Naval Surface Warfighting Vision 2030

ABSTRACTThe Naval Surface Warfighting Vision 2030 was developed by a small team of naval analysts at the Naval Surface Warfare Center for the purpose of developing future warfighting concepts. The Warfighting Vision 2030 is a strategy‐framed, top‐down description of surface warfare, which focuses on future warfighting needs. A surface warfare concept of operations is presented and evaluated in several different naval campaign scenarios, which are varied depending on future world geopolitical alternatives. A naval surface force structure is postulated and analyzed in terms of the surface ships and combat systems required to implement the concept of operations. Ship and combat system characteristics are generated for conceptual ship‐types. Performance goals are analyzed based on parametric tradeoffs conducted at the operational level of warfare. A mother ship concept, which features smaller scout‐fighter vehicles (surface, sub‐surface, and air), is presented as a means of performing specialized missions, such as mine countermeasures, special forces operations and shallow water ASW. The “vision” surface force structure is introduced as a way to rebalance and evolve from today's force structure to a more flexible, adaptable, and affordable force for the future.