Although this rendering of the planned 70,000-ton (full-load displacement) British Royal Navy aircraft carrier is officially current, BAE Systems informed the Ministry of Defence in July that expected cost for the two ships had risen from $2.8 billion to $6.2 billion and that completion of the first ship would be delayed by two years, to 2014, because of managerial complications created by the selection of a French Thales design to be built by BAE, which had no hand in creating the design. Further, because the ships are to replace the aging Invincible-class light carriers, additional funds probably will have to be spent to refit at least one of those to operate until the first new ship is available. In response to the news, a design for a 40,000-45,000-ton alternative is being prepared, but this would carry only 35 fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters; the larger ships were to carry up to 38 Joint Strike Fighters, 6 Merlin antisubmarine helicopters, and 4 maritime airborne surveillance platforms. The original 70,000-tonners were to have an integrated electric drive propulsion system powered by four Rolls-Royce WR-21 gas turbines and providing about 100,000 shaft horsepower for a top speed of 28 knots. Ship's company would have been about 600, with the command staff and air group bringing the total complement to 2,000.
A German Navy civilian crew will operate the 3,500-ton full-load displacement SWATH (small waterplane area, twin hull) research ship Planet for the Ministry of Defense's weapons research station WTD 71 at Eckernforde and for the Research Institution for Waterborne Sound and Geophysics at Kiel. The new Planet, seen here just after launch on 12 August 2003, will replace a 1967-vintage research ship of the same name when she is delivered next June. The 239.5-footlong by 89.2-foot-beam Planet has two 3,000 ultra-quiet axial-flux permanent magnet electric motors in the lower hulls, with the diesel generators double sound isolation mounted in the upper hull, well above the waterline. A modular fuel cell system will provide emergency electric power. The starboard hull accommodates a submerged 21-inch torpedo tube that will be used to test the new DM2A4 torpedoes intended for the German Navy's four new Type 212A submarines. The new Planet will have a permanent crew of 20 and can accommodate up to 25 scientists and technicians.
The chartered wave-piercing catamaran Swift (HSV-2) was accepted for U.S. Navy service on 15 August 2003 and will be employed to explore further the capabilities of her design, both as an interim mine warfare command and support ship and for the Marine Corps. Expected to arrive in U.S. waters in January, the 319foot-long by 87.3-foot-beam Swift is the 61st of her type built by Tasmania's INCAT. She made 47 knots on trials and, under the terms of her lease, is to be able to maintain 41 knots with a 350-ton cargo load and 38 knots with 700 tons of equipment and passengers. The normal operating crew will be up to 103 Navy personnel, and either 102 portable berths or 250 seats for additional personnel can be installed. The topside hangar forward of the 81-foot by 50-foot flight deck can accommodate two SH-60S helicopters, and there is a mounting position at the extreme bow for a self-defense weapon. Although one purpose for the $100-million lease and operating cost for the Swift is exploration of the wave-piercing catamaran hull form in support of the littoral combat ship (LCS) program, the Office of Naval Research has placed a $69-million contract for a similar U.S.-built craft for this purpose, the "X-Craft," which is to be delivered by February 2005—and none of the three winners in the initial phase of the LCS design competition uses the twin-hull design.