US Navy continues ASW mission package testing
The US Navy’s Program Executive Office Unmanned and Small Combatants (PEO USC) has reached a new milestone on its Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) anti-submarine warfare (ASW) mission package testing, NAVSEA announced on 16 July.
During the testing period - Dockside-1 testing - the Dual-mode ARray Transmitter (DART) mission system towed body and associated launch-and-recovery assembly components were tested in Fort Pierce, Florida.
An in-water test of the active array was also carried out at the Naval Undersea Warfare Center Seneca Lake Detachment’s test facility in Dresden, New York. This was the first opportunity for the new technology to be demonstrated in an open-water test environment, which will give better understanding of how the system will perform when deployed on LCS. The successful completion of the test event provided valuable information to the navy on performance specifications and options for future modifications.
Dockside-2 testing, which is planned for autumn 2018, will expand the scope of DART system integration to add three additional Raytheon mission modules to complete the system. The navy will take delivery of the DART mission system from Raytheon later in 2018 and plans to take the system to the Atlantic Undersea Test and Evaluation Center early in 2019 for additional testing.
The LCS fitted with these mission systems is designed to provide US forces with assured access to coastal areas.
More from Naval Warfare
-
BMT and DNV partner to meet Australia’s heavy landing craft requirement
Under Project Land 8710 Phase 2, Australia has been seeking to acquire an undisclosed number of Littoral Manoeuvre Vessels to replace the Balikpapan-class. The programme has an estimated value of AU$1.4 billion (US$910 million), with IOC slated for 2032.
-
Babcock to take over upkeep of Royal Navy Type-23 frigates
The Royal Navy’s Type-23 Duke-class frigates for the UK Royal Navy were designed as anti-submarine warfare (ASW) ships but now have a multi-role function. Of the 16 Type 23s built, 12 remain in service with the Royal Navy and will be replaced by the Type-26 frigates before 2035.
-
Austal completes autonomy trials with former Royal Australian Navy patrol boat
The work took place under the Patrol Boat Autonomy Trial (PBAT), which has been a collaboration between Austal, Greenroom Robotics, the Trusted Autonomous Systems Defence Cooperative Research Centre and the Royal Australian Navy’s (RAN) Warfare Innovation Navy Branch.
-
Singapore launches fourth and final Type 218SG submarine
The era of southeast Asian submarine modernisation has been in full swing fuelled by growing tensions in the South China Sea.
-
Keel laid for third Hellenic Navy frigate as harbour trials start for first
On 24 March 2022, Greece and Naval Group have signed a contract for three defence and intervention (FDI) frigates. Two warships will be due for delivery in 2025 and the third expected the following year, with the deal including an option to add a fourth frigate to be ready in 2027.