What does a 1,000 ship hybrid navy look like? 20 frigates and destroyers, each with two 1,000 ton Type 91 LUSVs makes an effective surface force of 60 escorts. Aother 40 smaller 350 ton Type 92 'sloops' and Type 93 Chariot UUVS provide an ASW barrier as part of Atlantic Bastion?
Hundreds of Helsing SG-1 Fathom wave gliders form the ISR component of the ASW barrier, serviced by contracted support ships. Hundreds more Kraken Scout small USVs patrol the UK'sinfrastructure and choke points in the Gulf, at Gibraltar and the English Channel.
The wave gliders are supported by ACUA Ocean persistent surveillance LUSVs, holding station in the deep ocean. 20-30 BAES Herne or M-Subs CETUS XLUUVs deployed from Type 26, support ships or AUKUS SSNs to patrol undersea cables or hunt submarines.
30-40 autonomous MCM vessels provide a deployable mine countermeasures capability, in the UK, at HMNB Clyde to protect the SSBNs and in the Gulf. These are supported by 3-4 support ships, which can also support other types of autonomous vessels in the littoral zone.
The crewed element remains Type 26 and Type 31 frigates and Type 45 and the new Type 83 destroyers, Astute and Aukus SSNs. SSN numbers increase from 7 to 12, and FFG/DDGs numbers rise to 20. OPVs are gradually replaced by crewed support ships for smaller autonomous systems.
Coastal forces is transformed into a service supporting the delployment of smaller USVs such as the Kraken Scouts currently aquired under project Beehive and the Anglo-Norwegian Littoral Strike Craft. These vessels are supported by the transformed OPV flotilla and MRSS.
The Resurgent class FSS and MRSS are configured to carry Navy PODS, enabling the transportation and deployment of smaller autonomous systems globally or during amphibious operations, they can also carry additional batteries of weapons as arsenal ships - linked by the DTW.
The carriers are configured to operate MQ-9B Sea Guardian in STOL configuration with both the Saab AEW and the Leonardo ASW fit as options, provividing wide area ASW and AEW ISR and SIGINT for Atlantic Bastion and beyond. Airframes are added to the RAF order.
Proteus RUAVs provide ASW, ISR and logistics from Type 26, TYpe 83, RFAs, MRSS and LUSVs. Smaller Peregrine RUAVs operate from Type 31, Type 45 and LUSVs. F-35B numbers increased to 63, enabling two carrier air groups of 24 in a surge, augmented by a new carrier strike ACP.
LUSVs could operate drones such as the T150 carrying Stingray torpedos in the ASW role, as well as low cost C-UAS weapons such as a naval variant of Rapid Sentry or the Cambridge Aerospace Skyhammer or Starhammer interceptor drones or micro missiles, or long range OWEs.
These are in addition to an option for conventional VLS with missiles such as CAMM-MR on the larger Type 91 LUSVs, which would be required for those operating as part of FADS with Type 45 and Type 83 destroyers. Navy PODS will be critical to providing capabilities for LUSVs.
The Royal Marines Commandos can call on both Littoral Strike Craft and supprt craft and a range of USVs and UAVs, operating from the new MRSS mothership. These conduct ISR, strike and provide escort for coastal, raiding and amphibious operations.
The opportunity to build a new navy that breaks the mould and embraces the hybrid-autonomous future is here. The RN has always pioneered new ways of fighting, from dreadnoughts, aircraft carriers, to radar, sonar, gas turbines, helicopters and VSTOL. That time is here again.
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