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Submarines (Ships) --- Submarine boats --- Subs (Ships) --- Submersibles --- Warships

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Submarines (Ships) --- Submarine boats --- Subs (Ships) --- Submersibles --- Warships

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The United Kingdom's Ministry of Defence (MOD) is preparing for the construction of the Royal Navy's two new Future Aircraft Carriers (CVFs), slated to enter service in 2012 and 2015, respectively. The CVFs could be the largest warships ever built in the United Kingdom. But what will the best construction strategies be, and will the UK workforce be able to meet the demands posed by the CVF in addition to the Royal Navy's other ongoing programmes? At the request of the MOD, the RAND Corporation looked at the risks of current UK shipbuilding practices and estimated the cost implications of using alternative manufacturing options. The researchers gathered information primarily via surveys sent to major shipbuilders in the United Kingdom, the United States, and across Europe. They find, generally, that UK shipbuilders should continue to use their current subcontracting practices but also take advantage of standards such as those used in commercial outfitting in the rest of Europe and Asia, which focus on installation and assembly at the earliest possible construction phase. The researchers also encourage MOD shipbuilding programmes to identify subcontractors as early as possible and to subsequently include them in the design process.

Aircraft carriers --- Shipbuilding industry --- Contracting out --- Modular construction --- Design and construction.

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C4I systems have evolved rapidly over the last few decades, and the cost of keeping these products up-to-date on new and in-service U.S. Navy ships is high due to configuration, integration, testing, and other challenges. Looking across a specific set of completed C4I upgrades, the authors found evidence of cost improvement, a high level of variability in costs, and a trend toward overestimating the installation-labor costs of certain upgrades.

Command and control systems --- Telecommunication systems --- Computer systems --- Military intelligence --- Warships --- Costs. --- Design. --- United States. --- Communication systems --- Maintenance and repair. --- Information services --- Cost control.

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In 2012 and 2015, respectively, the United Kingdom's Ministry of Defence (MOD) will replace its three Invincible-class aircraft carriers with two Future Aircraft Carriers (CVFs), the largest ships ever constructed for the Royal Navy. In preparation for this project, the MOD asked RAND to look at the economic implications, schedule impact, and technical risks of adopting new technologies and alternative manufacturing options. The research described in this report, based on the design and manning data available at the time, focuses on possible reductions in whole-life costs and manpower requirements of the carriers. Concerning reduced acquisition costs-based on figures from various cost analysis models-the researchers suggest options such as using construction practices from the commercial shipbuilding industry plus commercial systems and equipment in place of military standard equipment wherever there is no adverse impact on operations or safety. Regarding personnel cost savings and complement-reducing initiatives, the researchers look towards the practices of private-sector shipbuilding companies and of navies around the globe. Based on this analysis, they recommend, for example, promoting a cross-trained workforce with broad skills and using civilians to augment the ship's crew for nonwarfare responsibilities. Options for reducing the complement examine the trade-offs of increased up-front investments in technology with the corresponding manpower reductions. As the CVF Integrated Project Team continues to explore its many options, the researchers remain optimistic that, given several factors indicated, the CVF's targets can be reached.

Aircraft carriers --- Design and construction. --- Costs. --- Great Britain. --- Procurement.