Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) Mine & Inshore Warfare [MIW]
The LCS will make use of MIW environmental models and databases. The Mission Package will enable LCS to:
- Detect classify and identify surface, moored and bottom mines to permit maneuver or use ofselected sea areas.
- Coordinate/support mission planning and execution with Joint and Combined assets in the absence ofdedicated MIW command and control platforms. MIW mission planning will include the use oforganic and remotely operated sensors. The LCS will exchange MIW tactical information including Mine Danger Areas (MDA), mine locations, mine types, environmental data, bottom maps, off-board system locations, planned search areas and confidence factors.
- Conduct mine reconnaissance.
- Perform bottom mapping.
- Perform minefield break through/punch through operations using off-board systems.
- Perform minesweeping using off-board mission system.
- Conduct precise location and reporting of a full range of MCM contact data. For example: identified mines and non-mine bottom objects.
- Perform mine neutralization.
- Employ, reconfigure, and support MH-60S for MIW operations.
- Embark an EOD detachment.
- Deploy, control, and recover off-board systems, and process data from off-board systems.
As of early 2010 The Navy had accepted delivery of two partially capable MCM mission packages; however, the program has delayed the procurement of the fiscal year 2009-funded package due to technical issues and the resulting operational test delays. Four MCM systems-the Unmanned Surface Vehicle (USV), Unmanned Sweep System (USS), Organic Airborne and Surface Influence Sweep (OASIS), and Rapid Airborne Mine Clearance System (RAMICS)-had not yet been demonstrated in a realistic environment, and two others-the Airborne Laser Mine Detection System (ALMDS) and Remote Minehunting System (RMS)-cannot meet system requirements. ALMDS has been unable to meet its mine detection requirements at its maximum depth or its mine detection and classification requirements at surface depths. RMS demonstrated poor system reliability, availability, and maintainability in a September 2008 operational assessment, and program officials report the system is currently undergoing a series of tests to try to improve its reliability. Program officials also reported that the cable used to tow certain airborne MCM systems had to be redesigned following test failures with two systems.
The Navy completed Phase III end-to-end testing of the littoral combat ship (LCS) mine countermeasure mission package off the coast of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., 02 October 2010, fully assessing unmanned vehicle operations and verifying vehicle speeds, turns and sensor deployment and retrieval capabilities. The tests, conducted at the South Florida Open Measurement Facility, were conducted by Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC) Panama City for the Navy's Program Executive Office for Littoral and Mine Warfare (PEO LMW).
"Phase III is the culmination of the end-to-end testing. It gives us confidence that we will be ready for development testing on board USS Independence (LCS 2) in 2011," said Capt. John W. Ailes, PEO LMW's program manager for LCS mission modules. For testing purposes and due to the operational schedule of the two delivered LCSs, the mission package was embarked aboard the Office of Naval Research vessel Seafighter, which acted as a surrogate for the LCS platform. Using Seafighter, mine countermeasure detachment Sailors were able to operate and test the mission module equipment systems at sea.
The test included full detect-to-engage scenarios, off-board vehicle tactics development, evaluation of tactical operation and maintenance procedures and evaluation of progress toward meeting key performance parameters.
The LCS Mission Modules Program successfully executed the first two phases of end-to-end testing in September 2008 and September 2009, respectively. Phase I focused on constructing mock-ups of USS Freedom (LCS 1) and LCS 2 mission bay areas to conduct system interface checks, handling, and load-out of support containers and mine countermeasure systems. Phase II testing focused on validating the ability of the Mission Package Computing Environment to establish connectivity through the Multi-Vehicle Communications System and enable operations of surface and sub-surface off-board vehicles.
PEO LMW is an affiliated Program Executive Office of the Naval Sea Systems Command, which designs, delivers and maintains the systems, equipment and weapons needed by the warfighter to dominate the littoral battle space and provide the assured access to the warfighter.
