UAV platform ship. A promising proposal or a meaningless concept?

Recently it became known that in the interests of the naval fleet Russia is developing a project of a fundamentally new special ship. It will become a carrier of unmanned aerial vehicles for various purposes and will have to provide a solution to a wide range of tasks. So far, only the most general features of such a project are known, but this information is also of great interest.

Latest news

On December 13, the TASS news agency reported about the new project of a special ship. From an unnamed source in the shipbuilding industry, it received information about the existence of such a project, as well as about some of its technical and tactical features. At the same time, the publication notes that there is no official information about the promising development.

According to the source, the now unnamed design bureau is designing a multipurpose platform ship for the Navy, which will be able to carry and use a large number of unmanned aerial vehicles. In his aviation the group will include UAVs of aircraft and helicopter types of medium and light classes. This is a technique with reconnaissance capabilities.

The platform will be able to fully operate all UAVs on board. In particular, for drones-aircraft will be provided with a pneumatic catapult with the necessary characteristics. The platform ship will be able to use tactical UAVs in the coastal zone and on the high seas. At the same time, the exact range of tasks to be solved is not given.

UAV "Outpost" of the Baltic Fleet naval aviation. Photo of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation

It is reported that the new project makes special requirements for aviation equipment - this is due to the specifics of its operation at sea. In particular, it is necessary to protect the on-board electronics of the UAV from aggressive environments, use high-precision instruments for landing on the deck, and take measures in case of hard landings.

Other details of the project are not provided. The exact tactical and technical characteristics of the future platform, the timing of the design completion and the start of construction, deployment plans, etc. are unknown. Perhaps information of this kind will begin to appear in the future, as work continues and various military-technical exhibitions are held. If the project of the UAV platform really exists, our industry will not hide it for a long time and will definitely show it.

Unmanned present

The Russian Navy has a developed and numerous naval aviation, which includes coastal and ship-based aircraft and helicopters. Since the beginning of the last decade, the unmanned direction has also been developing as part of naval aviation. To date, UAVs have become quite widespread on the coast, and their implementation on ships continues.

Loitering ammunition "Cube-UAV" at the start. Photo Concern "Kalashnikov"

The most massive and, in fact, the main unmanned complex in our naval aviation is now Orlan-10, which is also used by other branches of the military. Initially, such UAVs flew only from land, using standard launchers and landing devices. Since 2018, a new version of the complex has been deployed on ships, including special landing equipment. Over the past years, a number of ships of modern projects have received such equipment. Thanks to the UAV, these combat units have improved their situational awareness and expanded combat capabilities.

Earlier this year, it was reported that loitering ammunition could be deployed on Russian ships. Products of the "Cube" series are already being tested on unnamed ships, and in the foreseeable future it is planned to make a decision on their introduction into practice.

An important place in naval aviation is occupied by the Forpost medium-sized UAV for reconnaissance purposes. However, due to its size and weight, it is operated only from land airfields and cannot yet be transferred to the deck. In recent years, it has been reported about the development of new helicopter-type UAVs specifically for the Navy, but not a single such model has entered service yet.

Possible appearance

Very little is known about the future "drone". However, you can imagine how such a vessel should look to solve the assigned tasks. In addition, it is already possible to assess the fundamental advantages and disadvantages of such a concept. However, the credibility of such forecasts and estimates will be questionable - until the question of the existence of the project and its real features is clarified.

Corvettes of the project 20380 - carriers of the UAV "Orlan-10". Photo of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation

The dimensions and displacement of the vessel are unclear. At the same time, it is obvious that light and medium-sized UAVs do not need a carrier the size of a full-fledged aircraft carrier. It will probably be possible to get by with a platform the size of a frigate or destroyer. Also, there should be no special requirements for energy and general ship systems.

The UAV carrier should have a deck of the largest possible area, almost like on full-fledged aircraft carriers. It is necessary to place launch and landing positions on it: catapults and nets for aircraft, as well as small areas for helicopter operation. Under the flight deck, as on aircraft carriers, you need to place a hangar of sufficient size.

