US Navy Rolls Out Littoral Combat Ship Anti-Submarine Warfare Mission Package

SAN DIEGO (NNS) -- A ceremony to mark the rollout of the anti-submarine warfare (ASW) mission module for the littoral combat ship (LCS) was held Sept. 19 at Naval Base Point Loma.

The Program Executive Office for Littoral and Mine Warfare, Naval Sea Systems Command, Naval Undersea Warfare Center, Space and Naval Warfare Command (SPAWAR) and Space and Naval Warfare Systems, San Diego, hosted the event.

According to the Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Research, Development, and Acquisitions, Anne Sandel, this is the third mission package to be released for use with the LCS class of ships. The other two packages are the mine and surface warfare mission modules. The LCS can be configured to deploy with any one of the three interchangeable mission modules typically within 96 hours depending on the nature of the mission.

"LCS is a revolutionary, cutting-edge weapons system needed to fill critical, urgent warfighting requirement gaps that exist today," said Rear Adm. Mike Shatynski, vice commander, Naval Surface Forces. "LCS was created to deliver improved warfighting readiness and capacity to today's fleet."

The new mission module package offers new technologies, such as a new unmanned surface vehicle (USV), the vertical takeoff unmanned aerial vehicle (VTUAV), a new dipping sonar and towed array sonar devices.

"The use of unmanned technologies is advantageous in bringing the fight to the enemy," said Capt. Mike Good, program executive officer for littoral combat and mine warfare. "This will lessen the cost of warfighting by keeping the ship and her crew out of harm's way."

According to Shatynski, and even with the newest in cutting-edge technology, many consider the Sailor to be the most important part of the new module package.

"This is a great accomplishment," added Shatynski.

"But it still takes Sailor know-how to launch the equipment, to analyze the data and to employ the weapons. No machine can duplicate the crew's depth of knowledge."

The crowd of approximately 150 was treated to a demonstration of the USV following the brief ceremony. The vehicle ran a predetermined course in San Diego Bay showing off some of its capabilities.

LCS is a new class of warship with versatile fighting capabilities. It is capable of open sea operation, but was designed for coastal missions. The LCS mission modules were designed to compliment the new warship and asymmetrical warfare threats, such as submarines and mines.

Source: Navy Rolls Out Littoral Combat Ship Anti-Submarine Warfare Mission Package

Resources

LCS - Littoral Combat Ship
NNS - Navy News Stand
SPAWAR - US Navy Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command
USV - Unmanned Surface Vehicle
VTUAV - Vertical Takeoff Unmanned Aerial Vehicle

Navies : LCS Freedom
Aerospace Forces : MQ-8B Fire Scout
Navies : USV

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