Navies should test as much as possible before formally accepting a warship. Commissioning too early can shift the financial burden of correcting defects from the builder to the government, while partial acceptance offers ways to involve naval crews without surrendering that leverage. The broad trial program covers build quality, propulsion, sensors, weapons, shock, and operations.
Chapter · 8:00-10:23
Warship trials keep acceptance risk with the builder
Pre-commissioning trials expose construction and performance faults while the builder still bears much of the cost and responsibility.