The SUP (Standard Utility Platform) is the basis of the DDS' transport (and beyond fleet), being a common powerplant, engine, major electrical system and load-bearing backbone upon which the rest of the ship is built, from the pure transport Provider to the Missileer carrier. The DDS have unveiled the first major update to this backbone, known as SUP-B.
SUP-B has extra power and the engine has been upgraded to a HS-740C (as already fitted to the Missileer). The load-bearing structure has also been improved to take top speed up to 600c. The DDS have a backlog of some 14 older SUPs (now called SUP-A) already built but have decided to move to SUP-B for new ships from as soon as possible and use older SUP-As on it's export version of the Provider and Extender. The first ships to use SUP-B are expected to be Extenders and Missileers next spring, there are 2 Extenders, 1 Provider, 1 Missileer and the first Florence Nightingale hospital ship already in production which will be the last DDS ships to use SUP-A.
The Vosun-Voth Star Empire have surprised everyone by requesting technical details and a visit by a Provider next year. It is thought they want to upgrade their aging transport fleet. It is possible they may also be interested in the Pentekonter-E.
