SHIPS
Expeditionary Fast Transport is new name for Joint High Speed Vessel, JHSV, was HSV
Joint Venture (HSV-X1) 315-foot catamaran ferry to deliver troops and equipment. This vessel's story has now entered mainstream and moved to its own page at Expeditionary Fast Transport was Joint High Speed Vessel.
HSV Sea Slice is characterized by four teardrop-shaped submerged hulls. A 2002 experimental design that seems to have disappeared. See also, Proteus
New Generation Destroyer - DDX - Zumwalt Class (DDG-1000)
Mar. 2003 . USS Radford * to become prototype of new DDX equipment . Fall 2004-Fall 05.
Dec. 2003 . Popular Mechanics reports the DD(X) requirements have been released to contractors and calls for 14,000 ton displacement, 600 foot waterline, 79 ft beam, stealthy design, manned by a crew of 125, and conventionally armed.
Update Sep. 2012 . 610 foot, 81 ft beam, 27 ft draft, fully loaded displacement over 15,600 tons ; crew 130- 16 O, 104 E, plus 28-person aviation detachment.
These specifications will make the DDX half again as large as current destroyers (Spruance and Burke classes [which are the size of pre-WW2 cruisers: New Orleans, Brooklyn classes]) and equal to the size of late-WW2 heavy cruisers (Baltimore class). This ship type is more properly a CLS, stealth light cruiser.
Status : preliminary design. Planned delivery 2011, service 2013. New date 2015, 2016. Newer date 2016, 2018.
Aug'05 . The first DDX will carry two 155-millimeter guns (5.9") that fire rocket-propelled rounds. Current test versions of the gun have hit targets 68 miles away. The Navy hopes to reach 96 miles. The ships will be built of special materials in a design that will make it stealthy. It will have a variety of automated systems that call for a crew of 150, one-third of the sailors needed on today's destroyers. Northrop Grumman Corp. is the lead contractor.
The Navy wants to begin detailed design and construction on the initial DDX. But the GAO said "engineering development models" for 10 major new systems slated will not be fully tested until much later and fears the need for redesigns.
Sep'05. Navy says 10 new systems satisfactory and ends Phase III. Plans to begin final design and construction with two shipyards - Northrop Grumman Ship Systems and General Dynamics Bath Iron Works to simultaneously build lead ships beginning in fiscal year 2007.
Nov'05. DoD authorizes Phase IV, detail design and construction of the two lead ships.
Apr'06. USS Zumwalt (DDG-1000) named. Zumwalt is to be delivered in 2012 and will have 2% of the radar cross section of current destroyers. Displacement of around 12,000 tons with a crew of 140. Two planned operational in 2013.
21July'08. The $3B DDX will probably to be replaced with a $200M upgrade of existing Burke class destroyers (DDG) [52/61 ships, 1991-2012] and $250M for existing Ticonderoga class cruisers (CG) [22 ships, 1988-1994]. These upgrades will add ten years to their life and install some of the DDX technology including crew automation and electronics.
Feb. 14, 2008, The Navy exercised contract modifications for the construction of DDG 1000 Zumwalt and DDG 1001 to General Dynamics Bath Iron Works and Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding
31Oct'08. DDG 1001 named Michael Monsoor -- 16,000 tons; 600 feet, 148 crew, 30+ knots. MOH; movie "Lone Survivor".
These ships will be heavier and almost twice as long as pre-WWI battleships of Mississippi class (13,000 tons, 382 ft), scrapped by treaty 1923 and close to the size of six WWI battleships (16,000 tons, 456 ft) ; heavier than any heavy cruiser that fought in WW2 or Korea (Baltimore class, 13,600 tons, 675 ft) but smaller than the final post war, gun cruisers (Des Moines, 17,000 ton, 716 feet), yet much larger than the current missile cruisers (Ticonderoga, 10,000, 567 feet). A late WWII Sumner Class destroyer was only 2,200 tons, 376 feet. This ship type is more properly a CLG.
Jan'09. 81% cost over-run, requires re-justification of program.
