Systematiq’s Post

Supporting the fleet now and into the future.

🚢 A Game-Changer for Naval Operations: At-Sea Missile Reloading🚀 For the first time in years, the U.S. Navy has successfully trialled a revolutionary device for reloading missile magazines aboard destroyers and cruisers – the TRAM system. This breakthrough at-sea capability was demonstrated aboard the USS Chosin off the coast of San Diego, using a hydraulically-powered system to reload its MK 41 vertical launching system, proving just how critical this advancement could be for operational readiness in remote areas. In the vast expanse of the Western Pacific, where safe ports are few and far between, this innovation ensures that U.S. destroyers and cruisers can stay in the fight longer without returning to port, significantly reducing downtime. As Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro said, “Today, we proved just how game-changing TRAM truly is - and what a powerful deterrent it will be to our competitors.” With the capability to reload at sea, the Navy enhances its warfighting capacity and ensures more agility in responding to threats. The reintroduction of this at-sea reloading capability could be operational within the next three years, marking a huge step forward in maintaining global maritime security. It's incredible to witness advancements like these that reshape the future of naval operations and provide a strategic edge where it's most needed. #Shipping #SpotShip

“The Enhanced Lethality Surface Combatant review has laid out plans for the Royal Australian Navy to grow larger, with more firepower in the coming decade to ensure that it can meet the challenges highlighted in the 2023 defence strategic review (DSR). The government’s call for an independent analysis of the surface fleet looks to have succeeded in providing a reasonably coherent and sensible path forward to a larger and more powerful Australian Navy. Whether it will be sufficient in the face of rapidly growing threat capabilities, and a deterioration in strategic circumstances, needs to be determined. There needs to be flexibility in how recommendations are implemented, and a readiness to ‘review the review’ in coming years. As with the DSR itself, the opportunities presented by a bi-annual national defence strategy mean that if strategic and operational demands suggest that even greater naval capability, that is fully funded, and which can be adequately maintained within an expanded shipbuilding sector, is needed, more ambitious objectives need to be considered.” https://lnkd.in/gaNZ9xrN

Electra.aero + US Navy = an extraordinary eSTOL aircraft for unique contested logistics missions! Can't wait to eventually demonstrate this airplane landing on a ship, small barge, or even on the water with floats. It's great for all those things. (With just a bit of wind over the deck, we're practically a VTOL! 😂) This news means that Electra is now actively on contract with the United States Air Force, US Army, and US Navy! The trifecta. (Unfortunately, eSTOL airplanes in space might not be a good fit...) Working with Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) on this design study has been really cool. We're uncovering all sorts of interesting Navy and United States Marine Corps applications which we hadn't considered before. Hybrid-electric short takeoff and landing airplanes like ours will play an essential role in bringing new capabilities to a broad range of national security missions. Learn more here: https://lnkd.in/e3U4HVTj

Power at Sea: The Future of Naval Aviation This 3D concept of an advanced aircraft carrier represents the cutting edge of naval warfare and air defense. Designed to accommodate a variety of aircraft, this carrier is a hub of strategic power projection, providing unmatched support for air operations over the sea. With its streamlined design and modern capabilities, it underscores the importance of air-sea integration in modern military strategies. From fighter jets ready for takeoff to the central command tower overseeing operations, every element is engineered for efficiency and dominance. This vessel stands as a testament to the future of naval technology, ensuring operational superiority across vast oceans and remote regions. Whether it’s defense or deterrence, this model showcases what modern naval forces require for global reach. #3DModeling #NavalEngineering #AircraftCarrier #MilitaryInnovation #DefenseTechnology #MaritimeOperations

