability to operate forward in shallow, coastal areas where larger ships cannot.

Reduced manning and low running costs are also expected to be important requirements.