Concern about the stability of the tumblehome design and water jet propulsion was tested in a quarter scale model were found satisfactory. Sea Jet (AESD) was tested on a lake in Idaho, not in a storm at sea. Without flair there is no force for a ship to right itself in heavy seas.
June'10. The DDG 1000 Program was truncated to three ships in August of 2008. Ship fabrication commenced in February 2009 for delivery in 2013 with an initial operating capability scheduled for FY 2015.
Mar'11. DDG-1000 37% complete.
The DDG-51 production lines were reopened in FY'11 and long lead time items placed on order for the first three new ships. An enhanced flight III design will start with DDG-123 in 2016 budget. link
Mar'15. New target dates show delay of another year.
Sept'12. 70% ; Nov.'12 75% complete.
- These ships will not be ready for the coming war.
Target 2014 builders trials and acceptance trials with delivery for U.S. Navy tests.
Mar'15 . 94% complete ; delivery Nov'15, Ready for combat Sep'18.
14,500 to 15,000 ton ; 600 to 610 ft ; 30 knot ; 130 crew plus 28 air.
Dec 7,'15 The future USS Zumwalt (DDG 1000) is underway for the first time.
Sep 6' 16. Departs builder site.
Commissions 15Oct'16 in Baltimore. Now to San Diego to install combat systems.
Nov 22'16. Breakdown in Panama Canal: sprang a leak and lost propulsion, then scraped along the canal walls. Tugs towed her to a former military base.
Sep'12. 30% complete; sail date FY'17. Keel laid.23May'13, 60% complete. Acceptance trials compompleted 1Feb'18. video
14,500 ton ; 600 ft ; 30 knot ; 140 crew.
14,500 ton ; 600 ft ; 30 knot ; crew 140.
Sep'15. This ship is being considered for cancellation even though 41% compete. No saving and no ship, result would be Navy down one destroyer.
Next Generation Cruiser -- CGX is the discussed replacement for Ticonderoga class cruisers for fleet defense and surface bombardment. These would be based on the (untested) Zumwalt destroyer hull. High estimated costs have caused consideration of alternatives -- upgrades to increase the life of later Ticonderoga (CG-52+) ; a special class of Zumwalts (much as Ticonderogas were renamed from a class of Spruance destroyer) ; or a single purpose ballistic missile ships.
Feb'10. The program was canceled in the 2011 budget. Oldest existing cruisers have reached their 25-year design life. Bunker Hill (CG-52) 1986.
June'10. Modernization chosen; will be completed by 2018.
March'12. Seven Ticonderoga class cruisers to be retired FY'13. None have. Four funded thru 2013.
Cruiser Modification Program. Conversion from steam-driven auxiliary equipment to electric, installation of an integrated ship's control system and fuel oil tank top stiffening. To add life to existing cruisers, rather than build a new design.
18Sep'15. Air Defense Command modernization scheduled for Cowpens (CG-63) and Gettysburg (CG-64) to add 10-19 years of life to these cruisers once scheduled to be retired in 2013.
Future Surface Combatant. The new class is expected to enter service in the early 2030s and initially serve alongside the 22 Flight III DDGs. No hull design or shape has been speculated yet. The Burke hull is considered too small for all the new equipment. Destroyer and cruiser types seem to have merged for economy. This class will incorporate emerging technologies such as electric drive for energy weapons, increased automation and electronics. Laser weapon systems are likely to become more prominent to engage threats. Future Surface Combatant will emphasize lethality and survivability, as well as being able to continue to protect aircraft carriers.
As I see it, carriers serve as airbases in trouble spots and need protection, but will be easily destroyed in a war with a major power. Missile ships will be less of a target, a role available to submarines. Future surface ships will be needed for control of the air, surface, and undersea in support of amphibious operations.
New Frigate : Renaming of LCS. The LCS was deemed unsurvivable in combat an religated to auxillary roles such a mine sweeper. A study was initiated : in January 2015 proposals received call for increasing the length of Freedom class to 410 feet (from 378'), add missiles, bigger radar, and up the gun from 57mm to 76mm. The Navy announced that the up-gunned LCS will be reclassified as a "Frigate" since the new requirements to upgrade the ships with frigate-like capabilities. Hull designations will be changed from LCS to FF ; existing LCSs back-fitted with modifications may also earn the FF label. See descussion LCS
- This section has moved to its own LCS page.
