Sovereign-class aircraft carrier

Class overview
Name:	Sovereign-class carrier
Builders:	Argonaid Shipyards
Operators:	Federation Navy
Preceded by:	Argonaut-class aircraft carrier Akhilleus-class aircraft carrier
Cost:	Approximately 7.72 Billion (CVN-45)
In service:	1981 - present
Completed:	5
Active:	5
General characteristics
Type:	Nuclear-Powered Aircraft Carrier
Displacement:	Roughly 95,000 long tons (full load)
Length:	305.25 m
Beam:	73.5 m (overall) 39.4 m (waterline)
Draught:	11.35 m
Propulsion:	2 x nuclear reactors 4 x steam turbines 4 x shafts 255,000 shp
Speed:	30+ knots
Range:	Unlimited distance
Complement:	Ship's company: 2,800 Air wing: 2,450
Sensors and processing systems:	RN/SPD-4 AESA Radar RN/SPS-22 Surface Search Radar RN/SPS-44 2D Long-range Air Search RN/SPS-52 3D Long-Range Air Search RN/SPN-82E Air Traffic Control System ARES Combat System RHEA Defence Network
Electronic warfare & decoys:	RN/SLS-082 Electronic Warfare Suite
Armament:	4 x Millenium-Gun CIWS 4 x RAM Anti-Air Missile Launchers 6 x 30mm Remote-Operated Weapons
Aircraft carried:	75+

The Sovereign-class Supercarrier is a class of eight nuclear-powered Aircraft carrier in service with the Federation Navy. The class, at a length of 305 meters and 95,000 tonnes fully loaded is the largest class ever to be in service with the Federation Navy.

Design

The Sovereign-class was ordered to supplement the existing class of Akhilleus-class carriers and to begin replacing the older Argonaut-class which had been in service for almost a decade past their maximum life expectancy. The design was made with the services of both classes in mind and had improvements built in, such as a more compact reactor compartment and redundancies for fire fighting and fuel storage and transportation. A long-ranged anti-air missile system was initially planned for the design but was removed before Philippos was laid down, with the admiralty prefering the increased hangar-deck capacity over the room that would've been required to store the missiles and to maintain them.

The design of the ship called for the aircraft carriers to be manufactured in modular sections, with Philippos being constructed out of 152 'super-lift' modules. These sections would be constructed at specialised facilities around the country and shipped to the drydock for assembly, being lifted into position by 700 ton-capacity cranes and then welded together, with equipment and wiring already installed.

Philippos firing it's Anti-Air missile.

The Carrier's defensive capabilities are provided by the ARES Combat System, which is an advanced command and decision C&D and Weapon Control System (WCS) platform which utilises advanced computer systems and radar equipment to track enemy and friendly targets and to guide/recommend munitions for the neutralisation of hostile targets or airborne/sea-borne munitions. The ARES system is highly modular and is capable of utilising equipment and software direct-links on the fly to fit to the ship's current load-out and mission profile. This highly efficient system also communicates with nearby ARES systems to share information and to 'scrub' false positives when it is safe to do so, an intricate fire-wall prevention system alerts and shuts down the network when a false hand-shake is identified. The networking system can also be shut down as a part of the ship's Emissions Control (EMCON) or when engaging enemy combatants in an environment where jamming may occur. The ARES system itself is divided into several boxes; A centralised mainframe that contains the system's unique user interface which is accessed from the ship's Combat Information Center (CIC) and bridge. The system's Command and Decision (C&D) and Weapon Control Systems (WCS) are divided into two separate boxes, with all three interacting as necessary.

The system's Command and Decision C&D software aboard the Sovereign-class operates as such: The ship's navigation display charts are overlaid onto the tactical grid provided by ARES and operators are able to see an detailed map of the surrounding areas, including moving entities (Ships, planes, detected land vehicles and sub-surface entities) in detail with speed and altitude/depth also displayed. Operators utilising the system can alter it as necessary or interrogate contacts for further information as available. The system plugs directly into the ship's radar systems to generate it's map and is coupled with the ship's Electronic Support Measure (ESM) suite to scrub radar echoes and resolve any jamming ongoing. Satellite Communications and Tactical Information Link (SCOTIL) allows the ship to maintain steady communications with Fleet Command, allied ships or other entities whilst out on operations. This is the method in which the ship's RHEA network gains third-party information of incoming ordnance for self defence purposes.

The Weapon Control System (WCS) of the Sovereign-class falls into the Anti-Air Warfare (AAW), Anti-Surface Warfare (ASuW), and Electronic Countermeasure (ECM) boxes, all of which interface with the Command and Decision (C&D) system for pin-point accuracy. The ship's Electronic Warfare Suite is provided with the RN/SLS-082 which also houses the Electronic Support Measure suite (ESM) mentioned previously. The Electronic Countermeasure suite utilises a multi-mode, multiple-engagement frequency modulating system to present false images to incoming ordnance and enemy fire control systems trying to 'paint' the vessel. The emitters of the Electronic Countermeasures are capable of a self-modulating energy patterns that constantly shifts during engagement to also throw off Electronic Counter-countermeasure systems (ECCM). The suite also works as a method of detection for incoming missiles and utilises an automated decoy deployment system that takes over from crew members in emergencies to launch RBOC (Rapid Blooming Off-board Chaff) as needed.

The Electronic Countermeasure suite (ECM) forms a part of the Weapon Control System (WCS) defensive mode which combines the previously mentioned Rapidly Blooming Off-board Chaff (RBOC) with the ship's Trixton 500 Defence Suite and Beluga Anti-Torpedo Countermeasure System. The Trixton 500 is a modular system that utilises 1.2 ton rotary launchers to deploy active countermeasures into the direction of incoming missiles. The suite is also capable of holding and firing anti-air and anti-surface missiles for short range combat against hostile aircraft and boats making an attacking run. One such missile the Trixton 500 is capable of firing is the Pilum Missile, a short-range anti-surface/ship missile with a range of eight kilometers. The suite is also capable of launching anti-torpedo countermeasures, either as a decoy submerged chaff or as a torpedo-hunting interceptor. The Trixton is aided by the RBOC and an array of active/IR decoy launchers throughout the ship. The defensive mode also directly utilises the ship's four Millenium CIWS, four SAM launchers and six 30mm remote operated cannons as needed, although usage of the 30mm cannons is a toggled-on slave as opposed to naturally available. The offensive mode of the ship is limited and utilises the Millenium CIWS, 30mm Cannons and SAM launchers for anti-surface warfare (ASuW) mode.

Ships of the class

Name	Hull number	Laid down	Launched	Commissioned	Fate
F.N.S Philippos	CVN-45	2 August 1976	22 April 1980	5 March 1981	Active
F.N.S Georgio	CVN-46	7 April 1979	1 October 1983	22 February 1985	Active
F.N.S Nicholaus	CVN-47	14 January 1983	4 May 1985	5 March 1989	Active

See also

• Federation Navy