The ship needs advanced electronic equipment. First of all, he needs a full-fledged control center for an unmanned group, capable of controlling a large number of aircraft and processing all incoming information. Operators can be facilitated by artificial intelligence control systems. We also need communication means to interact with other ships and UAVs in the air.

Aircraft carrier "Admiral Kuznetsov". This ship can theoretically also carry a UAV. Photo of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation

Light and medium-sized UAVs can form an aviation group of outstanding size. An active group can consist of dozens of devices. In addition, comparable quantities of equipment can be stowed in transport in the appropriate compartments. In fact, the size of the air group depends only on the types of UAVs and on the customer's requirements.

It is not known what types of drones will be used on the new platform. A TASS source mentions that these will be reconnaissance vehicles. These can be the current "Orlans-10" or promising products that are currently at the development stage. In addition, the introduction of light and medium loitering ammunition cannot be ruled out - they will expand the range of tasks to be solved and give the ship shock capabilities.

The question of the ship's weapons remains open. Obviously, such a pennant will work as part of ship groups, and its protection will be provided mainly by other combat units. At the same time, the UAV carrier also needs barrel and electronic means of self-defense. In addition, kamikaze drones will also become part of the weapons complex.

A forward-looking concept

Basing UAVs on ships is no longer a novelty and is actively used by developed countries. At the same time, the idea of ​​a specialized drone carrier vehicle is not yet spreading. According to known data, so far only one such ship has been built - it recently became part of the Chinese Navy. Now a similar project is being developed in our country.

Project appearance of UDC pr. 23900 "Priboy". The aviation group will include helicopters and, probably, drones. Graphics Zelenodolsk PKB

This concept of a special ship has clear pros and cons. Its main advantage is the ability to place on one carrier a large number of UAVs for various purposes - in contrast to one or two vehicles on board current warships. The ship will be able to simultaneously raise and hold several drones in the air and conduct reconnaissance in a number of areas of the sea and land.

Accordingly, the possibilities for collecting and processing data for illuminating the situation and / or for issuing target designations are expanding. It is also possible to independently deliver strikes using loitering ammunition.

The use of UAVs from a single carrier will simplify the work of the ship squadron and its aviation. Helicopters aboard other ships will not have to share the hangar and take-off area with drones. This will greatly simplify the organization of flights and related events.

However, there are also difficulties. So, questions arise about the very need for such a ship. Our Navy has a full-fledged aircraft carrier, which is still under repair, and landing ships with a helicopter group will appear in the foreseeable future. They will also be able to carry UAVs of different types, simultaneously solving other combat and auxiliary missions. Whether it is necessary to build separate ships with drones in the presence of such pennants is a big question.

Model of the Chinese training UAV carrier for training purposes. Photo Twitter.com/HenriKenhmann

If a positive decision is made, new questions will arise. The drone ship is a novelty in every sense. Its practical capabilities and combat value are not completely clear. The tactics of using it independently and as part of the detachments has not been worked out either. Without elaboration of these issues - and the corresponding revision of the requirements and the project itself - the prospects of the ship will be a big question.

Also, the concept has practical drawbacks. The main one is related to the placement of many drones on one platform. Thus, a successful enemy attack will disable not only the carrier ship, but also its air group. In this case, the ship detachment, regardless of its condition, will be left without an important means of reconnaissance, and its combat capabilities will be reduced.

Reserve for the future

Thus, in our country, it is possible that the development of a fundamentally new concept of a special ship with special functions and capabilities has begun. The fleet will have to study these ideas and draw conclusions, ordering full design and construction, or abandoning them. And the further development of the unmanned direction in the fleet will depend on these conclusions and decisions.

At the moment, it can be argued that the project that TASS writes about will still be useful for the fleet. Regardless of the decision of the Navy, it will allow to work out a promising and unusual concept and draw conclusions about its real prospects. If it is considered necessary and useful, then the construction of ships will begin. Otherwise, the fleet and industry will not waste resources on a dubious project - but they will gain important experience and knowledge.

Comments

[Vladimir_2U]

Its main advantage is the ability to place on one carrier a large number of UAVs for various purposes - in contrast to one or two vehicles on board current warships.

The main and seems to be the only plus.

