Designing Adaptable Ships: Modularity and Flexibility in Future Ship Designs

Abstract

In the face of challenges to acquire and support the numbers and types of ships needed to meet national security requirements in an environment of rapid change and shrinking defense budgets, this report explores the U.S. Navys options for extending the service lives of operational ships by adopting the concepts ofmodularity and flexibility in ship design. These concepts can help to mitigate the risks of uncertain future missions and technologies to which ships will need to adapt, as well as potentially reduce modernization costs and/or initial cost. The report examines the concepts of modularity and flexibility, technological trends, the current geopolitical context, and lessons from past incorporation of new missions and technologies into naval ships. It also provides a roadmap for future U.S. Navy modularity and flexibility efforts.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jan 01, 2016
Accession Number
AD1004552

Entities

People

  • Brian Perkinson
  • James Mcgee
  • Jerry M. Sollinger
  • John F. Schank
  • Ken Munson
  • Scott Savitz

Organizations

  • RAND Corporation

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Ground and Sea Platforms

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Boats
  • Guided Missile Ships
  • Marine Transportation
  • Naval Operations
  • Naval Warfare
  • Navy
  • Unmanned Aerial Vehicles

Fields of Study

  • Computer science

Readers

  • Maritime Combat Support and Expeditionary Logistics.
  • Naval Engineering and Maritime Security
  • Strategic Security Studies