The long and highly anticipated Surface Fleet Review lands tomorrow, with many keen Defence and Defence Industry personnel seeing clarification on the Navy’s future capability. In short, the review will state that Australia needs to get extra warships that are more lethal on a faster timetable to counter global threats, particularly those of China. With rising cost pressures and current and planned surface combatant fleet being incorporate for the levels of risk Australia now faces, I hope the review outcomes provide the ADF with agile and speedy capability acquisition and sustainment options. What could we see in tomorrows review outcomes? - emphasis on warships laden with missiles - pledges of new warships (Corvettes maybe? Or a new class of smaller vessels?) - scrapping of the patrol boat project - reduction of the number of Hunter class frigates - retirement of the ANZAC class frigates. I would definitely expect to see the highly politicised sovereign capability and national naval shipbuilding being a central tenet of the outcomes but…is it time to forego national naval shipbuilding and sovereign capability to ensure speedy acquisition of the RIGHT capability in a TIMELY manner? At the end of the day, the surface fleet must work hand in hand with AUKUS, and this can only be done if the outcomes of the review are funded accordingly. Funding, time and workforce will be key to future success. Royal Australian Navy Defence Australia #Navy #FleetReview #Defence #AUKUS Ashurst Tony Morris Sanjay Vinoharan Steve McKinney

At the Royal Canadian Navy | Marine royale canadienne Outlook, Military Off The Shelf (MOTS) procurement was raised by several speakers as a way of de-risking, accelerating and reducing the cost of acquiring new platforms and equipment, and the recent independent analysis of the Royal Australian Navy surface combatant fleet identified 4 proven platforms that could be acquired more rapidly by taking a MOTS approach. However, defence procurement organizations around the world have found it difficult to implement MOTS approaches, as ‘just a few changes’ quickly snowball and MOTS designs become bespoke. A current example is the US Navy Constellation Class, which was intended to retain 85% commonality with the proven FREMM. According to the article below, the Constellation now shares only 15% of the original design and the delivery of the first vessel has been delayed by three years, which is a 50% increase in the delivery schedule. It is not easy to compromise on requirements, especially when navies have to operate and maintain platforms for decades. However, without those compromises MOTS is not a viable procurement strategy. https://lnkd.in/eGPM-8Ez #MOTS #shipbuilding #CPSP #CMC #requirements

A groundbreaking milestone for the U.S. Navy with Lockheed Martin: an unprecedented flight test has just been achieved with the simultaneous launch of four Long-Range Anti-Ship Missiles (LRASM) 🚀🌊. This test underscores a significant leap in naval warfare capabilities. How do you think this will change the dynamics of naval defence? https://bit.ly/3xojwja #NavalInnovation #LRASM

Roll FIS Green! Just like the Wasp ARG - 24th MEU (SOC) is a Team of Teams, there is a constellation of training organizations that support the development of integrated naval warfighting teams. After the WSP ARG - 24th MEU (SOC) team finished COMPTUEX recently, the ships across the ARG completed a Live Fire With a Purpose (LFWAP) missile exercise to sharpen their warfighting edge. Check out the article here: https://lnkd.in/dgEFCEhx Since early 2016, Naval Surface and Mine Warfighting Development Center (SMWDC) has led a revamped missile exercise program across all Commander Naval Surface Force Atlantic and U.S. Naval Surface Force ships. While not a CSG-4 or CSG-15 mission set, these LFWAP exercises are just one of the many training events throughout a workup cycle that support stronger, more capable integrated naval warfighting teams.

The Navy recently awarded contracts for two additional Constellation class frigates at a time when both GAO and the Secretary of the Navy have identified serious issues facing the program. The Navy began the program optimistic that it could achieve better outcomes than previous ship classes, but as we discuss in our report, the program’s construction has since stalled due to a variety of problems. For example, we found that the Navy used an existing, “parent” design that had been demonstrated at sea. However, the Navy’s extensive changes to that design have cause the two to now resemble nothing more than distant cousins. Additionally, the Navy used flawed metrics and review practices that failed to reveal how far behind the ship’s design was from its expected schedule. Without accurate data, the Secretary of the Navy authorized the ship to start construction before the design was complete. Nonetheless, the Navy continues to purchase frigates at the same pace and rate as it forecasted 2 years ago—a pace set prior to discovering a 3-year delay in the lead ship and now unknown delivery dates for the follow-on ships. We provided several recommendations to the Navy to help the program get back on track. Check out the full report: https://lnkd.in/eSsKdQJg