Dominion-class arsenal ship
| Country | |
|---|---|
| Type | Arsenal ship |
| Manufacturers |
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| Displacement | 31,500 t (full load) |
| Length | 234 m |
| Beam | 38 m |
| Draft | 9.2 m |
| Propulsion (Ax variant) |
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| Propulsion (Conv variant) |
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| Speed |
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| Range |
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| Complement | 175 |
| Armament |
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| Aircraft carried | 12 x UAV (various types) |
| Sensors |
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| In service | Under construction |
| Notes |
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The Dominion-class is a class of arsenal ships under development through a trilateral program between Nouvelle Alexandrie, Natopia, and their allied defense industries. The program is led by the Pontecorvo Firm in partnership with Neridia Defense Industries and Dingo Enterprises, replacing the aging Imperator-class arsenal ship designed in 1679 AN-1680 AN. The Dominion-class features 500 vertical launch system (VLS) cells, nearly double the capacity of its predecessor, while reducing crew complement from 329 to 175 through extensive automation. The class is offered in two propulsion variants: the Ax variant featuring Alexandrium-239 reactors with magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) propulsion, available to Alexandrium Treaty signatories; and the Conv variant with conventional nuclear propulsion for export customers. Under the Treaty's provisions, the Ax variant may only be sold to Treaty signatories (Constancia, Nouvelle Alexandrie, Oportia, and Zeed) and nations granted Most Favored Nation status (currently Natopia and the Benacian Union). Sales to any other nation require unanimous approval from all Treaty members through the Euran Alexandrium Coordination Organization, with any single member retaining veto authority.
The program was established in I.1748 AN, entered detailed design in 1749 AN, and commenced construction of the lead ship FNS Dominion at the Pontecorvo Shipbuilding Yards in 1751 AN. As of XIV.1752 AN, the vessel is approximately 18 months into construction with sea trials planned for 1754 AN and initial operational capability expected in 1755 AN. Nouvelle Alexandrie has ordered six vessels of the Ax variant, Natopia has ordered eight, and Constancia has indicated interest in four vessels. The Ax variant's MHD propulsion provides significant tactical advantages including reduced acoustic signature, faster acceleration, and simplified maintenance compared to conventional propulsion, extending the same technology proven in the Vanguard-class aircraft carrier and Azur-class submarine programs.
Development
Background
The Imperator-class arsenal ship, designed in 1679 AN-1680 AN and entering service in 1686 AN, established the arsenal ship concept within the Raspur Pact naval doctrine. These vessels served as floating missile magazines, providing massive strike capacity to carrier battle groups and amphibious task forces. By the early 1740s, however, the Imperator-class faced obsolescence. Its 288 VLS cells were insufficient for modern saturation attack requirements, its combat systems could not integrate with contemporary network-centric warfare architectures, and its crew-intensive design created manning challenges as navies competed for skilled personnel. Additionally, the Natopian Spacefleet's powerful use of orbital strikes through the Damocles-class orbital bombardment platform proved powerful enough.
The Fourth Euran War (1745 AN-1747 AN) validated the arsenal ship concept while exposing critical limitations of the Imperator-class. During offensive operations, the class demonstrated its value as a strike platform, delivering devastating missile salvos against enemy coastal defenses, logistics hubs, and command facilities. A single Imperator-class vessel could saturate enemy air defenses with over 200 missiles in a coordinated strike, overwhelming point defense systems and creating corridors for follow-on attacks. However, the conflict also revealed deficiencies that compromised operational effectiveness.
The Imperator-class combat management system struggled to integrate with EGuard-equipped aircraft and surface combatants, creating coordination delays during time-sensitive strikes. Target data from AEW-2 Centinela platforms and Javelin F-19 Greystrike fighters required manual translation into the arsenal ship's fire control system, adding minutes to engagement timelines when seconds mattered. The vessels' acoustic signature made them vulnerable to submarine attack, forcing task force commanders to allocate significant ASW assets to protect the high-value platforms. Following the loss of NDS Hegemon to submarine-launched missiles in the Gulf of Vanie in 1745 AN, operational doctrine restricted Imperator-class employment to waters with confirmed submarine clearance, limiting their utility in contested environments.
