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NSWC Crane and USS Ramage performs IROS3 Demonstration

NAVSEA News Wire

Release Date: 3/01/2004

By Dusty Wilson, NSWC Crane Program Manager IROS3

NSWC Crane teamed with the ship force to perform an Integrated Radar Optical Surveillance and Sighting System, IROS3 detect-to-engage sequence demonstration for Commander U.S. Second Fleet, Vice Admiral G. Roughead aboard the USS Ramage (DDG-61), at the Norfolk Naval Station in January 2004.

IROS3 is a NAVSEA and PEO IWS/LMW sponsored initiative developed by NSWC Crane to field a Shipboard Protection System (SPS) for high value Navy assets pier side, at anchorage, or while transiting restricted waterways. IROS3 automates the detect-to-engage sequence used by a ship's force providing it with a layered defense against surface threats that may exist in a cluttered maritime environment.

The IROS3 system includes two stabilized day/night imagers with laser range finding capability, two 30 million candle power stabilized searchlights, two stabilized small arms platforms each outfitted with GAU-17 MK 44 Mini-Gun and day/night imagers, and two long range hailing devices, and wireless connectivity with picket boats. AN/SPS-73 NAV Radar track data, GPS data, and Digital Nautical Chart data is also fed into two networked consoles - one on the ship's bridge and the other in the Combat Information Center (CIC), to provide the war fighter with common track data used to slew sensors, lethal, and non-lethal responses to targets of interest.

The IROS3 system was installed aboard the USS Ramage last summer as a proof-of-concept demonstration system that successfully completed live fire testing August 1-15, 2003. The live fire testing included the acquisition, tracking, and engagement of various targets at different ranges and speeds. The system has since remained aboard the USS Ramage providing increased force protection to the ship and valuable lessons learned to the developers at NSWC Crane. VADM Roughead remarked to USS Ramage commanding officer Cmdr. M. S. Young, that the "system was impressive and provided a much needed protection capability."

The SPS program includes long term plans to field the IROS33 system aboard surface ships beginning in FY05 and also includes planned upgrades for swimmer detection and non-lethal engagement. "The current IROS3 version has proven to be a tremendous tool for increasing the situational awareness of bridge and CIC watch standers, " said previous Commanding Officer of USS Ramage, Cmdr. R. Hendrickson, "IROS3 open architecture design also provides flexibility for spiral upgrades". IROS3 current capability will receive SPS planned spiral upgrades and increased capability to protect against asymmetric threats in the future.

System designs created in the office have been given careful consideration by the IROS3 development Fleet Tiger Team that allowed the end user to provide specific design considerations up front and early. Chief Warrant Officer Timothy Lindley, Petty Officer 1st Class Operations Specialist Todd Caron, Petty Officer 2nd Class Gunners Mate (SW) Danny Jones and Petty Officer 3rd Class Fire Controlman (SW) Brad Weiland, provided vital and necessary input from a Fleet perspective into how the system would best be operated and maintained on a guided-missile destroyer like USS Ramage. "Making us part of the brainstorming process allowed us to show how to make the system more Sailor-friendly," said Weiland. "I think the system will be great, and it can only improve our ability to stand watch."

Valuable lessons learned from the system's immersion into a dynamic, maritime environment were incorporated to tune IROS³'s development and to mold a more suitable and user-friendly product that will meet the specific demands of the Fleet. The live fire "test a little and learn a lot" methodology combined with the "Fleet Tiger Team" approach has proven vital in rapidly delivering a successful product to the Fleet. The Fleet Tiger Team is comprised of experts from NSWC Crane; NSWC Dahlgren; NSWC Dam Neck; USS Ramage (DDG 61); Tactical Training Group, Atlantic; Weapons Systems Explosive Safety Review Board, and other Fleet and industry representatives.