[Civil]

The ship needs advanced electronic equipment. First of all, he needs a full-fledged control center for an unmanned group, capable of controlling a large number of aircraft and processing all incoming information.

1. And again the question arises about the UAV AWACS and relaying. Where can I get it?
2. Undoubtedly, the future belongs to such UAV carriers, for example, the same 6th generation of fighters will be optionally piloted even from aircraft carriers.
3. There will be tiers of UAVs with control of various levels and full autonomy at the final stages of operations.

[mark1]

I don't see any pros, but as a temporary solution ... maybe.

[Doctor]

It depends on what kind of UAV and what kind of ship. If what's in the photo is like a large model then it is not needed.

[URAL72]

I remember not long ago we discussed here a training helicopter carrier under construction, the size of a frigate. Maybe it is also intended for practicing the use of UAVs from the ship? Then its value increases significantly.

[Victor Leningradets]

A training ship is a cabin and cabin carrier, with a very modest in number, but extremely diverse in composition, an air group. He does not need a long stroke, so on two shafts there are the usual KTUs (or GTUs for training mechanics), and on the other two - a diesel engine of economic speed. In short, the modernized Kuznetsov is an ideal vessel.
I loaded the cadets from Severomorsk in Severomorsk - and into a training voyage. Around Africa to Pacific. And vice versa: I loaded Pacific cadets and around Cape Horn into the Atlantic and Severomorsk.
But the appearance of combat aircraft carriers will become clear from the use of UAVs in exercises in the ocean.
It is advisable to combine cadets-officers and cadets-warrant officers in different departments for such training, of course.

[URAL72]

But the appearance of combat aircraft carriers will become clear from the use of UAVs in exercises in the ocean..

It is not worth it in the ocean - this is a training ship, aircraft losses are possible. But the Sea of ​​Azov is shallow, it is easy to find and raise the device, and next to it is Yeisk, a training center for naval aviation.

[Victor Leningradets]

You shouldn't regret the UAV.
After all, in concept they are kamikaze. At the same time, the main reasons for the loss of vehicles and methods of rescue in the ocean will be understood. And in order not to be raised - a self-liquidator (for example, hydrostatic.

[Victor Leningradets]

Conceptually - absolutely true.
Execution - we will see (if we live).

[riwas]

They will also be able to carry UAVs of different types, simultaneously solving other combat and auxiliary missions. Whether it is necessary to build separate ships with drones in the presence of such pennants is a big question.

In Russia for the first time laid two universal amphibious assault helicopter carriers "Ivan Rogov" and "Mitrofan Moskalenko". That can partially use them. To support the amphibious assault - this is very important. Against boats, as it is now in Ukraine, it is also normal. But against larger ships with their powerful air defense, they will play a more auxiliary role: reconnaissance, interference, distracting air defense.

[Max PV]

Let's proceed from the possible tasks that a drone can solve:
1) Over-the-horizon search and target designation for the use of KUG missiles.
2) Attacking enemy ground targets, including direct support of troops and special forces in the coastal zone, using strike UAVs and barrage ammunition, while conducting low-intensity combat operations, far from our territory.
3) Control of the maritime border of the Russian Federation, which, to put it mildly, is rather big, and any patrol ship, if you do not take into account the helicopter, which also cannot hang in the air for days, can survey the water area a maximum of 20-30 miles away from itself, for no more 300-400 miles a day.
4) PLO. Here, the drone is potentially no better than helicopters, since it does not require extra cargo in the form of a crew of 3-5 people. But this will require the development of special drones for delivering beacons, radio signal repeaters, magnetometer carriers, submersible GAS and, possibly, torpedoes.
Obviously, this at least means the use of completely different drones, as well as completely different requirements for launch vehicles. For the tasks of the ZGTsU, it is obviously preferable to have something like a frigate in terms of running characteristics, carrying several dozen medium-class reconnaissance vehicles, while for local wars, a helicopter carrier adapted for use, including drones, is better suited. In the meantime, nothing is known about what specific tasks are planned to be solved by the drone, and in general what this will be. Maybe a boat for the tasks of the OVR naval base with a catapult and a couple of drones.

