BAE reveals further details about future Type 83 destroyer possibilities

While work continues in earnest on the British Type 26 and Type 31 fleets at breakneck speed at shipyards up and down the British Isles, combined with the modernisation of the Royal Navy’s submarine fleet, it would appear as though the British naval shipbuilding industry has its work cut out for it.

With all of this in mind, while the Type 83, previously referred to as the Future Air Dominance System, is still some way off being built, the United Kingdom is seeking to capitalise on the lessons learned throughout the Type 26 development process, the Aircraft Carrier Alliance program and a host of other shipbuilding programs to deliver a world-leading capability.

Details remain sketchy, but at the high-level, we know that the Type 83 will include a number of “core capabilities” including between 72–128 Mk 41 vertical launch cells for air, missile defence and strike weapons, with space for future hypersonics.

Shifting away from the Mk 45 five-inch naval gun, it would mount a 57mm gun for interdiction, counter-FIAC and self-defence, supported by soft-kill decoys and directed-energy weapons for drones.

An integrated mast would host fixed-face active electronically scanned array radars, electronic support measures and EO/IR sensors, all linked to an open-architecture combat system using AI/ML for rapid threat evaluation. Connectivity would come via the StrikeNet mesh network, while high automation cuts crew size.

Additionally, the ship would be required to incorporate a robust power and propulsion system which would sustain energy-hungry radars and directed-energy weapons.

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Bringing us conveniently to a speech by BAE Systems Saval Ships director for future business, Geoff Searle, at DSEI in London, in which he outlined and unveiled how BAE was approaching the Type 83 problem set, at the core of which is distributed sensors and effectors and, if computer generated images are to be believed, the Type 26 frigate.

Searle said, “The Royal Navy of the future envisages a more distributed force with a mix of crewed and uncrewed platforms delivering force multiplying effect which are more lethal, capable and versatile.”

Going further, Searle added, “The navies of the future will need to be that hybrid mix of platforms and systems, lean crewed and uncrewed, offering greater lethality, mass, agility and availability, and importantly, the ability to exploit innovation and pace and at the same time offering greater value for money.”

In order to support this, BAE has invested more than £400 million (AU$816.7 million) in the naval shipbuilding infrastructure across Scotland, along with the new conceptual models, including the use of “loyal wingman” style surface combatants that combine anti-air, anti-surface and anti-submarine roles to play within an aggregated task group.

Searle’s BAE colleague, Gavin Rudgley, chief engineer for future business and technology for BAE Systems Naval Ships, elaborated on this concept explaining, “We have a system-of-systems approach across with command ships operating in conjunction with smaller deployed picket ships or wingmen.”

At the core of this, however, is what BAE is terming the Future Airwarfare Command Ship (FACS), a marked shift from anti-submarine focus of the Type 26 and Hunter Class respectively, with the proposed FACS concept drawing heavy design cues from the Type 26/Hunter Class base hull form (as pictured above).

It is expected that this proposed ship would draw on the design lessons from the Type 26 program, offering two distinct variants, a 150-metre and 160-metre hull variants, a 57mm main gun, up to 128 vertical launch missile cells, with additional defensive and close-in-weapons systems, including directed energy, counter-drone capabilities and interestingly, a crew of at most, 100 personnel.

While these vessels have focused on air warfare and strike capabilities, the emphasis on large missile magazine capacity, even with supporting “loyal wingman” style vessels incorporating a modest 32 vertical launch cell magazine, also raises significant questions about the true capacity and survivability of Australia’s Hunter Class with their relatively modest 32 VLS capability as currently planned.

Nevertheless, such proposals, would, if properly executed, present an interesting opportunity for Australia as the nation grapples with what the Hobart Class replacement vessels will look like and how the concept of operations for “loyal wingman” style surface and submarine combatants will play.

Just some food for thought.

Stephen Kuper

Steve has an extensive career across government, defence industry and advocacy, having previously worked for cabinet ministers at both Federal and State levels.