Littoral Combat Ships (LCS)
- Thread starter Jeff Head
- Start date
D
Deleted member 675
Guest
Re: US Navy launches and christens first Littoral Combat Ship (LCS)
RAM can't cost less than Phalanx - it would just be ridiculous. In fact looking more closely, it seemed to imply the cost was $444,000 per unit. Maybe that's the cost per missile. Multiple by 21 and you have just under $10 million, which still seems a bit cheap.
Does anyone know what a full RAM (RIM-116) launcher costs?
RAM can't cost less than Phalanx - it would just be ridiculous. In fact looking more closely, it seemed to imply the cost was $444,000 per unit. Maybe that's the cost per missile. Multiple by 21 and you have just under $10 million, which still seems a bit cheap.
Does anyone know what a full RAM (RIM-116) launcher costs?
Re: US Navy launches and christens first Littoral Combat Ship (LCS)
Wait, I'm not understanding this one. Its not going to come into port to pick up its crews? And it will have more than one crew?
Wait, I'm not understanding this one. Its not going to come into port to pick up its crews? And it will have more than one crew?
D
Deleted member 675
Guest
Re: US Navy launches and christens first Littoral Combat Ship (LCS)
As far as I understand there is more than one crew (they're on by rotation), because Clyde will be staying out there for the full 5 years, bar accident. It may be that each crew can be relieved by helicopter without it having to return to port. Otherwise it would return to the Falklands port, the relief crew having been flown in.
As far as I understand there is more than one crew (they're on by rotation), because Clyde will be staying out there for the full 5 years, bar accident. It may be that each crew can be relieved by helicopter without it having to return to port. Otherwise it would return to the Falklands port, the relief crew having been flown in.
Re: US Navy launches and christens first Littoral Combat Ship (LCS)
re. RAM costs.
Many sources state "unit cost" as $444.000
Now I can't imagine one missile to cost that much, since the seeker is taken from the Stinger and the motor from the Sidewinder. These parts are improved and augmented, but that doesn't make so much a difference.
The system is said to be "low-cost" furthermore it includes no sensors, i.e. cueing comes from the ships sensors or radar. And the system needs no expensiv processors like Phalanx, since you don't have to track the launch box on the incoming missile that accurate.
So, I think $444.000 for a system that has no sensors and high-end processors and no missiles is reasonable.
re. RAM costs.
Many sources state "unit cost" as $444.000
Now I can't imagine one missile to cost that much, since the seeker is taken from the Stinger and the motor from the Sidewinder. These parts are improved and augmented, but that doesn't make so much a difference.
The system is said to be "low-cost" furthermore it includes no sensors, i.e. cueing comes from the ships sensors or radar. And the system needs no expensiv processors like Phalanx, since you don't have to track the launch box on the incoming missile that accurate.
So, I think $444.000 for a system that has no sensors and high-end processors and no missiles is reasonable.
D
Deleted member 675
Guest
Re: US Navy launches and christens first Littoral Combat Ship (LCS)
I'm talking about the overall package - there's no way it's ten times cheaper than Phalanx.
I'm talking about the overall package - there's no way it's ten times cheaper than Phalanx.
Re: US Navy launches and christens first Littoral Combat Ship (LCS)
I personally know people who worked on the development of the program and it is a very low cost system for what its capability is and considering the value of the vessels they are protecting.
Navy installation plans called for Block I installations or upgrades on 8 LSD 41/49, 3 DD 963, 1all 2 CV/CVN, 7 LHD, and 12 LPD 17 (San Antonio new construction) ships between 2001 and 2006. The Navy also plans to install RAM Block I upgrades on all five LHA class ships during fiscal year 2007.
FYI, the Block 0 missiles were about 275,000 each so the costs of those systems already deployed (and not upgraded) were correspondingly less.
Well, the US Navy Fact file site lists the price of each missile as 444,000 so I am inclined to go with that. There would be severe consequences if the Official US Navy site was found to be misleading the public. Anyhow, for an 11 round launcher you are looking at a total cost per launcher with its missiles at probably 5-6 million. Double it for a 21 missile launcher.
I personally know people who worked on the development of the program and it is a very low cost system for what its capability is and considering the value of the vessels they are protecting.
Navy installation plans called for Block I installations or upgrades on 8 LSD 41/49, 3 DD 963, 1all 2 CV/CVN, 7 LHD, and 12 LPD 17 (San Antonio new construction) ships between 2001 and 2006. The Navy also plans to install RAM Block I upgrades on all five LHA class ships during fiscal year 2007.
FYI, the Block 0 missiles were about 275,000 each so the costs of those systems already deployed (and not upgraded) were correspondingly less.
Re: US Navy launches and christens first Littoral Combat Ship (LCS)
FuManChu
As I understand it: There's the launcher. The sensor (radar) is on the ship anyway. You just need to have a processor that directs the launcher roughly at the threads direction, let a missile lock on and give the firing order. And a few actuators to move the launcher.
FuManChu
What do you expect to be in the package?
As I understand it: There's the launcher. The sensor (radar) is on the ship anyway. You just need to have a processor that directs the launcher roughly at the threads direction, let a missile lock on and give the firing order. And a few actuators to move the launcher.
D
Deleted member 675
Guest
Re: US Navy launches and christens first Littoral Combat Ship (LCS)
Scratch, Jeff has just pointed out the 444 price is in reference to the missile - according to the US Navy itself. I speculated that was the case, which is why I didn't agree with your previous post.
Scratch, Jeff has just pointed out the 444 price is in reference to the missile - according to the US Navy itself. I speculated that was the case, which is why I didn't agree with your previous post.
Re: US Navy launches and christens first Littoral Combat Ship (LCS)
You're right, I didn't read his post thoroughly enough. But still, I cannot see the package to be that much more expensiv. What actually is the expensive thing in the RAM system. All the tracking, computing, intercepting wich I think makes Phalanx so expensive is done either by the ships radar, or by the missile.
You're right, I didn't read his post thoroughly enough. But still, I cannot see the package to be that much more expensiv. What actually is the expensive thing in the RAM system. All the tracking, computing, intercepting wich I think makes Phalanx so expensive is done either by the ships radar, or by the missile.