At DSEI 2025, BAE Systems revealed its proposal for the future surface fleet of the Royal Navy, including the possible Type 83 destroyer.
The project envisions a large Air Warfare Command Ship supported by smaller, highly adaptable combatants, all connected through distributed and secure systems. The company also announced the modernization of its combat management system, which will form the foundation of the desired sovereign capability, integrating partners, equipment, and unmanned platforms.
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The concepts presented highlight cutting-edge technology, energy efficiency, manufacturing innovation, and reduced crew. A key feature is the use of artificial intelligence to accelerate ship design, modeling hundreds of hull forms in hours.
The lean-crewing and automation approach aims to increase presence in the battlespace while reducing risks to operators, with the future possibility of full autonomy on some platforms.
Among the models displayed, the Air Warfare Command Ship houses sensors, missiles, guns, and directed energy weapons, acting as a high-value node in a dispersed network. The smaller trimaran serves as a detachable sensor-effector platform, capable of operating drones and autonomous torpedoes.
Together, the concepts illustrate a distributed and flexible fleet, combining powerful command ships with adaptable escorts designed to evolve in the face of new threats and technologies over the coming decades.
Source: UK Defence Journal | Photo: X @BAES_Maritime | This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team