Multi-Role Corvette. Austal has proposed a much smaller and slower trimaran, called the 'Multi-Role Vessel'. Though it is only half the size of their LCS design, it would still be useful for border protection and counter-piracy operations. See Austal MRV. No U.S. orders.
Future Ballistic Submarine. Ohio replacement program.
Sea Shadow (IX 529) built by DARPA in 1985 and served for two decades as a test platform for ship stealth and experimental technologies of advanced hull forms and structures, automation for reduced manning, sea keeping and signature control.
The vessel was built modularly under tight secrecy in the early 1980s by different manufacturers and assembled inside the Hughes Mining Barge (HMB). The HMB would be moved out to sea in the dead of night and halfway submerged, to let Sea Shadow out to be tested without being overly exposed to public observation.
Sea Shadow doesn't have traditional rudders --aft stabilizers and forward canards on the inboard side of its submerged twin hulls control steering. Combined with the angled sides,our new oceanographic ships have inherited the stabilizer and canard method to help perform their stability-sensitive surveillance missions. The angled sides also helps the ship remain stable even in very rough water with waves of up to 18-feet and shows the origin of similarly sloped superstructures of the Arleigh Burke-class and the proposed DDX class destroyers.
Sea Shadow is 160-feet-long with a small water-plane area twin hull. She has bunks for 12 and a microwave for galley. Not intended to be mission-capable, never designated as "USS," rather is a miscellaneous craft. Navy offered it as a museum, but will likely have to scrap it. - June'11. Sold in 2012 for scrap only.
"Sea Flyer," advanced ship hull system, equipped the Navy's SES-200, ship with a 170-ton Navatek underwater lifting body that enables the hull to be fully out of the water at higher speeds. Navatek's patented technology is similar to that which NASA uses with spacecraft. The new hull has seen a significant increase in stability over comparable vessels at all speeds from stopped to high speed. 9July04
1Oct04. Computers constantly monitored acceleration, pitch, yaw and roll, adjusting airplane-like flaps to lift up and steer the 167-foot Sea Flyer.
CVN 21 Project the next generation of aircraft carrier [ 21st Century, but CVN-78] began 2 years of advanced construction Aug 11,'05.
Besides being larger than today's Nimitz-class carriers, the new generation will be similar in appearance with improvements including more compact reactor, electromagnetic catapults, simplified island, faster launch cycle, smaller crew, more accepting of unmanned and vertical takeoff vehicles.
Aug'04. Delayed by budget to begin construction in 2008, launch 2015. Intended to replace Enterprise who's 50-year life reactor will be reached in 2011.
Sept'08. Detailed design contract of $5.1B was awarded for USS Gerald R Ford (CVN-78). Expected completion Sept 2015.
Mar'13 One billion over budget. Eleven Ford class carriers are planned through 2058, one every five years.
Georgia class, SSGN . Four converted "boomers" modified to carry 154 cruise missiles or 60 SEALS. Two missile silos are converted as an air lock and an ASDS mini-sub docking hatch. These boats will replace five PCs that were SEAL carriers and recently transferred to the US Coast Guard. Then returned and sent to Bahrain in 2013-14.
SeaArk Dauntless 34-foot craft used by Inshore Boat Unit of Naval Coastal Warfare Squadron are deploying to Kuwait. These patrol boats mount four guns of various types.
Sea Fighter (FSF 1) The Littoral Surface X- Craft --Experimental will be used to evaluate the hydrodynamic performance, structural behavior, mission flexibility, and propulsion system of high-speed vessels. The X-Craft is a 262-foot, high-speed aluminum catamaran,
beam 72-feet,draft 11.5 feet. capable of speed in excess of 50 knots,
crew of 26, that will test a variety of technologies, which will allow the Navy to operate more effectively in littoral or near-shore waters. Sea trials begin in San Diego in April'05.