Post-war analysis by the New Alexandrian Department of Defense and the Natopian Defense Force identified three priorities for a successor class: full integration with EGuard battle management architecture to enable seamless coordination with Pact combat platforms; reduced acoustic signature to permit operations in submarine-threatened waters; and expanded VLS capacity to deliver the saturation attacks that proved decisive during the conflict. Joint studies initiated in 1746 AN concluded that a new-build program offered better value than service life extension, particularly given advances in propulsion technology demonstrated by Project Silent Wave and the availability of EGuard 3.0 for integration into new construction.
Trilateral agreement
The Dominion-class program was formally established in I.1748 AN through a trilateral agreement between Nouvelle Alexandrie and Natopia, with work divided among three principal contractors. The Pontecorvo Firm serves as program lead with responsibility for hull design, propulsion integration (both Alexandrium MHD and conventional variants), and overall systems integration. Neridia Defense Industries contributes the survivability systems, VLS hardware and integration, and structural armor. Dingo Enterprises provides the Nexus Integrated Combat System (NICS), C4I architecture, network integration, and AI-assisted fire control.
The division of labor reflects each contractor's core competencies while ensuring that both nations maintain strategic industrial capabilities. Production will be split between Pontecorvo Shipbuilding Yards in Alduria and West Bay NDF Dockyards in Natopia following completion and validation of the lead ships.
Design phase
Detailed design commenced in 1749 AN, with the design team incorporating lessons from the Vanguard-class aircraft carrier program. The Alexandrium-239 reactor and MHD propulsion system were scaled from the carrier installation, with modifications to optimize the power-to-weight ratio for the arsenal ship's displacement and mission profile. The conventional variant retains a CONAS (combined nuclear and steam) propulsion arrangement similar to the Imperator-class but with modernized reactor plant and improved efficiency.
The design was finalized in late 1750 AN, with construction authorization granted by the Cortes Federales in XII.1750 AN for the six-ship New Alexandrian order.
Design
Hull and propulsion
The Dominion-class hull measures 234 meters in length with a 38-meter beam, substantially larger than the 203-meter Imperator-class to accommodate the expanded VLS capacity. The hull form is optimized for stability during sustained missile launch operations, with a deep-V bow for seakeeping and a flat stern section housing the propulsion systems. Displacement is 31,500 tonnes at full load.
The Ax variant propulsion system comprises two Alexandrium-239 compact reactors generating 140,000 shaft horsepower equivalent, driving MHD propulsion units. This configuration achieves 35 knots maximum speed while producing substantially lower acoustic signature than conventional propulsion. The MHD system's instantaneous throttle response enables rapid acceleration and maneuvering for evasion following missile launch, when the ship's position may be compromised by the launch signatures.
The Conv variant employs two conventional naval reactors in a CONAS arrangement, achieving 32 knots maximum speed with a 20-25 year refueling cycle. This variant is intended for export customers not party to the Alexandrium Treaty or navies preferring proven conventional technology.
Weapons systems
The primary armament consists of 500 VLS cells arranged in ten modules of 50 cells each, distributed along the ship's centerline forward and aft of the superstructure. The cells are compatible with the full range of Raspur Pact vertical-launch weapons, including:
- Land-attack cruise missiles (JAV 75 Raptor, JAV 102 Tempest, JAV 132 Nightshade, JAV 140 Pacifica)
- Anti-ship missiles (JAV 70 Leviathan, JAV 95 Harpoon, JAV 112 Excalibur, JAV 115 Enigma)
- Surface-to-air missiles (S-2 Standard Missile, JAV 135 Guardian, JAV 137 Sentinel)
- Anti-submarine rockets (JAV 107 Kingfisher)
A typical loadout for land-attack missions includes 400 cruise missiles and 100 surface-to-air missiles for self-defense, though the mix can be adjusted based on mission requirements. The ship can launch missiles at a sustained rate of one per second from any ready cell, enabling saturation attacks that overwhelm enemy defenses.
Defensive armament includes four Cerberus Dome close-in weapon systems combining missiles, autocannons, and directed energy for multi-layer terminal defense, eight RAM launchers for close-range missile engagement, and four 30mm autocannons for surface threats and asymmetric warfare scenarios.
