Options for Reducing Costs in the United Kingdom's Future Aircraft Carrier Programme.

by Schank, John F.

• ISBN13: 9780833036674
• ISBN10: 083303667X
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 1995-06-21
• Publisher: RAND Corporation

Summary

"In 2012 and 2015, respectively, the United Kingdom's Ministry of Defence (MOD) will replace its three Invincible-class aircraft carriers with two future Aircraft Carriers (CVFs), the largest ships ever constructed for the Royal Navy. In preparation for this project, the MOD asked the RAND Corporation to look at the economic implications, schedule impact, the technical risks of adopting new technologies and alternative manufacturing options. The research described in this book, based on the design and manning data available at the time, focuses on possible reductions in whole-life costs - based on figures from various cost analysis models - the researchers suggest options such as using construction practices from the commercial shipbuilding industry plus commercial systems and equipment in place of military standard equipment wherever there is no adverse impact on operations or safety. Regarding personnel cost savings and complement-reducing initiatives, the researchers look towards the practices of private-sector shipbuilding companies and of navies around the globe. Based on this analysis, they recommend, for example, promoting a cross-trained workforce with broad skills and using civilians to augment the ship's crew for nonwarfare responsibilities. Options for reducing the complement examine the trade-offs of increased up-front investments in technology with the corresponding manpower reductions. As the CVF Integrated Project Team continues to explore its many options, the researchers remain optimistic that, given several factors indicated, the CVF's targets can be reached."--BOOK JACKET.

Table of Contents

Preface	iii
Figures	xi
Tables	xiii
Summary	xv
Acknowledgements	xxiii
Abbreviations	xxv
Introduction	1	(6)
Cost Analysis Tools	7	(16)
Whole-Life Cost Model for Cost-Benefit Analysis	8	(6)
Approach	8	(4)
Cost-Benefit Analysis Example	12	(1)
Summary	13	(1)
Calculating Cost per Day of Carrier Operations	14	(1)
Comparing Acquisition Costs with Annual Operating Costs	15	(2)
Comparing Acquisition Costs with Annual Personnel Costs	17	(6)
Trade-Offs Within the Complement	18	(1)
Other Issues Affecting Complement Cost	19	(4)
Acquisition Cost Savings	23	(14)
Reducing Construction Labour Costs	23	(6)
Increasing the Level of Advanced Outfitting at the Block Construction Shipyards	24	(2)
Setting the Construction Start for CVF-2	26	(3)
Reducing Construction Material Costs	29	(3)
Centralised Material Procurement	29	(1)
Use of Commercial Systems and Equipment	30	(2)
Other Possible Ways of Reducing Acquisition Costs	32	(5)
Summary	34	(3)
Minimising Annual Support Costs	37	(18)
Maintenance of CVS Carriers	37	(3)
Maintenance of CVFs	40	(2)
Cost Drivers	42	(2)
Cruise-Ship Insights	44	(7)
Sewage	44	(1)
Freshwater	45	(1)
Trash	46	(2)
Heating and Ventilating Systems	48	(2)
Joinerwork and Furnishings	50	(1)
Summary	50	(1)
Paint Issues	51	(4)
Summary	54	(1)
Contractor Logistics Support	55	(14)
Current CLS Arrangements	56	(3)
C-21A Aircraft	56	(2)
Survey Vessels	58	(1)
Offshore Patrol Vessels	58	(1)
Implications for the CVF	59	(7)
Applicability of the CLS Concept to the CVF	59	(4)
Contractual and Other Issues in Planning Maintenance	63	(3)
Summary	66	(3)
Estimating the CVF Complement	69	(28)
Is Thales UK's CVF Complement Estimate Optimistic?	70	(3)
Other Considerations in Reducing the CVF Complement	73	(1)
Comparing Complementing Practices	74	(6)
US Navy	74	(1)
Royal Navy	75	(4)
Thales UK	79	(1)
How Complementing Systems Vary	80	(4)
Towards More-Effective Complementing	84	(9)
Identifying High-Value Manpower Reduction Targets	85	(1)
Other Factors Influencing Manpower	86	(7)
Summary	93	(4)
Complement-Reducing Initiatives on Other Platforms	97	(28)
Transfer of US Ships to the Military Sealift Command	100	(5)
US Carriers	105	(4)
The US Navy's Smart Ship	109	(2)
The US Navy's Optimal Manning Experiment	111	(2)
LPD-17 and Other Amphibious Ships	113	(4)
The Royal Netherlands Navy	117	(4)
DD(X)	121	(2)
Summary	123	(2)
Identifying and Evaluating Complement-Reduction Options	125	(44)
Damage Control Options	128	(5)
Marine Engineering Options	133	(3)
Medical and Dental Options	136	(1)
Supply Department Options	137	(4)
Warfare Department Options	141	(3)
Deck/Air/Weapons Engineering Departments	144	(2)
Shipwide Options	146	(10)
Synthesis	156	(9)
Reasons for Optimism About Complement Reduction	159	(2)
Challenges Remaining	161	(1)
The Way Forward	162	(3)
Summary	165	(4)
Appendix: Evaluation of Candidate Options, by Department	169	(6)
Bibliography	175