22July05 Everett, Wash.
01Aug'05. Arrived homeport San Diego, Contrast with LCS that went into production.
28Feb'13 returns to homeport Naval Surface Warfare Center Panama City after 4-mo yard period.
Stiletto . M80, a 88-foot long, 40-ft wide, 60-ton, pentamaran, 2.5-ft draft, 50+ knots Stiletto is the first and largest carbon fiber ship built in the United States. Its m-shaped, light-weight hull lets the boat travel at speeds of more than 50 knots. The boat is a demonstration craft that might be used to transport special operations forces to their mission quickly and is ideal for navigating shallow waters to detect mines and support special operations missions. Since launch in January 2005, Stiletto has participated in joint military training. Summer 2009 joint team assigned to illicit trafficking in Caribbean. Pic at speed . Not heard about since 2009. video
- Late WW2 Patrol/Motor Torpedo Boat (PT) was 80 feet x 21 x 5 feet, 45 tons, 41 knots.
Ohio Class Replacement. DOD endorsed replacing the current 14 Ohio-class ballistic-missile submarines (SSBN, 1984-1997) as they reach the end of their service life with 12 Ohio replacement submarines, each comprising 16, 87-inch missile tubes. This allows start of design for a lead ship procurement in 2019. - 3Feb11
Oct'14. Specifications are nearing completion. Detail design to start in 2017. Target for first completion by 2021. However, the construction program is unfunded even while cuts are being made in all other priorities. Both China and Russia are increasing their navies while we reduce ours.
ESD / ESB, Expeditionary Support platform (was MLP, Mobile Landing Platform).
Planned four ships. ESD[Dock] -1 and- 2 are to aid unloading Maritime Prepositioning Ships. ESB[Base]-3 and -4 will be tasked for low intensity missions freeing amphibious warfare ships under many contingencies. Based on a tanker design is to support a brigade by unloading vehicles from deep-draft ships to MLP to LCAC while underway.
ESD: 83,000 tons, 837 feet . ESB: 78,000 tons, 764-foot. 15 knots , 25,000 square feet stowage space , 380,000 gallons jet fuel storage . Crew 34-person civilian. Expected operational 2015 - 2018.
USNS Montford Point ; USNS John Glenn ; USNS Lewis B. Puller, USNS Hershel Williams.
17Apr'12. Montford Point 48% complete ; begin construction of John Glenn.
14Nov'12. Montford Point floated ; to christen March 2013
05Dec'12. John Glenn keel laid. Launched Sept 2013.
04May'13. Monford Point (MLP-1) accepted. Christen Mar'13.
04Nov'13. Lewis B. Puller (MLP-3) keel laid. Nov'14 float-off. AFSB variant. Afloat Forward Staging Base (more helos).
01Feb'14. John Glenn (MLP-2) christened. Acquired 12Mar'14.
12Jun'15. Lewis B. Puller (ESB-3) (was T-MLP-3/T-AFSB-1) christened. To replace USS Ponce (AFSB(i)-15) in 2016. Essentially a mine sweeper tender
14Jan'16. Hershael Williams (ESB-4) named. Keel 2Aug'16. Launch 19Aug'17. Sched to fleet 2018.
17Aug'17. Lewis B. Puller (ESB-3) Commissioned 17Aug'17. Note: now warship.
SSC, Ship-to-Shore Connector. Program to replace Landing Craft Air Cushion (1984-2001). Amphibious, 35knots , 74 ton payload or 145 Marines, 25nm range or greater.,
06July'12, contract awarded for detail design and construction of a SSC test and training craft; option for 8 more. In-service target 2017. Current 91 LCAC reaching 20-year life expectancy are undergoing a 10-yr life extension upgrade. First LCAC's reached 30-year extended life expectancy and retired.
June'14. First 9 SSC in production Jan'14. one-for-one replacement for 72 remaining LCAC starting 2017.
