• Military

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Industry
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• WMD
• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space
• Public Eye

Offshore Patrol Cutter (OPC)
WMSM Maritime Security Cutter Medium

The Offshore Patrol cutter is the successor to the 270' Famous class and the 210' Reliance class Medium Endurance Cutters. The OPC is designed to have a maximum range of 9,000 nautical miles and an adaptable mission module. The U.S. Coast Guard awarded a contract to Integrated Coast Guard Systems (ICGS) to begin the design and final requirements work for the Offshore Patrol Cutter as part of the Coast Guard ’s Integrated Deepwater System (IDS) Program. The concept design phase is scheduled to begin in 2009.

The revised Deepwater implementation plan provides additional capabilities to reflect the domestic environment changes post-9/11. The OPC is designed to contribute to Intelligence Collection/Information Sharing through a sophisticated S/SCIF, SEI sensors and increased data exchange bandwidth. The OPC’s Deepwater and DoD interoperability capabilities are enhanced with DHS- and local responder-interoperable radio communications. The OPC flight deck will grow to accommodate all variants of DHS and DoD HH-60 helicopters to provide enhanced interoperability with interagency and inter-service counter-terrorism teams. The OPC will now be fully integrated with the National Distress Response Modernization Program, known as RESCUE 21, which will provide the port commanders with real-time tracking of the OPC and seamless Common Operational Picture/MDA data sharing, including the Automated Identification System (AIS). The cutter’s two-person manually operated small arms mounts will be remote operated and fully integrated with the cutters, radar and infrared sensors such that the cutter and high-value assets under its protection can be protected from a USS COLE-like incident.

The Maritime Security Capabilities allow cutter’s weapons and command and control suite to be upgraded and hardened to better survive potential terrorist incidents and process increased data flow. This will include a medium caliber deck gun (57MM) that will provide the ability to stop rogue merchant vessels far from shore. The OPC speed will increase from 22 to 27 knots providing exceptional response and reaction capability. This increased transit speed will allow for more time on station protecting port approaches. An integrated Chemical, Biological, and Radiological, Detection and Defense (CBRD&D) capability allows the OPC to remain on scene and operate in Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) scenarios.

The Deepwater acquisition plan includes 25 OPCs, which will notionally be 360 feet long, powered by four diesel engines, with an endurance of 45 days. OPCs are to be adaptable, multi-mission vessels with a C4ISR electronics suite, and capable of sustained, intensive small boat and flight operations in support of law enforcement, defense and search & rescue missions. The OPCs will complement the NSCs' capabilities, including air surveillance with helicopters and unmanned air vehicles; increased situational awareness through an integrated C4ISR electronics suite; improved force protection and automated armament (including a 57mm deck gun); and improved defenses for operating in chemical, biological, or radiological contaminated environments.

OPC will feature increased range and endurance (60–90 day patrol cycles); more powerful weapons; larger flight decks; chem-bio & radiological environmental hazard detection and defense; and improved Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (C4ISR) equipment. The cutters will be equipped with air and surface search radars and target classification sensors. The cutters’ mission influence will be extended by aircraft and a new generation of cutter boats.

The OPC was redesignated the Maritime Endurance Cutter, Medium, in early 2004. The Maritime Security Cutter Medium - WMSM - cutters will have stern ramp to accommodate small boat launch and recovery in higher sea states than conventional davit systems aboard legacy cutters. The new generation of cutter boats, including the Long Range Interceptor and Short Range Prosecutor, improve a cutter crew’s over-the-horizon and local force protection capabilities.

With a $20 million FY '04 appropriation from Congress, on 10 June 2004 the Coast Guard awarded an $8 million contract to begin preliminary design and final requirements of the Offshore Patrol Cutter (OPC), three years ahead of schedule. On 24 June 2004 the U.S. Coast Guard and Integrated Coast Guard Systems (ICGS) approved the immediate start of preliminary design and final requirements work on the new Offshore Patrol Cutter (OPC) program. The action accelerated the launch date of the OPC by three years when compared to the Deepwater program's proposed schedule. Northrop Grumman Corporation's Ship Systems sector had the lead on the OPC design effort. Some of the contract will be performed by Ship Systems' joint venture partner Lockheed Martin, for co-development of engineering design and system integration. Each partner will be awarded a subcontract under this initial OPC contract, which is expected to take more than a year to complete.

The notional design of the OPC anticipates a 341-foot vessel with capabilities and equipment similar to the Coast Guard’s new National Security Cutter, a 421-foot world-class cutter that is completing final design and is soon to commence construction. The final mission requirements and detail design of the OPC will be refined as a result of this contract, with additional funding available for follow-on contracts.

As of mid-2004 it was expected that the first cutters could enter the Coast Guard fleet several years ahead of the original schedule date in 2012. The Coast Guard had planned to accelerate development and production of the Offshore Patrol Cutter to replace its fleet of medium-endurance cutters, which range between 210 and 280 feet in length. However, the service decided against accelerating the Offshore Patrol Cutter program when it realized it couldn't afford to build that ship and the 425-foot National Security Cutter at the same time.

In FY2005 Coast Guard began a maintenance effectiveness project on the 210-foot and 270-foot cutters. This project includds replacing major engineering subsystems with the goal of extending the cutters’ service lives until their replacement by the Offshore Patrol Cutter.

In April 2007, Rear Adm. Gary Blore, the Coast Guard's program executive officer for Deepwater, said that the two cutter programs where there may be potential for commonality are patrol boats and the Offshore Patrol Cutter. Blore said some of the potential options for the Offshore Patrol Cutter include the Navy's Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) and a smaller version of the National Security Cutter. Early in the Deepwater program the Coast Guard's nominal length for the Offshore Patrol Cutter was about 340 feet. What length the ship will ultimately be is unknown. General Dynamics' LCS design is nearly 420-feet long while Lockheed Martin's is just under 380 feet.

In the FY2009 President’s budget as submitted provided that of amounts made available under Public Laws 108–334 and 109–90 for the Offshore Patrol Cutter, $98,627,476 was rescinded.