The Politics and DV Engineering working group analyses current political developments in the defence sector. It provides independent facts and interpretation from the technological knowledge and experience of engineers.
The Politics and DV Engineering working group has questions and comments on the proposed midlife update of the Royal Navy's Oceangoing Patrol Vessels (OPVs) (Parliamentary Paper 2020D53256 dated 18 December 2020). The comments were prepared based on publicly available information and defence technology knowledge and experience.
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The Royal Navy's four patrol vessels (Oceangoing Patrol Vessels, OPVs) were commissioned around 2013 with an anticipated service life of 25 years. However, several systems were designed for an operational service life of 10-15 years. To keep OPVs deployable until the end of their service life, in their late thirties, the Secretary of State considers a Midlife Update (MLU) to be necessary.
However, it seems prudent for the working group to investigate whether it would not be better to replace OPVs with state-of-the-art vessels by 2030.
This seems more effective than committing €100-250 million to an MLU for the following reasons:
1. MLU implementation is planned between 2024 and 2034. The update of the operational systems will not be carried out until after 2029, while some of the systems have only been developed for 10 years (until 2023). Moreover, the MLU of the last OPV is only completed in 2034, four years before its end of life scheduled in 2038. This does not seem technically, operationally and financially very effective to the working group.
2. The letter states that the operational capabilities of the OPV will remain the same. However, the Defence Vision 2035 emphasises that the threat picture is becoming more diverse, complex and alarming. Low on the violence spectrum, technological developments have also increased the threat since the OPVs were designed around 2008. Consider, for example, the growing proliferation of commercial drones (both flying and underwater).
3. There are also new technological opportunities for deployment of own unmanned assets in the low end of the violence spectrum. For example, a fast, unmanned and armed vessel that can operate from an OPV. If an MLU is implemented, these capabilities will remain out of reach until after OPVs are replaced.
4. Some sustainability and environmental measures will also be taken during the MLU, according to the A letter. However, no activities are planned to contribute to the energy transition targets planned for 2030.
5. After 10-15 years of operation, OPVs are still an attractive product on the second-hand market for a new owner with slightly lower demands on technological sophistication, innovativeness, etc. Due to the relatively low original new-build costs, the residual value is relatively high.
6. As the working group indicated earlier, short-cycle replacement of naval vessels can be efficient. After all, besides operational added value, replacement gives a substantial additional boost to Dutch industry while the total annual cost need not be higher.
If it is nevertheless decided to implement the MLU, the following questions remain:
1. To what extent can the OPVs, at constant operational capabilities, cope with the increasing threat of underwater drones from, for example, drug smugglers, and armed unmanned aircraft from, for example, terrorists.
2. In what way does the update contribute to the realisation of the energy transition requirements to be realised by 2030?
3. If the replacement platform subsystems are procured off-the-shelf as COTS or MOTS, how will furnishing principle #3 (strong innovative capability) be fulfilled?
4. How will the requirements of the DIS be met for the platform system update? Will this invoke Article 346 TFEU?
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The Hague, 12 January 2021
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Disclaimer: The facts and opinions given are based on open sources and on the knowledge and experience of working group members.
As part of the professional association KIVI, the working group is independent of political parties, governments and companies.
This is not an official position of KIVI. The association accepts no liability for anything put forward by the working group or its members.
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