Engineering consultancy Frazer-Nash is working with the MoD to investigate, develop, and de-risk upgraded and new electrical architectures for the current and next generation of surface ships. The work involves the development of electrical system modelling requirements and analysis of legacy modelling capabilities.
Frazer-Nash will be working on multiple requirement capture and development projects under the MoD’s Maritime Equipment Systems (MES) enabler programme following its selection onto the framework by the Electrical Systems Group in 2011.
The consultancy has successfully delivered two requirement development projects, the first of which de-risks the Power Generation and Machine Control and Surveillance Update (PGMU) for the Type 23 (T23) frigates. This is the first step towards minimising integration risk and reducing the onshore development time needed to upgrade these midlife vessels, which will significantly reduce costs for the MoD.
Following this successful delivery, the consultancy has just been awarded a contract to understand the development possibilities within existing T23 electrical system models, which will help MoD, understand the PGMU development path for their existing electrical system models and capability.
The second project saw Frazer-Nash deliver expert guidance as a ‘customer friend’ on the creation of the power system requirements needed for the development of the new Royal Fleet Auxiliary tanker ships as part of the MoD’s Military Afloat Reach and Sustainability programme before they were released to industry. Frazer-Nash continues to support this project and provides MoD with independent domain expertise for the assessment and suitability of the models, which are being delivered as part of the ship development.
Commenting on the work that Frazer-Nash has done to date, Chris G Jones, senior consultant at Frazer-Nash said: “These two projects illustrate the interesting and challenging work which we deliver to the MoD under the MES framework. Our extensive expertise in systems engineering and naval power systems gives us the ability to deliver start to finish solutions that encompass defining reuirements, through to modelling work and verification.”
