This can be solved with putting ESM/ECM on integrated main mast. Or dividing the two systems in two halves - forward plates + half ESM on foremast, after plates and half ESM on the main. Both variants won't reduce stealth and won't require unusual breadth of the ship, which is the focus of my woe.
I know NATO is not a thing those days, but consider you have to escort a US or French carrier.
In ideal conditions. In wars shit happens, and Falklands have highlighted the problem of requirement to keep Type 22 and Type 42 together.
I proposed a range of possibilities. All of them have their advantages and disadvantages, with Type 055-sized ship probably being ideal, because larger units begin to be too high-value, expensive and vulnerable. My point is that if the mast retains it's size, it needs a larger platform, and if you go for a large platform, you could put more armament there anyway (including the potential for additional armament in FAWCS as it is). If, on the other hand, it can be reduced, the platform can be brought to regular missile cruiser dimensions, and, again, speed and capabilities.
Sweet.
You just said take everything but the phased arrays off it, which is precisely why I raised ESM.
See Bastion Atlantic and Project Cabot, which seems to be doing precisely that for ASW.
The war may be not against Russia, or not only Russia. It may be China in the Pacific, it may be another round with a US-supported Argentina in South Atlantic, it may be against the US for Greenland, it may be anything.
Based on the configuration shown at DSEI, there are three, the pyramidal integrated mast (which seems to be designated the mainmast on Type 45 and Type 26), and the two pole-like comms masts also seen on Type 26, which I'm not convinced are suitable for the ESM/ECM arrays.
I thought we were trying to reduce topweight, not add another pyramid. Exactly how is the same set of sensors in the mainmast a problem, but building an entirely new mast to hold them not a problem?
The main problem of the mast - as it is - is it's width. The horizontal width of the structure, that for some reason is stated as a requirement, and thus affects the breadth of the hull, which results in proportionally "short and fat" hull.
Looking at SEWIP on the Burkes I get the feeling the surface types want something a bit beefier nowadays. I've been looking around to see if I can find a pic or diagram of MEWSIC, the new fleet-wide ESM/ECM system that's going into the QEs and Types 45, 26 and 31, but everything seems to be the same one or two pics of the new Ancillia launchers (replacing Sea Gnat), rather than MEWSIC itself.
The width of the mainmast is clearly determined by the phased arrays. The width of each side is only marginally wider than the array mounted on it. Moving the ESM/ECM elements from the corners won't change the actual width. Or the height for that matter, as the forward bearing arrays barely clear the bridge clutter as is.
Nothing wrong with a short and fat hull of the BAE renderings, it's a pretty similar shape to that of the Burkes, a hull form which was selected for better seakeeping.
https://www.navylookout.com/a-guide-to-the-type-26-frigate/ claims "T26 will have modern EW capabilities delivered as part of the RN’s Maritime Electronic Warfare System Integrated Capability (MEWSIC) programme (Increment-1). Details are limited but UAT Mod 2.3 Radar Electronic Support Measures (RESM) receivers will be fitted at the top of the mainmast and the ship will have the Shaman communications electronic support measures (CESM) fit used to gather signals intelligence (SIGINT)."
Exactly, there's no particular reason why a wide hull is an inherently slow and unhandy design. It is also plain to see from the size of the mast that if we want that size of panel then it will be very hard to fit them into a narrower ship, and if we want them high up it will be nearly impossible.
It just requires more horsepower for the same speed. From what I heard over here a couple of pages ago there was a talk of reducing speed requirements to ~25 knots. Which would be nice until the Americans ask to escort their carrier operating at full speed.
*welp*
IF - and that's a big if - the next iteration won't say to hell with the extra propulsion, let's cap it at comfortable 25 knots.
This is actually the same mast config we saw a couple of months before DSEI25, just in better lighting. It appeared in this NL article in May.
Good spot. It looks a little bit like that Russian fantasy pagoda cruiser:
Clearly the spectre of the Exocet still haunts the Royal Navy, 40-something years after Sheffield was lost. Probably for the best, too, given how sea-skimming missiles are proliferating globally at the moment. I saw someone mention semi-submersible USV as a threat that a higher-placed radar is better able to combat.
I'm not sure whether we learnt a lesson early that the rest of the world hasn't yet caught up on, or whether the RN has got hung up one one aspect of air defence and is sacrificing capability for a non-existent threat.
Yes, some flavor of VTOL drone with an AEW radar is likely the better answer to a taller mast. I think an MQ-8B might have the spare lift but would need more electrical power.
Checking things out, there is an Allison 250-C40 engine that makes 715hp instead of the 420hp that the MQ-8B has that should be a direct bolt in. It may take a little modification to the accessory case to make it able to take 200+hp to the generator shaft.
Or perhaps something like the Leonardo Proteus being developed for the RN, but with AEW capabilities?
Proteus confuses me. Initially, Leonardo were pushing it as a full-on product, equipped with various modules and being ready for operations. Recently though, they've backtracked, saying instead that it's a stage on roadmap to autonomy, or a precursor to true capability.
Maybe? Does Proteus have ~600lbs lift and 100kW electrical power?
It has a claimed 1 tonne lifting capacity, not sure about electrical generation.
Leonardo have shown it with what appears to be the SeaSpray 7500e, which has secondary air to air modes. It should definitely be able to lift an AEW radar, though not in the class of Crowsnest.
Dear Santa, we've been very, very good this past 2049...
