The Royal Institution of Naval Architects is to hold WARSHIP 2003 conference in London in June 2003.
With the increasing prominence of international peacekeeping and policing, military operations against rogue states and now anti-terrorist operations, the flexibility of naval airpower is becoming more and more vital. The ability to rapidly deploy conventional and helicopter carriers to remote areas and to project forces far from airbases on land, has been perceived to be a core naval capability by many countries. The simultaneous increase in amphibious assault forces has also boosted demand for the logistical capabilities of aircraft such as helicopters and potentially tilt-rotors.

Countries including France and the UK have recently acquired new aircraft or helicopter carriers and a number of navies are currently developing new carrier designs. The US is progressing with its huge CVX programme. The CVN-77, transition ship to this future class of carriers, is already under construction. The UK CVF programme is also well underway and by the time of this conference the preferred prime contractor should have been selected.

RINA invites papers on all aspects of naval airpower, including designs, philosophies and operation.