BAE Systems participates in Qatar's DIMDEX 2008

Covering the Middle East and North Africa regions, DIMDEX is the first dedicated maritime defence exhibition and conference for the MENA region and runs from 17th to 19th March 2008.

Held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thani, Emir of the State of Qatar and His Highness Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani, Heir Apparent of the State of Qatar, DIMDEX is hosted by the Qatari Ministry of Defence and represented by the Commander of the Qatar Emiri Naval Forces (QENF), and is set to become a highly important event on the Qatar MICE calendar.

BAE Systems will be focusing on the future at DIMDEX, detailing its future concept warship designed to operate in a future battle space which will be dominated by land, sea and air unmanned vehicles.

The UXV concept ship operates as a mother ship and uses a proven naval hull form which is capable of launching, operating and recovering large numbers of small unmanned vehicles at a given time for extended periods.

The platform will provide a permanent base and control centre for the futuristic unmanned land, sea and air vehicles before, during and on completion of their missions.

The 8000-tonne vessel, an evolution of the multi-role warship, is not expected to enter service until post 2020.

The design provides a cost-effective solution to the evolving challenges facing the modern navy. Features will include:

• Flexible and efficient twin flight decks
• Variable ski jump
• Below-deck hangar
• Rotary aviation facilities
• Smart munitions

The weapons are a future development of the Type 45 combat suite. With the UXV support capability, performing multiple roles combined with an easily adaptable design, which moves the concept of stealth to the next level.

As a concept warship, propulsion options could include fully integrated electrical propulsion with twin propeller shafts/motors supplied by gas turbine and diesel alternators. Alternatively, cruising power can be supplied by two shafts/motors and diesel alternators with boost power from one gas turbine driving two water jets.

The concept brings together naval technologies developed through collaboration with partners such as Rolls Royce and across BAE Systems business units, as part of a programme of continuous improvement.