CUVX Design Report - the AOE home page - Virginia Tech

CUVX Design – VT Team 2 Page 94• Design a system that automates the hook-up of the aircraft to the EMALS. A possibility for this would be atrack starting inside the hangar deck where the aircraft could be hooked up to and then towed out into place onthe launch deck. This would eliminate the need for men on the launch deck.• Design a retractable cover on the recovery deck for Aircraft Elevator 1 and 3. This cover will allow recoveryoperations to continue in the event of an elevator malfunction.• Consider a third EMALS catapult located on the forward end of the recovery deck. This catapult could be usedif the other two catapults fail; the blast deflector door is stuck in the closed position; or just to launch planesmore rapidly. More investigation of the cost and benefit from a third catapult is required.• Investigate the use of Electro-Magnetic Aircraft Recovery.• Consider dynamic roll stabilizers to allow flight operations in Sea State 4 and possibly Sea State 5.5.3 ConclusionThe CUVX requirement is based on a CUVX Mission Need Statement and Acquisition Decision Memorandum(ADM). CUVX will operate in littoral areas, close-in, depend on stealth, with high endurance and low manning (foran aircraft carrier). It is required to support UCAV’s, UAV’s and LAMPS, providing for takeoff and landing,fueling, maintenance, weapons load-out, planning and control. The UAV’s will provide surface, subsurface, shore,and deep inland intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance (ISR) and electronic warfare. LAMPS will provide Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) and Anti-Surface Ship Warfare (ASUW) defense. UCAV’S will provide initial/earlyconflict Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses (SEAD), ISR and Strike.Concept Exploration trade-off studies and design space exploration are accomplished using a Multi-ObjectiveGenetic Optimization (MOGO) after significant technology research and definition. Objective attributes for thisoptimization are cost (lead ship acquisition cost and mean follow ship acquisition cost, performed separately), risk(technology, cost, schedule and performance) and military effectiveness. The product of this optimization is a seriesof cost-risk-effectiveness frontiers which are used to select the CUVX HI3 Baseline Concept Design and defineOperational Requirements (ORD1) based on the customer’s preference for cost, risk and effectiveness in thisbaseline.CUVX HI3 is the highest-end alternative on the follow-ship acquisition cost frontier. This design was chosen toprovide a challenging design project using higher risk technology. CUVX HI3 has a wave-piercing tumblehome(WPTH) hullform to reduce radar cross section, and a unique launch deck arrangement to enable simultaneouslaunch and recovery of UCAVs. It uses significant automation technology including an electromagnetic aircraftlaunching system (EMALS) with pulse power from the integrated power system (IPS) propulsion bus, autonomousspotting dollies, and automated pit stops. Concept Development included hull form development and analysis forintact and damage stability, structural finite element analysis, IPS system development and arrangement, aviationsystem analysis and arrangement, general arrangements, combat system selection, seakeeping analysis, cost andproducibility analysis and risk analysis. The final concept design satisfies critical operational requirements withincost and risk constraints with additional work required to improve seakeeping and further reduce manning andcost.CUVX-HI3 meets or exceeds the requirements for this design.The WPTH design reduces resistance and vertical motion in waves and reduces RCS. The Advanced DoubleHull provides the ship with a high level of damage protection in the mid body around magazines and machineryspaces. The ADH also provides tankage for the ships fuel, oil, waste, and aircraft fuel in a producible design. Itincreases the ships structural strength to under hull explosion. The propulsion system includes five medium-speedColt-Pielstic diesel engines, proven and Navy shock qualified. These engines supply power to an Integrated PowerSystem which is used for propulsion and all other ship electrical needs including pulse power for the EMALS.Hangar space is sufficient to house, repair, and safely operate the required 28 UCAVs, 18 UAVs, and 4 LAMPS.Separate Launch and Recovery decks are provided for the ship to perform simultaneous takeoff and landingoperations. Two EMALS integrated into the launch deck have sufficient power to launch the UAVs and UCAVs.The pilot house is located in the bow of the ship on the deck below the launch deck. This location allows anunobstructed view around the forward end of the ship while opening up valuable space on the recovery deck foraircraft operations. A low-RCS Advanced Enclosed Mast System is the only structure on the recovery deck. It islocated at the forward starboard end of the deck and houses all the radar masts, aircraft recovery operationsfacilities, and aircraft recovery support equipment.CUVX-HI3 is a unique and capable design that should be considered as lead/test ship for a revolutionaryCUVX class of ships.