STX France DEFENDSEAS corvette concept

[Triton]

STX France unveils a new corvette concept on the occasion of Euronaval 2014.

Source:
http://www.stxfrance.com/UK/stxfrance-actualite-32-DEFENDSEASInnovative%20corvette%20concept.awp

Key event of the experts in naval defense, maritime safety and security, Euronaval exhibition, which takes places this week in France, is the perfect occasion for STX France to unveil its new corvette concept. Called DEFENDSEAS, this concept arises from a R&D program launched in 2013. The ship integrates a large number of the “technological bricks” developed by the STX France into a highly compact and optimized architecture which provides the best operational capability for this type of vessel. Key element of the design, the helicopter hangar installed at the lower level is served by a lifting platform and is enclosed into a 500 m² large storage area located aft which can be tuned to various missions. This space is able to store heavy RIB commando crafts, 20 ft containers, and light army vehicles. RIB launching is ensured by the aft ramp or through two side doors. A unique overhead traveling crane can launch the RIBs as a davit and load containers directly from a harbor dock. The superstructure is crowned by a panoramic bridge with an aviation control center, and shelters the operational rooms and living quarters, and an unmanned aircraft. Finally DEFENDSEAS is designed to integrate a large weapons and sensor suite which gives it the capability of a true warship.

http://youtu.be/c8rRl8ThK8o

 

[Triton]

http://defesa.forums-free.com/euronaval-2014-t560s20.html

 

[Triton]

Artist's impressions of STX France DEFENDSEAS corvette concept.

 

[Moose]

They can't be serious with those hangar doors.

 

[TomS]

Lurssen had a similar arrangement in their FPB 62 patrol boats for UAE and Bahrain. I'd guess that's the same basic target audience.

 

[Triton]

Pleased to see some discussion in the Naval Projects board. Sometimes I feel as though I am monologuing by posting these concepts on display at Euronaval.

 

[ouroboros]

Isn't the old yarn that a movable hangar roof is a source of leaks still true? Short of a capping plug vertical elevator and deck surface socket, it seems hard to avoid the leak arguement. But, considering the side doors into the large internal bay/hangar would be more susceptible to leakage from wave action, I guess the elevator roof leaking is peanuts...

 

[H_K]

When I first saw this concept I too was scratching my head, but now I'm starting to come around...

First nice feature is the high flight deck (one deck higher than normal). This echoes the trend from LPDs to LHDs and is consistent with the fact that modern designs are becoming more volume limited rather than weight limited. (In particular, top weight is less relevant with modern multifunction radars and active guided SAMs).

Second nice feature is the economy of aviation movements. The somewhat complex hangar mechanism eliminates the need for a deck rails and should improve the helo's response time and all-weather capability. All in all not a bad tradeoff.

Third, the larger aviation platform should allow for simultaneous UAV and help ops.

 

[cluttonfred]

It's an interesting concept, to be sure. I was a little surprised to see the twin 20mm cannon aft that would seem to cover only the aft 200 degree or so arc rather than a proper CIWS. If the 20mm are there to engage light craft, then you should have 360 degee coverage, and for CIWS use they would need more that just that aft arc. I was also surprised by the choice of a large hangar deck with relatively little space available for special missions and only large RIB type boats. I wonder if this design suffers a little bit from trying to be all things to all people, being so multipurpose that it's not especially good at anything.