The UXV Combatant is a concept warship designed by BVT Surface Fleet to serve as a mother ship launching and recovering unmanned aerial, surface, and underwater vehicles. If built, it would displace around 8,000 tons and feature two decks for launching drones and helicopters using electromagnetic catapults. While intended to expand the Royal Navy's capabilities, the UXV Combatant was only a design study and the Ministry of Defence has no plans to procure such a vessel before 2030 due to priorities like acquiring Type 26 frigates.

1. UXV COMBATANT – UK’S CONCEPT
WARSHIP/MOTHER SHIP

2. INTRODUCTION
• The UXV Combatant is a concept warship designed by BVT Surface Fleet (now BAE Systems
Surface Ships), which was displayed at the Defence Security and Equipment International
(DSEi) in 2007.
• If built it would be expected to displace approximately 8,000 tonnes and "launch, operate
and recover large numbers of small unmanned vehicles for extended periods, the UXV
plays the role of mother ship - a permanent base and control centre for the futuristic
unmanned land, sea and air vehicles before, during and on completion of their missions".
• If approved, it would be expected to enter service with the Royal Navy some time after
2020.

4. DESIGN
• It is expected the UXV Combatant will feature two decks for launching unmanned aircraft, V/STOL
(Vertical/Short Take-off and Landing) aircraft, and helicopters; arrayed in a "V" shape.
• Each deck would be approximately 164 feet (50 m) in length.
• To launch drones/ V/STOL craft, the UXV could be expected to use electromagnetic catapults, and ramps
(ramps are currently used on many aircraft carriers around the world).
• The UXV is also reported to be capable of launching unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs) from a port on
its underside and, in addition, will be able to deploy amphibious troops, just as many destroyers today.
• To provide covering fire for amphibious operations, each UXV will possibly be equipped with a 155 mm
cannon (planned as an upgrade from the current 4.5 inch Mark 8 mod 1 gun).

6. FUTURE
• The UXV Combatant is unlikely to have any place in the near future of the Royal Navy.
• As of December 2012, nothing has been released regarding the UXV, with the only real
news regarding the vessel appearing in 2007.
• The UXV appeared to be nothing more than a design study conducted by BAE to try and
expand on the declining orders of the Type 45 Destroyer by the Royal Navy at the time.
• The Ministry of Defence has no plans of procuring any vessel of this type in the near
future based on their recent "Defence Spending Planning Rounds" which have
concluded that no plans will develop to adopt a vessel of this kind before 2030 at the
earliest, where current plans are to procure as many Type 26 frigates as possible and
replace the minesweeper fleet.

8. SPECIFICATIONS
• Type: Multirole ship
• Displacement: approx. 8,000 long tons (8,128 t)
• Length: 500 ft (152.4 m)
• Beam:70 ft (21 m)
• Speed: 27 knots (50 km/h; 31 mph)
• Complement: 60 (not including UVX support crew)

10. REFERENCES
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Uxv_combatant.JPG
• http://www.informationdissemination.net/2007/09/mothership-design-for-royal-navy.html
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UXV_Combatant
• http://www.popsci.com/sites/popsci.com/files/styles/article_image_large/public/images/2008/02/wars
hipmain.jpg?itok=p63yIzQz

11. THANK YOU