7 Revolutionary Ideas the British Navy Wants to Use in Its New Ships
Last updated 09:18 PM EDT • Read time: 2m
Normally, “revolution” is not a thing Americans would associate with Britain’s Royal Navy, at least not in a good way. It’s a good thing the U.S.-UK relationship has evolved over the centuries. There’s no doubt, when it comes to owning the high seas, few have historically fared better than the English. Their history of ingenuity, bravery, and progressive thinking is what gives them an edge in protecting the UK’s interests and projecting their naval superiority.
From the Ship of the Line to the Dreadnought battleship, the British have been advancing the art of naval warfare for centuries. 2015 was no different. This past summer, the Combat Systems Team at BMT Defence Systems unveiled Dreadnought 2050, a multifunctional stealth submersible design that maximizes naval effectiveness while mitigating risks to British sailors. Here are seven new ideas the BMT team are bringing to the high seas.
1. The “Moon Pool”
A floodable pool area the ship can use to deploy Marines, divers, drones, or other special operations.
2. Drone Launcher
A flight deck and hangar used to remotely launch drones, all of which could be 3D printed on board the ship.
3. Quad-Copter
A hovering device to give the ship a 360-degree view of the battlespace around the ship, complete with electromagnetic sensors to detect enemy ships. The quad-copter itself could be armed for fights in close quarters around the ship.
4. “Smart Windows”
An acrylic hull, coated in graphene that could turned semitransparent by applying an electric current.
5. Stealth Propulsion
Highly efficient turbines would drive electric motors on what would be the first surface ship to have parts of its structure below the water line, making it difficult to detect.
6. Holographic Command Center
A holographic command table will offer a 3D rendering of the battlespace in real time.
7. Next-Level Naval Weapons
Hyper-sonic missile systems, rocket-propelled torpedoes, and an electromagnetic rail gun round out a definitive “don’t f*ck with me” message to the enemies of Great Britain.
This article originally appeared at We Are the Mighty.
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