Re: US Navy LCS-2 Independence Floated/Launched
i'm confused why people keep citing ASW as a roll, it doesn't even have a sonar
These vessels will be very good at the ASW role, particularly in the littorals...but also out to sea.
As a part of their standard package they can carry two SH-60 helicopters which have a significant ASW capability on their own.
But, in addition, in the specific ASW package, or module, they will carry many more ASW detection and weapons systems, like Lockheed’s WLD-1 UUV, a new General Dynamics USV, and acoustic sensors such as Lockheed’s Sea Talon multifunction towed array and remote towed active source. Other detection systems and weapons are designed for use aboard unmanned surface vessels (USVs) like the Spartan which will also be carried.
So, the ASW role will be adequately covered, although not in the trasditional sense. But then again, there are a lot of nontraditional functions and systems designed for these vessels which is a major reason they are being built.
Now, I have also found out some info regarding the Surface Attack Package. It will be made up of 4 weapon stations. In addition to the 57mm naval gun, firepower at these stations could include either a 30mm cannon used in the Marines’ Expeditionary Fighting Vehicle, or, more interestingly, a version of the US Army’s Non Line-of-Sight – Launch System. NLOS-LS, also known as NETFIRES.
Each of the on-board weapon stations are sized to carry one Netfire module, each of which packs 15 cells. This means up to 60 such missiles if all four stations are outfitted with NETFIRES for a particular mission.
These cheap “missile-in-a-box” precision attack missiles (PAM) roughly duplicate the effects of a 155mm shell, and have a range of up to 40 km/ 24 miles. They can be fired in direct mode; and a forthcoming LAM missile would be able to loiter in an area and look for targets, or wait for another platform to laser-designate one.
A very powerful package indeed making these very powerful vessels, and we have not even covered the anti-mine and spec ops packages.
So, in essence, the LCS vessels will replace most of the traditional functions of 30 FF-7 Oliver Hazard Perry Class “frigates” (and I think they may actually end up being more powerful than the OHPs in surface attack and anti-submarine), 14 MCM Avenger Class mine countermeasures vessels, and 12 MHC-51 Osprey Class coastal mine hunters, while also adding a significant Spec Ops anti-terror role, all in one vessel.
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