TRENDS IN ILS: THE ROLE OF ILS IN SHIP SYSTEM DESIGN

Abstract

AbstractThe new “design to price” approach to ship acquisition programs levies manning, cost, and displacement constraints on the ship design. It has had a significant impact on both designing a ship and planning its integrated logistic support (ILS). Heretofore, the investment of dollars in design to improve maintenance and logistic support could be justified by its effect on a ship's life cycle cost. In new ship acquisition programs, however, any investment, either to reduce maintenance or increase performance capability must be under the ceiling placed over acquisition costs. Compounding the problem for ILS is the trend toward a reduced allowance of shipboard personnel in the new acquisition programs. It means that there are fewer crew members available for either operational or maintenance functions.These cost and manning constraints pose a problem in logistic support planning, and has prompted consideration of logistic support early in design. ILS must become involved early if it is (1) to affect the design process to the end that a ship lends itself well to the new trend in maintenance, (2) to provide other support that will increase a ship's period of operational readiness, and (3) to accomplish both (1) and (2) without pushing through the ceiling on acquisition costs.New maintenance concepts being proposed deviate from the conventional. They provide for minimum shipboard maintenance by deferring scheduled maintenance to Fleet and Shore Maintenance Activities. The trend in ILS is the shift of the maintenance burden from the organizational level (ship) to the intermediate (tender) and depot (shipyard) level of maintenance.This paper examines this new trend in ILS, particularly its impact on the design of a major ship, the Patrol Frigate. It also contemplates the effect of the trend on future Fleet and Shore Activities.