Ship Preliminary Design & Feasibility Studies

The PE 0603564N: Ship Preliminary Design & Feasibility Studies program is a Navy research, development, test, and evaluation (RDT&E) budget line focused on advanced component development and prototyping for future and evolving ship classes. Its goal is to conduct concept development, feasibility studies, and preliminary design work for major surface and auxiliary ship programs. These efforts ensure that new vessels meet operational requirements, integrate emerging technologies, and support evolving Navy and joint force missions. The program supports several distinct projects, each with specific objectives related to ship design, integration, and logistics innovation.

DDG-51 Flight III Concept Development aims to verify and validate the integration and interoperability of technologies and systems in the DDG-51 Flight III destroyer design. This includes comprehensive test and evaluation activities such as developmental testing, operational testing, live fire test and evaluation, and full ship shock trials. The project also supports the development of a new Navigation, Aviation, and Hull, Mechanical & Electrical (HM&E) Cyber Enclaves Design to physically separate communications systems, meeting DoD cybersecurity directives and Navy standards. These efforts are critical to achieving initial operational capability and ensuring the ships meet key performance parameters, measures of effectiveness, and suitability.

DDG(X) Concept Development is the Navy's initiative to design the next-generation guided missile destroyer, which will succeed the DDG-51 class. The program's objectives include developing a new hull form with increased space, weight, power, and cooling margins to accommodate future combat systems, directed energy weapons, larger missile launchers, and advanced sensors. The DDG(X) will feature an Integrated Power System to support high-demand electronic systems and future upgrades. Design maturation is conducted through a collaborative Navy-industry team, progressing from concept formulation to preliminary and contract design phases. The project also integrates lessons learned from previous ship classes to manage risk and ensure industrial base stability.

T-AGS Design & Total Ship Integration is focused on recapitalizing the Pathfinder-class oceanographic survey ships, which are nearing the end of their service life. The objective is to ensure the Navy maintains a fleet of multi-mission, deployable survey ships capable of supporting undersea warfare, enemy ship detection, and humanitarian assistance. The project's mission is to develop requirements and integration strategies for the next generation of T-AGS vessels, supporting the Chief of Naval Operations fleet requirements.

OPLOG IPT Development supports research and development of enabling technologies for operational logistics across multiple ship classes. The project develops advanced refueling systems, such as the Seabased Petroleum Distribution System and improved Modular Fuel Delivery Stations, and maintains the Combat Logistics Force database for analysis and concept development. OPLOG aims to improve logistics delivery effectiveness and energy efficiency in both peacetime and contested environments, reduce operational costs, and facilitate the transition of science and technology initiatives from research to acquisition programs.

Medium Landing Ship is designed to fill the capability gap between large amphibious warfare ships and smaller landing vessels. The LSM supports distributed maritime operations, littoral operations in contested environments, and expeditionary advanced base operations for the Marine Littoral Regiment. Funding supports acquisition strategy development, test documentation, and initial procurement activities for Non-Developmental Vessels under LSM Block 1, as authorized by the National Defense Authorization Act. The program focuses on rapid procurement and integration of proven designs to meet evolving operational requirements.

Congressional Adds provided targeted funding for the DDG(X) design tool, a common computer-aided design and product lifecycle management suite for shipbuilders and the Navy. This tool is intended to optimize collaborative design work, streamline data management, and reduce duplicative efforts across the DDG(X) program's lifecycle. The initiative aligns with the Department of the Navy's digital engineering strategy and supports efficient ship design, production, and modernization processes.