[alstr]

If you look at it soberly, the only limitation for UAV operation at sea is landing.
Explain.
If you can use a catapult and boosters to launch UAVs of almost any size, which does not require much space (relatively, of course), then one mesh will not do for landing large enough UAVs. This requires a free deck and a large enough one.
Therefore, if we solve the problem of landing, then a separate UAV carrier unit is not needed.

Another thing is that two concepts can be combined: a UAV carrier and an arsenal ship. The ideas are as follows:
Place 100-200 pieces of missile launchers under the flight deck. And since the load requirements for the deck will be lower, then this can be done.
As a result, you can get not a narrowly specialized ship, but a real strike unit.

[Mooh]

UAV platform ship. A promising proposal or a meaningless concept?

Of course, promising. The only problem is the lack of a number of necessary designs and technologies. Well, we do not have an AWACS UAV and an air defense UAV. The first will not be yet 5 years and the possibility of creating the second is generally questionable. And a defenseless carrier of scouts and strikers is an extremely vulnerable thing.
It seems to me that at the current level of development of science and technology, it is more promising to build not an UAV, but an ordinary light avik, and maybe even a TAVKR, and on it, gradually replace the air group with UAVs as they are created.

[SavranP]

"Of course, promising ..." I agree completely. Even more, in my opinion, this is the future of the Russian Navy: economically, UAVs are more profitable; their loss is not as terrible as the death of a manned vehicle; with the demography of Russia, the shortage of qualified pilots will not be so acute; UAV control from the carrier does not require high physical conditions of the operator and his lengthy training. The carrier itself is best done with a catamaran with two flight decks: the lower takeoff with a springboard, the upper landing with a finisher, if required. Such a carrier will be able to launch and receive even large UAVs of the "Hunter" type, etc.

[Evgesha]

We don't have a light aircraft!!! We don’t even have a single avik in principle !!!!
One TAVKR - and that one in ... .. well, you yourself know where he is right now ..

[Basarev]

A perfectly suitable solution for our puddles. A full-fledged aircraft carrier is redundant there, and the pressing problem is a bit different. The coastal complexes have enough range, but there are difficulties with target designation - and this is where numerous reconnaissance drones will help, such are small AWACS devices. But in order to accommodate them all, you need a solid-sized ship, just a UAV carrier.

[K298rtm]

2 UDCs are already under construction in Kerch. In my humble opinion, they may well be a platform for various drones, as well as patrol boats.

[Tavrik]

Can not. Because they are already under construction. According to the approved projects in accordance with the design documentation. An attempt to implant a UAV on them will lead to a serious "shoveling" of the project, reworking of documentation, repeated approvals / approvals, etc. In short, it will take years ...

[Evgesha]

Eprst..
Another aircraft carrier chtoli ...
Well, fir-trees are burned, you can take an ordinary dry grout without any pathos and work out various solutions on it. Well, why do you need to immediately design a special vessel ??? Why do you need the level of an aircraft carrier destroyer right away ???
Do we have fucking experience in operating aircraft at sea ?? Well, there is no already nifiga!!!! Let's start small!! Let's take a barge, adapt it on the knee for UAV basing, there is a landing place from above or take a river-sea dry cargo ship .. - and let this prototype ride along rivers and canals - we have the Volga-Baltic waterway, well, work out there are all questions related to the operation of the UAV. ON the Baltic Sea, in Lake Ladoga, then you can go to the developments, check it out, then go south to the Black Sea ..
Everything has to start with trial operation!! With an understanding of the various problems that arise when basing a UAV on a ship. To understand and solve these problems, to provide for other options - this is all current through experimental vessels !!!
So right away, with a running start, with a bang - again we get a horseradish that has no analogue in the world in one copy for a bunch of money, which you don’t understand what will turn out in the end, and will be worn with it like a TAVKR.
Well, I have never been a sailor or an aviator - but why did I immediately have such an idea ?? Why don't I immediately demand an aircraft carrier with a UAV ??? Or do we just cut and design for the sake of the work itself, but not for the sake of the result ???

[highlight]

design for the sake of design by companies of respected people. They would have carried out R&D to each corvette hull.