Combat systems
The Nexus Integrated Combat System (NICS), developed by Dingo Enterprises, represents a generational advance over the combat systems installed in the Imperator-class. NICS integrates all sensors, weapons, and communications into a unified architecture with AI-assisted threat assessment and fire control. Critically, NICS incorporates full EGuard 3.2 integration, addressing the coordination failures that hampered Imperator-class operations during the Fourth Euran War. The EGuard interface enables seamless data exchange with AEW-2 Centinela battle management aircraft, EGuard-equipped fighters, and allied surface combatants, reducing engagement timelines from minutes to seconds.
The system can autonomously manage defensive engagements while human operators retain authority over offensive weapons employment. Target data can be received from any networked platform, including carrier-based aircraft, other surface combatants, submarines, satellites, and allied forces, enabling the arsenal ship to engage targets it has never directly detected. The EGuard cooperative engagement capability allows a Dominion-class vessel to launch missiles against targets designated by distant platforms without ever detecting the target on its own sensors.
The sensor suite includes multi-function phased array radar for air and surface search, electronic warfare systems for threat detection and countermeasures, and hull-mounted sonar for submarine detection. The reduced crew of 175 personnel operates the ship through highly automated watch stations, with the combat information center requiring only 12 personnel to manage all combat functions.
Survivability
Neridia Defense Industries designed the survivability systems with the assumption that arsenal ships, as high-value targets, will attract significant enemy attention. The armor scheme employs composite materials providing protection against anti-ship missile warheads across critical areas including the magazines, reactors, and combat information center. Magazine design incorporates blow-out panels and automated flooding systems to prevent catastrophic ammunition detonation.
The ship features extensive compartmentalization, redundant damage control systems, and distributed electrical generation to maintain combat capability after sustaining damage. The reduced crew size, while primarily driven by automation, also reduces casualties in the event of successful enemy attack.
Export restrictions
The Dominion-class Ax variant incorporates Alexandrium-239 reactors and MHD propulsion systems subject to the export control regime established by the Treaty of Fontainebleau on Alexandrium Coordination. Under Article VII of the Treaty, Alexandrium and its derivatives may only be transferred to approved purchasers without additional authorization. Treaty signatories (Constancia, Nouvelle Alexandrie, Oportia, and Zeed) and Most Favored Nation partners (Natopia and the Benacian Union) qualify as approved purchasers. Sales to any other nation, regardless of alliance status, require submission to the EACO Security and Export Control Committee and unanimous approval from all member states. Any single member may veto a proposed sale without disclosing classified intelligence justifying the decision.
The Conv variant was developed specifically to permit sales to nations not party to the Treaty or lacking MFN status. The conventional nuclear propulsion system contains no Alexandrium components and is therefore exempt from Treaty restrictions, though sales remain subject to each manufacturing nation's domestic export control laws.
Ships in class
| Hull number | Name | Variant | Builder | Laid down | Launched | Commissioned | Status | Operator |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AS-1 | FNS Dominion | Ax | Pontecorvo Shipbuilding Yards | 1751 AN | - | - | Under construction |  Nouvelle Alexandrie
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| AS-2 | FNS Tempest | Ax | Pontecorvo Shipbuilding Yards | 1752 AN | - | - | Under construction | Nouvelle Alexandrie
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| AS-3 | FNS Colossus | Ax | Pontecorvo Shipbuilding Yards | - | - | - | Ordered | Nouvelle Alexandrie
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| AS-4 | FNS Leviathan | Ax | Pontecorvo Shipbuilding Yards | - | - | - | Ordered | Nouvelle Alexandrie
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| AS-5 | FNS Titan | Ax | Pontecorvo Shipbuilding Yards | - | - | - | Ordered | Nouvelle Alexandrie
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| AS-6 | FNS Thunderbolt | Ax | Pontecorvo Shipbuilding Yards | - | - | - | Ordered | Nouvelle Alexandrie
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| NDS-1 | NDS Supremacy | Ax | West Bay NDF Dockyards | 1752 AN | - | - | Under construction |  Natopia
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| NDS-2 | NDS Ascendancy | Ax | West Bay NDF Dockyards | - | - | - | Ordered | Natopia
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| 6 additional Natopian vessels ordered; Constancia (4) considering orders | ||||||||
Operators
- Federal Navy of Nouvelle Alexandrie: 6 ordered (Ax variant)
- Natopian Defense Force: 8 ordered (Ax variant)
Constantinian Navy: 4 indicated interest (variant TBD)
