The Shape of Fleets to Come

For future naval fleets, modelling and simulation will significantly contribute towards test, evaluation and acceptance.

Matt Hood, Head of Practice for Nova Systems International, recently presented at the Royal Institution of Naval Architects (RINA) Warship conference on The Shape of Fleets to Come – looking at past naval fleets and forward to 2045.

His presentation drew on Nova Systems’ work on modelling and simulation of ship-air interfaces and work on ship-to-boat interfaces, combined with the company’s experience of aviation integration, testing and safety assurance that has moved towards autonomous systems and manned-unmanned teaming.

He explored how a radical new concept platform can be assured progressively throughout its life-cycle to deliver operational capability faster than traditional warship procurement processes.

The intention was to stimulate discussion and further build on a paper presented at the 2015 warship conference looking back at the shape of naval fleets over history and then at the shape of future navies.

For the 2024 conference, Matt updated his concepts from 2015, which are radical and very modular. They remain conceptual think pieces intended to test the boundaries of what is possible.

The radical concept presented was a family of ships, based heavily on ISO (International Standards Organisation) containers modules with all weapons systems and as many of the ship systems for water treatment, power generation, etc, built into containers, rather than designed to fit within the curves of the ship. These ships are optimised for using drones in the air, on the water and under water to carry out military and peacekeeping missions. The concept is called a SWAN, a Small Waterplane Area Nonohull, that is with nine hulls. Three above water (like a trimaran) and six underwater pods that look like torpedoes with fins, called hydrofoils. As speed increases the hydrofoils lift the main hulls above the waves so that the ship can sprint into action to respond to a crisis.

Matt’s paper discussed the use of model-based systems engineering (MBSE) and modelling and simulation to investigate whether such a radical concept could work. With digital engineering, where Nova is leading the way, you can see things differently and sometimes break the old rules.

Matt Hood presented at the Royal Institution of Naval Architects annual Warship conference in Adelaide held over June 17-18.