Navigating the Waves of Innovation: The Rise of Modular Vessel Designs in Naval Operations
Faced with the challenge of matching limited budgets to an expanding number of warfighting and maritime security missions, naval forces worldwide are showing an increased interest in the acquisition of modular vessel designs that promote rapid reconfiguration and role change.
This trend is an acknowledgement of two factors: first, that navies are being asked to do more with less, and so must think innovatively about how they achieve an affordable balance across all defence lines (procurement, operations, crewing, training, logistics, maintenance etc). Second, in an era of rapid technological change – the proliferation of maritime autonomous systems being one case in point – there is a desire to move away from legacy design approaches that ‘lock-in’ systems and inflate the time and costs associated with technology insertions/capability upgrades.
Reflecting this accent on greater flexibility and inherent adaptability, a number of shipbuilders now advertise warship designs claimed to be intrinsically modular and adaptable. Similarly, many original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) have now started to promote containerised system/sensor fits to enable rapid role reconfiguration.
Benefits, ways and means
Proponents of modularity highlight a number of tangible benefits. These include an intrinsic adaptability to respond to changing threats, new operational environments, and advances in technology; the ability to decouple the upkeep cycles of payload modules from those of the host platform; the option to re-use or reprioritise equipment modules elsewhere according to need; and greater scope to achieve high levels of interoperability and/or interchangeability between allied navies. Furthermore, the ability to switch modules extends the service life of the vessel, so ‘futureproofing’ the investment and maintaining operational relevance of the platform over the long term.
However, delivering modularity at an operational level is by no means straightforward. Experience to date has demonstrated that the advantages of a modular approach may be diluted or compromised unless careful attention is paid to ship architectures, payload interfaces, system interconnectivity, crewing regimes, and configuration management.
“You need software, and a digital backbone, to be able to integrate modules on board and to communicate with vessel systems.”
“The modular approach requires much more than just lifting containers on and off a ship, explains Danny Ingemann, chief executive officer of CUBEDIN A/S. “Modular warships represent a flexible and cost-effective solution, but realising the full benefits of this approach requires a mindset change with regard to systems engineering, payload integration and naval architecture. Containers by themselves are not a solution.
“And it is more than physical hardware. You need software, and a digital backbone, to be able to integrate modules on board and to communicate with vessel systems.”
In a nutshell, taking the modular warship from concept to reality represents a paradigm shift for shipbuilders, equipment manufacturers and naval operators alike – and by necessity demands a new and very different approach to design, engineering, integration and life cycle support.
“This is a different philosophy,” explains Danny. “The key is to build in modularity from the outset, and to fully understand the dependencies and impacts of payload integration according to both the platform and the mission.
“It is a different engineering model that changes the boundaries of the total design because you must think about the logistics, space, handling and so on. This requires a transversal view across both hardware and software.”
New beginnings - a gap in the market
This is where CUBEDIN enters the picture. Formed in 2022 as a joint venture between Odense Maritime Technology (OMT) and Systematic A/S, the company is bringing expertise and skillsets designed to help manufacturers and users alike to derive the maximum benefit from their investment. This means enabling and optimising the construction, operation and support of interchangeable, adaptable ships to be easily reconfigured to suit any mission.
OMT – which traces its roots back to A.P. Moller - Maersk and Odense Shipyard – is the ship design group responsible for the Royal Danish Navy’s Absalon-class and Iver Huitfeldt-class frigates. “Both classes were designed to accommodate and integrate Standard Flex payload modules,” Danny points out. “So OMT already has extensive experience of bringing modularity into the warship design process.”
What OMT recognised was the need for a software solution to realise the modular concept through the functional integration of platform and payloads. For this it turned to Systematic, the Danish IT and systems house best known for its SitaWare suite of command and control applications.
According to Danny, it is by combining the two partners’ respective strengths in physical and functional integration that CUBEDIN is able to develop and deliver the flexible open architecture necessary to address a complex ‘system of systems’ challenge. “We are providing the gateways and the hardware/software infrastructure that allows modular payloads to interconnect and interact with ship systems,” he says. “This standardised architecture is what enables role-fit integration and rapid interchangeability.”
How to reap the rewards
So who stands to gain from CUBEDIN’s products and services? “Our view is that our design knowledge and integration solutions have relevance across the enterprise,” says Danny. “At the earliest stage we can work with classification societies to embed their rules into the integration solution, and advise shipbuilders on how the CUBEDIN interfaces and positions are best implemented in the ship design process.
“For system integrators and equipment OEMs, we have designed CUBEDIN software to supplement CMS [combat management system] and IPMS [integrated platform management system] software This is done by using a standard software gateway – we effectively become a driver to ‘translate’ communications between payload modules and ship systems.”
Software functionality also supports module handling, ship configuration management, and payload heath monitoring. Danny explains: “This is another way of adding value to the customer. The ship may be tasked for a certain mission, so our software helps the user to plan the equipment to be embarked, and pre-configure the module fit on board.
“That means ensuring that the right ship services are available to support the module, and understanding the specific demands or constraints of the physical interface – for example, a missile system must be open to air, while a towed array sonar needs access to deploy over the stern.
“You also need to understand impacts on the platform. So here the CUDEDIN configurator software provides advice on weight and stability margins.”
Right now, Danny believes CUBEDIN is uniquely positioned in the market. “On the one side, we bring that competence and experience in modular ship design. On the other, we can apply our expertise in software and systems to enable real adaptability.
“At the same time, we are deliberately agnostic in our approach to equipment providers and packaging vendors, which means we can meet the individual needs of our customers.
“Ultimately, our mission and our vision is to enable navies to reap the benefits of modularity.”