US Navy News and updates

[ngatimozart]

Lockheed has won a second contract for its AGM-158C LRASM. This is the second production lot and is for the USN and USAF.

Lockheed wins second Long Range Anti-Ship Missile contract

 

[StingrayOZ]

The USS Fitzgerald reports are pretty damming..

Secret Probe Into USS Fitzgerald Disaster Revealed a Ship in Appalling Shape
A warship doomed by ‘confusion, indecision, and ultimately panic’ on the bridge

Court details are here.

No dismissal in court-martial of USS Fitzgerald commander

However, given the recent spate of collisions, its hard not to draw out a bigger problem and not just isolated incidents.

Fort’s team of investigators described a bridge team that was overworked and exhausted, plagued by low morale, facing a relentless tempo of operations decreed by admirals far above them, distrustful of their superiors and, fatally, each other.

And Navy officials knew all of that at least a year before the tragedy.

Many lessons to be learnt, hopefully some very positive changes for the future can come out of these incidents.

 

[AegisFC]

I noted a 70% crew turnover after an extended dry dock period and no workups. I don't recognize the ship described.

 

[Ranger25]

The USN is getting closer to final requirements and an RFP for the FFG(x) program. Looking to lower costs to 800M ea for,the what looks to be a 20 ship class.

Min VLS set to 32


Navy Squeezing Costs Out of FFG(X) Program as Requirements Solidify - USNI News

 

[John Fedup]

Looks promising with the mentioned electronics and weapons, especially at $800 million per boat. Hopefully the price doesn’t ballon out and the build number gets cut. I guess these will be diesel only?

 

[StobieWan]

Looks promising with the mentioned electronics and weapons, especially at $800 million per boat. Hopefully the price doesn’t ballon out and the build number gets cut. I guess these will be diesel only?

I don't think you can get the speed requirement (28 knots) with CODAD - and all the entries are GT/Diesel in some arrangement or another.

I suspect the recently reduced speed requirement might have been aimed at making it easier for the Legend NSC variant to qualify.

 

[barney41]

It should be interesting to see how much of the tech going into the FFG-X eventually gets retrofitted into LCS.

 

[Todjaeger]

It should be interesting to see how much of the tech going into the FFG-X eventually gets retrofitted into LCS.

Unless the FFG(X) programme is awarded to either of the designs based off the two LCS classes, then I do not really expect a significant amount of modification or retro-fitting to the existing LCS vessels. After all, if neither of the two LCS-based designs are selected, that would suggest that the combination of cost and capability was insufficient when compared to other options. It could also quite easily be that of the systems which are found to be really useful and/or desirable aboard ship are ones which cannot be easily fitted to the LCS designs.

After all, the larger of the two LCS classes is still nearly 1,000 tonnes less displacement than the likely smallest of the conventional mono-hulls competing, that is nearly 25% lower displacement. 1,000 tonnes 'extra' displacement, or 2,000+ tonnes if one of the other two was selected instead, is a great deal of displacement. There would plenty of displacement to carry and support extra crew, fit more weapons and/or sensors, etc. It would also be worth noting that could also potentially increase the power generation capacity as well as the ability of a vessel to remain in an area before needing to replenish supplies.

 

[barney41]

If so, VLS would probsbly be unfeasible but at the very least I'd expect the addition of an OTH missile capability, most likely via deck launchers. This would be in keeping with the Distributed Lethality concept.

 

[Ranger25]

If so, VLS would probsbly be unfeasible but at the very least I'd expect the addition of an OTH missile capability, most likely via deck launchers. This would be in keeping with the Distributed Lethality concept.

I believe the USN has said in the impending RFP the class is to have a minimum of 32 MK41 VLS.

Article is cited in the above thread


Here as well
Navy Squeezing Costs Out of FFG(X) Program as Requirements Solidify - USNI News

 

[barney41]

I believe the USN has said in the impending RFP the class is to have a minimum of 32 MK41 VLS.

