Steller Systems has unveiled its groundbreaking Fearless-class design, a revolutionary answer to the U.K.’s requirements for a Multi-Role Support Ship (MRSS). The 170-meter-long ship, with its mission space and equipment, can be likened to a cross-over between a frigate and an LPD.
The mission space, a testament to the ship’s adaptability, includes a stern hangar for the deployment of amphibious vehicles, USVs, XLUUVs, and boats of up to 20 m in length. Naval sub-platforms can also be deployed from side bays.
The armament includes vertical launch systems for self-defence and two naval guns for short-range surface-to-surface engagements.
The ship’s propulsion will consist of an electric drive for shafts (Points out to IEP propulsion present on Type 45 destroyers of the Royal Navy) with contra-rotating propellers to provide a top speed of 30 knots and a range of 7000 nm.
A naval platform capable of carrying various unmanned vehicles can be configured for missions like patrol, ASW, ASuW, ISR, and mine countermeasures. Unmanned systems’ highly modular payloads further reinforce this advantage. The addition of deployment platforms can be regarded as a partial force projection capability.
Portugal and the Netherlands are following similar examples for the future. Portugal has signed a contract with Damen for the Multi-Functional Naval Platform, which features a large internal volume of UAVs, USVs, and UUVs. The Netherlands is taking a similar approach to the U.K. with its plans for a multi-purpose ship to replace OPVs and LPDs.
Steller Systems Reveals Multi-Role Support Ship Concept
