Naval Topside Design: Learning from the Past, Shaping the Future
Abstract
Just as 21st century Naval warfare is going through a transformation in roles and missions, early results of this change is being seen in the topsides of Naval combatants. The pace of the transformation is driven by modifications and upgrades in the threat, by new technology and by changes in business practices. Increasing demands for additional capability and new technologies are being worked into existing ships of the line. At the same time, some very new forms and materials along with new system architectures are showing up in the blue prints (computer screens) of our future fleet ships. While we design, build and deliver Naval combatants optimized around an aircraft carrier battle group or amphibious ready group foundation, radically different ship concepts, to be utilized in unconventional force deployments are being actively studied. This paper will discuss the state of topside design in the U.S. Navy, the technologies and processes that are keeping our active fleet current, the evolving threat, and our response to it as realized through the topside designs of our next generation Naval combatants. The challenges (technical, organizational, business) we face in crafting the ship topsides of the Navy after next will be discussed.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Feb 26, 2002
- Accession Number
- ADA399982
Entities
People
- John W. Rockway
- Neal K. Stetson
- Neil T. Baron
- Patrick Potter
- William R. Bird
Organizations
- Naval Sea Systems Command