UXV Combatant The UXV Combatant is a concept warship designed by BVT Surface Fleet ( now BAE Systems Surface Ships ) , which was displayed at the Defence Security and Equipment International ( DSEi ) in 2007 . If built it would be expected to displace approximately 8 , 000 tonnes and " launch , operate and recover large numbers of small unmanned vehicles for extended periods , the UXV plays the role of mother ship - a permanent base and control centre for the futuristic unmanned land , sea and air vehicles before , during and on completion of their missions " . If approved , it would be expected to enter service with the Royal Navy some time after 2020 . It shares some common design features with the Type 45 destroyer , which will be beneficial both to the ease of production and cost . Design . It is expected the UXV Combatant will feature two decks for launching unmanned aircraft , V / STOL ( Vertical / Short Take - off and Landing ) aircraft , and helicopters ; arrayed in a " V " shape . Each deck would be approximately in length . To launch drones / V / STOL craft , the UXV could be expected to use electromagnetic catapults , and ramps ( ramps are currently used on many aircraft carriers around the world ) . The UXV is also reported to be capable of launching unmanned underwater vehicles ( UUVs ) from a port on its underside and , in addition , will be able to deploy amphibious troops , just as many destroyers today . To provide covering fire for amphibious operations , each UXV will possibly be equipped with a 155 mm cannon ( planned as an upgrade from the current 4 . 5 inch Mark 8 mod 1 gun ) . The cannon will be able to fire bursts of 20 rounds , in rapid succession . The UXV will be expected to have the capability of striking longer range targets with vertical missile - launch platforms . Projected missions . The UXV Combatant if approved should be able to fill a wide variety of mission roles ; which unmanned vehicles it would carry would depend on its mission . One expected role will be reconnaissance , through the use of unmanned drones . Another , as a V / STOL carrier , meaning that it will be able to launch aircraft very close to the proposed targets . The UXV Combatant should be able to deploy assault troops , or cover them , with Vertical Launch Missile Systems , and 155 mm guns . For anti - submarine warfare ( ASW ) , the UXV Combatant might carry unmanned underwater vehicles , high - tech sonars , and manned ASW helicopters . As with many current warships , the UXV Combatant will be able to fill the role of long - range strike platform with its Vertical Launch Missile Systems , which is expected to be placed just forward of its superstructure . Consequently , it will be able to fulfil a wide variety of roles of the Royal Navy from long - range reconnaissance to small - scale assault . Its small complement , just over 60 and versatility compared to other equatable vessels , means it will provide numerous vessels that can more discreetly operate over a larger area , ideal for asymmetric warfare , special forces deployment and small deterrence or reconnaissance missions . With the addition of these weapon systems which are common on frigates and destroyers the UXV Combatant should be able to act by itself , and as an escort , as well as a drone launching carrier . Future . The UXV Combatant is unlikely to have any place in the near future of the Royal Navy . As of December 2012 , nothing has been released regarding the UXV , with the only real news regarding the vessel appearing in 2007 . The UXV appeared to be nothing more than a design study conducted by BAE to try and expand on the declining orders of the Type 45 Destroyer by the Royal Navy at the time . The Ministry of Defence has no plans of procuring any vessel of this type in the near future based on their recent " Defence Spending Planning Rounds " which have concluded that no plans will develop to adopt a vessel of this kind before 2030 at the earliest , where current plans are to procure as many Type 26 frigates as possible and replace the minesweeper fleet . Even HMS Ocean will not have a replacement as the new carriers will adopt the LPH role . None - the - less , the UXV Combatant has served as a constructive concept that as Unmanned systems develop , will find a solid place in the future . It is possible that some of the design features of the Type 26 " Global Combat Ship " are inherited from BAE ' s UXV Combatant concept .