Ships

  • Testimony

    Testimony

    The Chinese Navy's "New Historic Missions": Expanding Capabilities for a Re-emergent Maritime Power

    In testimony presented before the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission, Cortez A. Cooper ties China's re-emergence as a naval power to its expanding economic and security interests.

    Jun 8, 2009

  • Report

    Report

    A Survey of Missions for Unmanned Undersea Vehicles

    RAND identifies seven military missions for unmanned undersea vehicles (UUVs) that appear most promising to pursue in terms of military need, operational and technical risks, non-UUV alternatives, and cost.

    Jun 1, 2009

  • Report

    Report

    DDG-51 Engineering Training: How Simulators Can Help

    Increased use of training simulators could improve engineering watchstanders' proficiency before Navy destroyers go to sea, saving money and reserving time at sea for refined training.

    May 13, 2009

  • Commentary

    Commentary

    Opposing View: Keep Arms Off Ships

    Does the provision of private security contractors provide a viable solution to the growing problem of piracy off the Horn of Africa? Quite apart from the high cost — a robust security operation can run as much as $21,000 a day — employing security contractors poses problems on several fronts, writes Peter Chalk.

    May 4, 2009

  • Commentary

    Commentary

    Who Has the Will to Fight Piracy?

    The recent French and American rescues of hostages held by pirates off the coast of Somalia were necessary and proper. No one believes these actions will end piracy. But unless we impose risks on the pirates—which means taking some risks ourselves—piracy will certainly flourish, writes Brian Michael Jenkins.

    Apr 21, 2009

  • Research Brief

    Research Brief

    Sustaining Key Skills in the UK Naval Industry

    To preserve its ability to design, build, and support complex warships and submarines, the UK's Ministry of Defence will need to preserve and sustain several key technical skills in the maritime domain.

    Jul 15, 2008

  • Research Brief

    Research Brief

    Piracy and Terrorism at Sea: A Rising Challenge for U.S. Security

    This research brief summarizes RAND's analysis of recent trends in piracy and maritime terrorism, which pose a significant threat. The United States has taken only limited steps to enhance maritime security; broader measures are required.

    Apr 30, 2008

  • Report

    Report

    Sustaining Key Skills in the UK Naval Industry

    Building on prior RAND research, this monograph explores the need for and retention of technical skills in the UK's naval industrial base, particularly among designers and engineers involved with surface ship and submarine acquisition and support.

    Apr 12, 2008

  • Research Brief

    Research Brief

    Aircraft Carrier Maintenance Cycles and Their Effects

    This research brief summarizes RAND's analysis of the feasibility of different cycle lengths and their effect on the operational availability of Nimitz-class aircraft carriers. The authors also examine cycle length impact on shipyard workloads.

    Apr 8, 2008

  • Report

    Report

    Increasing Aircraft Carrier Forward Presence

    U.S. Navy aircraft carrier fleets must balance the timing of maintenance, training, and deployment with presence and surge demands. An evaluation of deployment scenarios examines the feasibility of different cycle lengths, their effect on carrier forward presence, and their impact on shipyard workloads.

    Mar 17, 2008

  • Report

    Report

    Small Ships in Theater Security Cooperation

    The authors evaluate roles for small ships in theater security cooperation, present a concept of operations for employing such ships, describe necessary ship and crew characteristics, and survey classes of suitable vessels.

    Mar 16, 2008

  • Research Brief

    Research Brief

    Getting the Most Out of Littoral Combat Ships

    This research brief summarizes analysis of the Littoral Combat Ship, the U.S. Navy's first modular warship, suggesting the best locations for homeports, mission package installation sites, and the quantity of mission packages that should be procured.

    Mar 11, 2008

  • Report

    Report

    A Methodology for Estimating the Effect of Aircraft Carrier Operational Cycles on the Maintenance Industrial Base

    Describes modeling the extension of time between depot maintenance, varying the size of work packages, and using continuous-maintenance on the maintenance industrial base, and the effect of cycle length on operational availability.

    Jul 29, 2007

  • News Release

    News Release

    RAND Supply Chain Policy Center to Research Critical Issues in Freight Transportation

    May 9, 2007 news release: RAND Supply Chain Policy Center to Research Critical Issues in Freight Transportation.

    May 9, 2007

  • News Release

    News Release

    Navy Should Start Next Nuclear Submarine Design Phase Early to Prevent Engineering Brain Drain, RAND Study Finds

    May 7, 2007 news release: Navy Should Start Next Nuclear Submarine Design Phase Early to Prevent Engineering Brain Drain, RAND Study Finds.

    May 7, 2007

  • Report

    Report

    Trade-offs in the U.S. Navy's Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) Program

    The U.S. Navy's Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) program must negotiate trade-offs between three elements: the number of LCSs, the number of mission packages required, and the number and locations of homeports and mission package installation sites.

    May 7, 2007

  • Report

    Report

    Sustaining U.S. Nuclear Submarine Design Capabilities

    Given a lack of demand for nuclear submarine design resources in the near future, workforce and workload management options are analyzed to suggest ways to constrain the cost, schedule, and risk involved in the design of the next submarine class.

    May 1, 2007

  • Research Brief

    Research Brief

    Sustaining the Ability to Design Nuclear Submarines

    This research brief summarizes an analysis of workforce and workload management options to suggest ways to constrain the cost, schedule, and risk involved in the design of the U.S. Navy's next nuclear submarine class.

    Apr 25, 2007

  • Report

    Report

    Sustaining the Ability to Design Nuclear Submarines

    The U.S. Navy should start designing the next class of nuclear submarines five years ahead of schedule and stretch out the design period to prevent a critical erosion of skilled submarine designers and engineers.

    Apr 18, 2007

  • Journal Article

    Journal Article

    The Container Security Initiative and Ocean Container Threats

    This paper analyzes one program, the Container Security Initiative, which inspects high-risk U.S.-bound containers at foreign ports.

    Jan 1, 2007

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