Ron5 wrote:Neither of you know the price for ExLs so I fail to understand why you think it is cheap.
Being the first, and maybe only, ExLs customer will entail extra problems and cost.
The ExLs is not just an empty box.
Every extra penny spent on ExLs over the mushrooms is a penny wasted. Do you really think the MoD has pennies to waste?
I push ExLS, because it is needed to fight against ESSM in export market. Here "it" means, any high-density package not ExLS only.
I agree it may cost up to 100M GBP for introduction cost (design and test), but the cell itself will be 2-3M GBP per 3 cell-unit. (just scaled from Mk.41). It is expensive than mushrooms, yes, but it is not expensive when a customer is ordering 200M GBP corvette or 800M GBP frigate. Flexibility in design of high-density package will easily save this "2-3M GBP" in such ships.
In T31e, this is not the case, I agree. We do not have money to buy 12 CAMM itself. The "2-3M GBP for cell" is critical, and "up to 100M GBP for introduction" is killing.
But, this is not related to the importance of "high-density package".
A: ESSM is becoming active radar homing very soon.
B: It's block-II missile gets larger and hence more powerful.
C: Still, SeaMICA is a standard SAM for corvettes.
To fight all these rivals, I think "a ExLS-like" high-density package is must.
Right now I think the most likely outcome is a single source contract to Cammell Laird to build Leanders. I expect contract talks will start around the end of the year. I don't think that would be the worst outcome. Babcock's is profitable on it's current workload, it won't go bankrupt.
Agreed.
Ron5 wrote:I wonder how many systems can be used like Phalanx with a pool of kit held in a warehouse and just fitted when needed for a deployment. In other words, just 2 or 3 systems can be bought for a fleet of five ships thus lowering the average ship cost.
How about:
I think, we must be careful not to mix a "stand-alone" system and "something which is a part of the larger system".
- Phalanx (stand-alone, including a console in CIC) -- will need pre-wiring, good foot print (20mm gatling is not "light"), and a space reserved for the console in the CIC. --> relatively easy as FTR. If you want to connect it to the CMS for full-automatic organized reaction paired with CAMM, need additional modification (software) on CMS.
- STDS (composed of decoy-launcher on superstructure, towed-array astern, and 1 or 2 console(s) in CIC). Surely need pre-wiring, but may not need to be connected to the CMS. I guess it is relatively independent, as much as Phalanx. --> FTR is doable.
- Towed array -- sonar is just part of the system, and the whole CMS needs upgrade including the huge ASW software tool kits. Also, need network access for "multi-static ASW" tactics. Both requires good analysis power, so the CPU of the CMS may need upgrade. --> Cannot be thought as an easy addition. It is doable, but costy, but I personally think worth doing (although not enough money now).
- 30mm pop guns --- easy. Just need footprint. (so-so solid, 30mm gun is not "light").
- Container ASMs --- similar to Phalanx connected to CMS, or STDS. Need pre-wiring, need CMS software update, but not analysis power intensive = easy.
- Boats --- easy.
- [add] Wildcat
- [add] UAV