Joint Support Ship, Arctic/Offshore Patrol Ship: Proposed ship capabilities

From the CF/DND Materiel Group (via RC):

1) JSS:

SHIP PARTICULARS
Crew Size	30% to 50% less than current AORs
Length/Beam/Draft (Deep) m	210 / Panamax / 9.5 (notional)
Displacement (Deep)	28,000 tonnes (notional)
Speed	20 knots (sustained)
Range	10,800 @ 15 knots
SURVIVABILITY
Self Defence	Active & Passive
Damaged Stability	Enhanced Two Compartment
ICE CAPABILITY
First Year Ice	Yes
SEALIFT
Deck Space (inc. Upper Deck)	1,000 - 1,500 lane meters
Container System	Yes
Jetty Independence	Yes
UNDERWAY SUPPORT
Fuel	7,000 - 10,000 tonnes
JP 5	650 - 1,300 tonnes
Ammunition	1,100 Square Metres
JOINT HQ SUPPORT
Naval Communications	Yes
Shore Communications	Yes

2) A/OPS:

The following high level draft requirements are presented as an indicative indication of the capabilities required of the Arctic/Offshore Patrol Ship. These requirements will be studied and refined during Project Definition.

The primary characteristics of the Arctic/Offshore Patrol Ship (AOPS) are fully inclusive of the following capabilities:

1. sufficient flexibility to operate independently and effectively in Canada's Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZ), including such diverse environments as the Canadian Arctic, the Grand Banks of Newfoundland and off the Northwest coast of the Queen Charlotte Islands. The ships would also be capable of navigating the St-Lawrence River on a year round basis and berthing in Quebec City;
2. can operate year-round in medium first year ice which may include old ice inclusions as well as the open ocean areas in the Atlantic and Pacific Canadian EEZ;
3. ice capability exclusively for its own mobility and not to provide icebreaking services to others;
4. sustain operations for up to four months;
5. range of at least six thousand nautical miles;
6. sufficient organic situational awareness to ensure safety of navigation and flight;
7. sufficient command, control and communication (C3) capability to provide and receive real-time information to/from the Canadian Forces' Common Operating Picture (COP);
8. cruise speed of at least 14 knots and a maximum speed of at least 20 knots;
9. gun armament; and
10. remain operational for 25 years beyond Initial Operational Capability (IOC).

Additionally, the AOPS may be required to be capable of embarking and operating, in up to sea state three, an on-board organic helicopter, up to and including a CH 148 CYCLONE, with one flying and one maintenance crew.

A Finnish shipyard with loads of arctic experience (more on that yard here) has helped contribute to a concept for the A/OPS--see also pp. 12-13 here. More on the A/OPS here and the JSS here.

No listing for the capabilities required of the new fixed-wing SAR aircraft at the Materiel Group site; a bit early, one supposes, since Cabinet approval has not been given for the acquisition go-ahead.