Page 19 - INDO DEFENCE 2022 - DAY 1

LEONARDO, SEASTEMA NAVAL COCKPIT AN

INNOVATION IN WARSHIP DESIGN

Leonardo and Seastema (Fincantieri Group) A central console between the two oper- have access to all the ship’s optical sensors
have come together to develop a revolu- ators with a large number of switches, for steering and manoeuvring functions, at
tionary integrated workstation, which was lights and knobs also contributes to the sea and in port. Each unit has an all-round
the outcome of the Italian Navy’s specific ‘cockpit-like’ atmosphere. However, the view with day, night and infrared cameras.
request for a new guidance instrument in cockpit configuration, remains unique as
the wheelhouse capable of providing the it is being designed for a warship and was With the entry into service of the Paolo
essential functions of steering and combat conceived in close cooperation with the Thaon di Revel - the first of the seven
with a minimal crew. This innovative fea- customer. This configuration also directly planned PPAs - and the ongoing prepara-
ture in warship design is being incorporated impacts the layout and fitting out of the tion of the next vessels due to be launched,
into seven patrol vessels being built for bridge interiors and the ship’s operation. personnel training is already underway and
the Italian Navy as part of its special fleet In a further drive to integration, the cockpit bean during the warship’s first voyages at
modernisation programme, along with the may also be used in the future for naval sea. This allowed for on-the-job training for
amphibious ship (LHD TRIESTE) and logis- units with a different CMS. the officers chosen for this new assign-
tics ship (LSS VULCANO). The research, ment. The training process also takes
design and production that went into this The revolution brought about by the new place at Navy institutions using simulation
system was a major undertaking. The work naval cockpit becomes clearer if one systems, and at Leonardo and Seastema.
was facilitated, however, by the architec- considers the fact that until now the min- The training course eventually leads to
ture and some features held in common imum crew on the bridge comprised the the exclusive certificate of ‘naval cockpit
with Leonardo’s ATHENA MK.2/SADOC4 commander, 2-3 helmsmen, a communi- operator’.
CMS, on which it was based. cations officer and seven CMS operators.
The current configuration reduces this to The naval cockpit has room for further evo-
seven people - commander, pilot, co-pilot lution, however, and the system has already
The naval cockpit requires only two oper- and four CMS operators (communications, been designed to accommodate any such
ators - a pilot and co-pilot, to conduct ship radar, sonar, etc.). The cockpit also cuts developments easily. The most prominent
and air operations. It incorporates the fig- the unit’s rapid response time to sudden of these, already outlined in the initial study,
ures of the bridge watch officer and the threats by maintaining the ship in a high involves using Augmented Reality (AR) to
commander. This workstation enables oper- state of readiness. suggest new manoeuvring features and
ation of the machines, rudders, platform an even more effective presentation of
systems, and some Combat Management Two operators have direct access to information.
System (CMS) functions, including the point-defence weapons, allowing them to
weapons equipment. In the new bridge the react promptly – on the commander’s order These features will become more easily
commander sits behind the two operators – to sudden threats such as fast-moving integrated and affordable as the enabling
in a special seat equipped with controls, boats or unmanned aircraft. Faced with technologies mature. Leonardo has already
allow the commander to interact with the more complex threats, immediate access to carried out studies in this sector, which will
two operators mentioned above and the sensors and weapons saves valuable time in the future see a continuous exchange of
CMS operators, while the pilot and co-pilot while waiting for the crew to arrive at battle information with the Italian Navy based on
use joysticks, engine throttles and control stations and to determine a broader and operational experience that ships equipped
knobs similar to those of aircraft cockpits. more coherent response. Cockpit operators with the new cockpit will begin to gain.
INDO-DEFENCE 2022 NOVEMBER-02-2022 | 19