The MMPC contract (stage 1) will address the concept definition/specification, feasibility and initial design of the European Patrol Corvette (EPC) project from end-user/initial/high level requirements to the System Requirement Review (SRR).
Over the next two years, the Consortium will work on the preparation and definition phase and in particular on methods, rules, standards and smart interfaces, solutions for enhanced operational capabilities, improved platform systems and architecture, enhanced automated ship management, ship conceptual/feasibility studies and ship initial design.
All the activities related to the stage 1 are aimed at the subsequent development/production phases of the EPC vessels and are broken down into nine Work Packages (WP), one dedicated to programme management, seven technical WPs and one related to exploitation.
The project foresees a multipurpose “Second line ship” (according to NATO nomenclature: Limited Warship Unit) based on a mono-hull concept, which will have the capacity to support and accommodate different weapon systems and the various payload compatible with a variety of assigned missions. Two versions are defined:
- Full Combat Multipurpose (FCM) version, equipped with a variety of systems envisaged to ensure adequate self-defence in all warfare areas and capable of acquiring certain additional capabilities using agile modular configurations through the use of a versatile space reserved for this purpose (multi-mission bay);
- Long Range Multipurpose (LRM) version, with an extended endurance equipped with a variety of systems envisaged to ensure an adequate self-defence in selected warfare areas and capable of acquiring certain capabilities using agile modular configurations through the use of a versatile space reserved for this purpose (multi-mission bay).
The work is broken down into nine (9) Work Packages (WP), one (1) dedicated to programme management, seven (7) technical WP and one (1) related to exploitation:
- WP1 is exclusively dedicated to the coordination and the management of the project (General management and coordination of the action);
- WP2 defines sets of new common engineering and construction methods, rules, standards, and more universal interfaces (Methods, Rules, Standards and smart Interfaces);
- WP3 aims at working on enhancing the operational capabilities through innovative systems such as the regular use of UxV in operations (Solutions for enhanced operational capabilities);
- WP4 maximises the platform and architecture performance in terms of energy saving and operational capabilities by optimising the propulsion system, the hydrodynamic performances of the vessel and related systems and equipment (e.g. HVAC, electrical power plant) (Improved platform systems and architecture);
- WP5 improves the ship’s control and supervision (damage prevention and control, data security, big data management) and optimisation of the automated ship data management (Enhanced automated ship management);
- WP6 evaluates the appropriate trade-off, study the ship concepts and the associated feasibility (Ship conceptual and feasibility studies);
- WP7 addresses the design activities for the reference vessel and its national specificities (Ship initial design);
- WP8 proposes guidelines for the evaluation of innovative design and developments. The developments will be overseen by a whole warship design authority and assessed by the class societies (Guidelines and evaluation of innovative developments and design). Along the development, the effective implementation of the guidelines will be evaluated and reported;
- WP9 deals with exploitation strategy, dissemination and communication of the MMPC project (Dissemination and exploitation).
The MMPC Project is focus on achieving the following objectives:
- Maintaining a long-term, fruitful and strong cooperation between Nations on MMPC project ensuring the future development of MMPC by maximising common cost-effective solutions, seeking common innovative technical solutions through the development of the technological bricks and aiming to achieve a high level of modularity and flexibility;
- Setting-up and maintaining the first long-term European task force to develop the MMPC (WP1, WP9);
- Defining common methods, rules and standards to allow an efficient cooperation and enhance the communality of the vessel. Improving the modularity and interoperability through the development of common interfaces (WP2);
- Studying and designing the first common MMPC baseline with an evolving naval architecture through model-based system engineering (WP6, WP7);
- Enhancing the operational capabilities through the development of technological bricks (WP3)
- Maximising the performance (including energy saving) by optimising the propulsion, the platform systems and the architecture of the ship (WP4);
- Improving the operation of the ship through smarter ship operating systems, data management and damage control systems (WP5);
- Maintaining a long-term cooperation and ensuring the future development of MMPC by maximising the impact of the project (WP8, WP9).