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The American shipbuilding company General Dynamics NASSCO presented the concept of an ESB-class expeditionary support ship (Expeditionary Sea Base) developed for the needs of the US Navy. Ships of this type are designed to support combat operations of the US Armed Forces in low-intensity conflicts and represent an actual military base with all the necessary infrastructure. These vessels significantly reduce dependence on foreign ports and provide support in the absence of free harbors in long-range military campaigns.
General Dynamics NASSCO has developed several major modifications for its line of expeditionary naval bases (ESB) to meet the new requirements of the US Navy and Marine Corps, writes the American online edition of military-related Naval News. The company describes the ship modification potential as unlimited. In the future, floating bases can be used for basing and controlling unmanned aerial and naval vehicles for military purposes of the US Navy.
Jim Strok, an independent consultant working with NASSCO on ESB, explained the principles that the company's developers used to adapt the concepts and capabilities of the new vessel to the future requirements of naval operations:
New modifications of the ESB vessel include an aft flight deck for unmanned aerial vehicles, additional repair facilities and the possibility of resupply at sea with the help of other vessels. The two most notable and comprehensive modifications of the ESB are the plans to install a compartment for unmanned underwater vehicles (UUV) and, apparently, the possibility of taking on board marine aircraft, including the F-35B.
Strok explained that thanks to a specially designed launch system located inside the vessel, the ESB can support various unmanned aerial vehicles, including the ultra-large Orca UAV. To do this, the company's engineers have developed a rotary launch system that can be used to launch drones even in storm conditions.
Extensive ESB controls have been highlighted by the Row as one of the reasons why these vessels can be modified into motherships for various types of drones. So far, the new concept of the expeditionary support ship is not intended for receiving and servicing F-35B fighter-bombers. But the company's engineers are working on solving this problem. According to the presented concept, in the presented modification, ESB can already receive V-22 Ospreys Marine aircraft and CH-53K King Stallions helicopters, and also has the means to fully support them.
