The Royal Navy could soon rely on robotic missile warships to strengthen its fleet amid an ongoing recruitment crisis. Defence giant BAE Systems is set to reveal two new concept ships at a major arms show in London this week, with the aim of providing powerful new vessels that require fewer crew and can be built more quickly than existing warships.
One of the designs is a new “air warfare command ship” that would act as a central hub, equipped with up to 128 missiles, advanced radar systems, laser weapons, and automatic cannons. The ship would also carry drones and other decoy systems, with high levels of automation to reduce the number of sailors needed onboard.
This mothership would support up to six smaller craft known as Deployed Sensor Effector Platforms, or DSEPs.
Each of these would be able to carry 32 additional missiles and operate either with a small crew of six to 12 people or fully autonomously.
BAE Systems said these smaller vessels could be built in just two years, far quicker than the five to six years typically needed for traditional frigates or destroyers.
The concepts are being presented as part of the Defence and Security Equipment International (DSEI) exhibition, Europe’s largest arms fair, which is supported by the Ministry of Defence, The Telegraph reported.
BAE’s proposals may influence the future of the Navy’s next-generation Type 83 warship programme, which is expected to replace the ageing Type 45 or Daring-class destroyers.
Steve Hart, the Head of Maritime Business Development at BAE, said the goal was to add “mass” to the Royal Navy’s capabilities using fewer crew and delivering it faster.
“This is all about delivering additional mass for the fleet using an ultra-lean crewed model,” he explained. “It’s something you could do very quickly to get additional missiles, additional underwater sensors.”
Maritime engineer Gavin Rudgley added that the air warfare command ship would carry the main radar and targeting systems, while the smaller support vessels would help expand the Navy’s strike capacity.
“This is the direction future warfare is going,” he said.
The push towards uncrewed and minimally crewed ships comes as the Royal Navy continues to face recruitment and staffing shortages.
In June, Fleet Commander Vice Admiral Andrew Burns warned that a shortage of personnel was one of the biggest challenges currently facing the service.
“It’s people, right now. It’s the quantity of people,” he said.
Official figures from the Ministry of Defence showed that the Royal Navy missed its recruitment targets again last year, with only 2,450 new joiners, more than 1,500 short of the goal.