The Warship Reimagined: Software, Systems, and Structures for the Future Fleet

Admiral John Richardson, U.S. Navy (Retired)The traditional way of building warships – focusing on a massive, monolithic hull that takes years to construct and decades to upgrade – is becoming obsolete. In a world of rapidly evolving technology and increasingly sophisticated threats, the U.S. Navy needs warships that are adaptable, upgradable, and resilient.

In this episode, we dive into a revolutionary concept for future warship design, championed by retired Admiral John Richardson. We'll explore his "three-stream" approach, which treats software, systems (hardware), and structures (the hull) as distinct, yet interconnected, product streams that can evolve at their own pace. This approach promises to make warships more agile, responsive, and capable of keeping pace with the ever-changing demands of modern naval warfare.

Join us as we unpack:

• The Three-Stream Revolution: Understand Admiral Richardson's core argument: that warships should be designed and built with three separate, but harmonized, product streams – software, systems, and structures.
• Software as the Warship's Brain: Explore why software is considered the most dynamic element, requiring constant updates and adaptation through a "DevSecOps" (Development, Security, and Operations) approach.
• The Power of Rapid Systems Refresh: Learn how modularity and standardized interfaces can enable the Navy to quickly integrate new technologies, like advanced computing, sensors, and weapons, without overhauling the entire ship.
• Building for the Future: Discover how warship hulls and power plants can be designed for longevity while still accommodating future upgrades, including space, weight, and power margins for emerging technologies.
• The USS Pleiades: A Vision of the Future: Examine the fictional example of the USS Pleiades, a warship designed using the three-stream approach, and how it responds to a simulated combat scenario.
• From Drone Swarms to Jamming: Adapting in Real-Time: See how the Pleiades leverages software updates, upgraded processors, and directed-energy weapons to overcome emerging threats.
• Transforming Acquisition: Explore the radical changes needed in the defense acquisition process to support the three-stream approach, including adopting commercial best practices and fostering long-term industry partnerships.
• The Commercial Connection: Understand how the Navy can learn from the private sector in areas like software development, advanced manufacturing, and infrastructure management.
• DevSecOps: The Key to Software Agility: Delve into the principles of DevSecOps and how it enables continuous software development, deployment, and feedback, keeping warships at the cutting edge.
• The Achilles' Heel: Harmonization: Acknowledge the risks of integrating three independent streams and how modularity can mitigate those risks.
• Modularity: Explore how modularity and open architecture is critical in the proposed three-stream approach.
• Recommendations for Action: Learn about the specific steps Admiral Richardson recommends for naval architects, shipbuilders, and the defense acquisition community to implement the three-stream approach.

We'll also discuss:

• The challenges of changing a deeply entrenched acquisition culture.
• The potential cost savings of a more modular and adaptable approach to warship design.
• The implications of this new approach for the future of naval warfare.
• The need for enhanced testing of new systems.

This episode is a look into the future of naval power, exploring how a revolutionary approach to warship design can help the U.S. Navy maintain its edge in an increasingly complex and competitive world. Tune in to understand how the "three-stream" approach could transform the fleet of the future.

Tags: U.S. Navy, Warship Design, Naval Warfare, Future Fleet, Software, Systems, Structures, Three-Stream Approach, DevSecOps, Modularity, Open Architecture, Defense Acquisition, Admiral John Richardson, Technology, Innovation, Military Strategy.