Article is cited in the above thread


Here as well
Navy Squeezing Costs Out of FFG(X) Program as Requirements Solidify - USNI News

 

[barney41]

I was referring to the possibility of deck-launched OTH ASMs on LCS should VLS prove unviable.

 

[Ranger25]

I was referring to the possibility of deck-launched OTH ASMs on LCS should VLS prove unviable.

Looking like the min req is two Quad packed deck tube style launchers with a reach goal of 16 available deck mounted tubes for OTH ASMs

Also discussed is adding the RUM-139 and potential room/power for a 150KW laser system


The Navy's Future Frigates Are Shaping Up To Be More Lethal And Capable, As Well As Cheaper

 

[StobieWan]

It should be interesting to see how much of the tech going into the FFG-X eventually gets retrofitted into LCS.

Both LCS designs don't have a lot of margin unfortunately - there's about 150 tons of free displacement that can be assigned to various systems so anything you add, well, that has to subtract from that total.

If there's a like for like swap like a sensor or something, yeah, that can work and maybe a single face rotating EASR might be a potential trade for the existing TRS or Sea Giraffe could happen but there's no room for a lot of additional stuff without kissing goodbye to the ability to fit mission modules.

 

[Ranger25]

Both LCS designs don't have a lot of margin unfortunately - there's about 150 tons of free displacement that can be assigned to various systems so anything you add, well, that has to subtract from that total.

If there's a like for like swap like a sensor or something, yeah, that can work and maybe a single face rotating EASR might be a potential trade for the existing TRS or Sea Giraffe could happen but there's no room for a lot of additional stuff without kissing goodbye to the ability to fit mission modules.

Agreed, the only consistent upgrades I’ve hear discussed are the deck mounted quad OTH ASHM launchers. Beyond that the UDN has also discussed specializing each hull, ASW etc, and seems to be moving away from the modular concept. Perhaps in part due to the delays, cost overruns, and lack luster results of the modules.

 

[ngatimozart]

The USN are planning to double crew their FFX with Blue & Gold crews in order to obtain max at sea time from the ships. This is already the system that they utilise with the LCS and the see benefits from it other than just the full utilisation of the ships reducing the workloads of the DDG fleet.

The US Navy is planning for its new frigate to be a workhorse

 

[John Fedup]

This sailor was killed on her 5th overseas deployment because she was rejected from trying to become a clinical psychologist due to having cancer which she had been successfully treated for. A pretty sad story but at least the rules that led to this decision have amended.

Navy revises rules in wake of linguist’s death in Syria

 

[barney41]

NAMMO has unveiled a ramjet-powered artillery round with a range of approaching 100Km. No estmated cost at present buytthe Navy is reportedly looking at it as a potential round for the DDG-1000 AGS.

 

[John Fedup]

There have been a number of stories reporting on the plan not to refuel the Harry S.Truman thus retiring the ship 25 years early while at the same time an order for 2 Ford class carriers has been placed. All sorts of cost benefit and preservation of CVN building skills are offered up as to why this makes sense. I really don’t know but I don’t think Congress will allow this.

There is likely some concern as to how viable CVNs are as missile technology advances. Are 14 billion dollar CVNs too large an investment especially when the combat radius of its jets force the carrier to operate within missile range even with AAR? Perhaps Newport News (along with Electric Boat) should be building more SSN/BN and maybe SSGNs instead of CVNs. The other link describes the growing danger for surface ships in defending themselves via human decision making. Without knowing how effective rival missiles really are, I admit future decisions will be difficult. Needless to say the missile defence issue is a concern for all new surface ship programs.

Red Sky in Morning: Naval Combat at the Dawn of Hypersonics


Nothing Projects Power Like an Aircraft Carrier. Does the Pentagon Think Otherwise?

 

[John Fedup]

Here’s a summary of the draft RFP for the USN’s future frigate. It will be interesting to see if these ships can be built in the price range suggested, 800-950 million. The equipment list seems to be fairly substantial.

Navy Issues Draft RFP for FFG(X) Next-Generation Frigate - USNI News