The surface-warfare mission package for the littoral combat ship (LCS) program will go through its initial operational test and evaluation (IOT&E) on board the USS Fort Worth (LCS-3) early this year, the first of three mission packages being developed for the LCS class to reach that milestone.
The mission packages—dedicated configurations of systems for surface warfare, antisubmarine warfare (ASW), and mine countermeasures (MCM)—are in various stages of testing, systems integration, and development. Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems acts as systems integrator for the mission-module program.
Captain John Ailes, the Navy’s manager for mission-module integration in the Program Executive Office for Littoral Combat Ships, explained that the mission packages consist of the weapon and sensor “modules” for each of the three warfare areas, plus the aviation and mission detachments. The surface-warfare and ASW mission packages employ the MH-60R variant of the H-60 Seahawk helicopter; the MCM package uses the MH-60S. “We’re delivering capability incrementally, so we’re adding it over time,” he said.
In addition to the MH-60R, which launches the Hellfire missile, the surface package will include two 30-mm guns based on those on board the San Antonio class of amphibious assault ships. The LCSs also are armed with a 57-mm deck gun and the self-defense rolling-airframe missile, which will be evaluated in the IOT&E.
The surface-package weapon systems are integrated with TRS-3D air- and surface-search radar by the LCS mission-package software.
The LCS program initially had planned to use an Army-developed non-line-of-sight (NLOS) missile as a surface-warfare missile. When the Army canceled the NLOS missile in early 2011, the LCS team selected the Raytheon-built Griffin missile, but still may look at other missiles.
Ailes said that the surface package also will include a visit/board/search-and-seizure capability (a component of the maritime-security module), which consists of two 36-foot rigid-hull inflatable boats and equipment needed for counternarcotics and counterpiracy operations.
As the surface package goes through its IOT&E, the program will continue developmental testing for the MCM package, aiming at IOT&E in about a year, and additional testing and integration for the ASW package, noted Ailes.
An initial increment for the MCM package consists of the airborne-laser mine-detection system (ALMDS) fitted on board the MH-60S for detection of mines near the surface.
The ALMDS is augmented for mine detection in deeper water and on the sea floor by a remote minehunting system (RMS), consisting of AQS-20A sonar towed by a 23-foot, 14,500-pound remotely controlled vehicle, which is operated from the ship.
The program has completed a reliability growth plan for the RMS, which experienced early reliability problems. Ailes said he is “thrilled with the reliability being demonstrated during testing.” The Naval Surface Warfare Center in Panama City, Florida, conducted successful developmental testing of the RMS in December.
Location data on mines detected near the surface is passed to explosive-ordnance demolition teams, which destroy them using explosives. For destruction of deep-water and bottom mines, an airborne mine-neutralization system (AMNS) built by Raytheon is lowered into the water from the MH-60S helo and maneuvered near the site. After identifying the mine with a video camera, the AMNS destroys it with an armor-piercing warhead.
Ailes said that a future MCM increment will include the Cobra system, a high-resolution camera mounted in a Fire Scout unmanned aerial vehicle, that will be capable of locating mines in the beach zone. The Fire Scout, which is fitted with an electro-optical sensor, will be integrated with both the surface and MCM packages.
The ASW package consists of the TB-37 multifunction towed array (MFTA), a component of the Lockheed Martin SQQ-89(v)15 undersea-warfare system in service on board Arleigh Burke–class destroyers and Ticonderoga-class cruisers. The MFTA is integrated with a variable-depth sonar (VDS) by an “advanced capability build 13” software program, which is based on the SQQ-89(v)15 mission software. The software, Ailes said, is the “secret sauce” of the system’s capability.
For torpedo defense, the ASW package will include a “lightweight tow,” a countermeasure that is towed from the ship’s stern.
The ASW module that eventually deploys, Ailes said, will consist of the MFTA, the lightweight tow integrated with the SQQ-89 software. The program may continue to look at other VDS candidates, however.