events







Conference Papers

RUSI-DEM SubTech 08 Underwater Warfare Conference

08:00, 14 - 15 Jan 2008
RUSI, Whitehall, London, SW1A 2ET
Link to map: multimap

The UK’s recent decisions to renew its independent strategic nuclear deterrent, through initiating the concept and assessment phase for a new generation of ballistic missile armed- nuclear-powered submarines (SSBNs), and the order of the fourth boat in the ASTUTE-class of nuclear-powered attack submarines (SSNs) generated the need to consider the capability, technology and industrial infrastructure issues relating not only to the UK’s programme, but also the programmes of many nations investing in submarine programmes.

The RUSI-DEM Submarine Technology – or SUBTECH – event, which took place in January 2008, served as an important forum for the international submarine community to come together to discuss issues ranging from why you need submarines, to what you want to do with them, to what capability you want them to have, to how you deliver that capability on time and on budget.

With considerable input from the Submarine Services of the UK, the United States, France, Germany, South Africa and Sweden, from the major players in the international submarine industrial base, and from academe, the 150 participants (drawn themselves from many different navies and countries and, in the UK’s case, from the Royal Navy, Ministry of Defence, other Government departments, Parliament, industry, the media and academe) were treated to an array of presentations, and focused discussion of a wide range of issues.

Please find below all of the papers which were made available to RUSI for release. Please note that some speakers did not provide slides or texts. Some key themes which emerged from the conference are summarized, in the context of wider debates, in Dr Lee Willett’s paper.

The issues raised at the conference require further discussion. As a result, RUSI is looking to undertake further work on this subject:

• RUSI is in the preparatory phases of a written report on the UK’s SSN debate, looking at why SSNs may or may not be needed, what they deliver in support of UK defence policy, what questions have been raised about their roles and utility, and the balance between operational requirements, affordability and force generation

• RUSI is considering options for a follow-up conference at some stage in 2009.

To discuss these or other issues of RUSI’s work on the UK and international submarine debates, please contact:

Dr Lee Willett Head, Maritime Studies Programme RUSI Tel: +44 20 7747 2611 Email: dr.leewillett@rusi.org

Presentations

  1. Rear Admiral Andrew Matthews CB DGSM – ‘Showing the US the way?’ (click here for speaking notes)
  2. Captain Dickie Baum RN – ‘The Importance of the Underwater Environment’  (click here for video)
  3. Rear Admiral Mark W. Kenny USN – ‘Defeating Counter-Terrorism Threats Ashore, from Under the Sea’
  4. Captain Rick Nicklas USN – ‘US Submarine Acquisition: Enabling Effect in the Underwater Battlespace’
  5. Captain Andre de Wet South African Navy
  6. Commander Delorme FN 
  7. Andrew Davies, ASPI – ‘Keeping up with the Neighbours: Submarine Fleets in the Asia-Pacific and Australia’s Response’ 
  8. Commander Jonas Haggren Royal Swedish Navy 
  9. Captain Siegfried Schneider German Navy 
  10. Commodore John Gower OBE MNI RN – No Powerpoint Presentation.
  11. Philip Cooper, QinetiQ – ‘Achieving Value in the Underwater Research Investment’
  12. Chris Trout, BMT – ‘SMEs – the Engine of Innovation’ 
  13. Dr Norman Friedman – ‘From Lone Wolves to the Centre of the Net: Transforming the Role of Submarines in the Underwater Battlespace’ – No Powerpoint Presentation.
  14. Rear Admiral John B. Padgett III USN (Ret’d) – ‘Using Submarine Attributes, Current and Future, to Enable Future Payloads’ 
  15. Dr Paul Gosling, Thales Naval UK – ‘Industrial Capabilities and COTS Opportunities in Mine Counter Measures, Underwater Unmanned Vehicles and Open System Architectures’ 
  16. Mr E. Grant Corcoran, Lockheed Martin – ‘Cost Effective Provision of Capability through COTS/OA’
  17. Dr Dennis Gilbert, Babcock Marine 
  18. Murray Easton CBE,  BAE Systems 
  19. Steve Ludlam, Rolls-Royce
  20. Dr. Lee Willett - Submarines in British Defence Policy: Making the Case?