Nov'17. Preparation for accept the SSC crafts at Panama City in December 2017
'T-Craft.' Transformable Craft program to update LCAC/SSC. To be capable of high speed shallow-water transits while fully loaded with at least four M-1 tanks; include personnel berthing; execute good sea-keeping during cargo transfers at sea, and have amphibious operations capability. Involves larger air cushion fans and finger skirting that supports the bow. Status Sep'12 -- testing phase is done ; contract let for designs. Jun'14. No news for two years.
Mark V SOC (Special Operations Craft) is a small marine security/patrol/transport boat primarily used to insert SEAL Teams. Carbon-fiber "V" hull, 82 feet, 57 tons, 65 kn, crew 5. Carries 16 Seals 500 miles.
CV vulnerability . The Navy has raised its assessment of a carrier at sea vulnerability to above "poor" because of new capabilities of potential adversaries to launch multiple missile salvos. - Jan'11. There is nowhere to hide a carrier in a big war.
WAM-V Proteus wave adaptive modular vessel developed by Ugo Conti, Marine Advanced Research. Has four legs connecting the superstructure to inflatable outriggers. L. 100', B. 50 ft, D variable (inches), Disp 12 tons including 2 T cargo, Sp. 30 kn. pics
CCB - coastal command patrol boat, 65 feet, 50 ton, crew 18. New technology for Coastal Riverine Force to support broader missions and battlespace. 15Aug'13 Assigned to CRG-1, San Diego, operational Sept. Arrived Behrain 05Feb'14. Prototype for Mk VI Patrol Boat.
Mk VI Patrol Boat. Protype, CCB, arrived Behrain, 08Feb'14. Mark VI is an 85-foot-long patrol boat intended to expand operations of Navy patrol craft farther off shore, replacing the 68-foot Mark IV and 34-foot Sea Ark patrol boats. Contract for five, plans for 48 Mk VI boats. Twin diesels, waterjets, self righting; disp 50T. speed 35Kn, range 600 Nm ; 25mm gun forward. First boat due fiscal 2014. -- Feb'14
pic First of 7 accepted 27Aug'14.
WW2 PT - Motor Torpedo Boat : 38 Ton, 80 Ft, 41 Kn, 350 Mmi, 2- .50, 1- 20mm, 2-4 torpedoes. pic
Ghost Supercavation Patrol Boat built by Juliet Marine Systems. The Ghost uses a gyro-stabilized dual-pontoon supercavitating hull to run at top speed (50kn?) through 10-foot seas. It is controlled by 22 computer-controlled underwater control surfaces. more including video. Production model would be 150 ft long.
SSC, Small Surface Combatant. A combat capable upgrade to the Lattoral Combat Ship. Proposal accepted by Sec Nav of study team of weakeness of LCS considered a little coastguard ship that is not survival in a hostle environment. Current production will stop at 32 vessels and the remaining 20 authorized to be of new design that is both surface and anti-sub capable. Timetable is 2017 budget and 2019 build. Current production backlog LCS will be used for anti-mine warfare -- 12Dec'14
Robotic Boats
Unmanned Surface Vessel, USV, Spartan Scout is an unmanned, rigid hull inflatable boat with an enhanced engine and hi-tech camera and sensor gear .Dec. 1, 2003. Gettysburg (CG 64) of the Enterprise (CVN 65) Carrier Strike Group, successfully launched Spartan Scout and completed an unmanned, three-hour mission that was driven remotely from three laptop computers in the Combat Direction Center (CDC) aboard Gettysburg.
Two years ago, the Naval Undersea Warfare Center (NUWC) in Newport, R.I., started development on the first remote-controlled surface vehicle. This test was the first unmanned operation of the Spartan Scout from a U.S. warship at sea and required manpower only for launch and recovery. The unmanned surface vessel (USV) expands your sensor range and situational awareness without exposing boat crews to rough seas or weather. The crew operates the USV from the comfort and safety of the control module in CDC, its sensors feeding information directly the operators.
The trial variant of Spartan is designed primarily for surface surveillance and force protection. Using a forward-looking infrared/CCD camera, Spartan Scout can provide surveillance in a harbor, not only for Navy ships but for U.S. Coast Guard units responsible for port security, and it could provide reconnaissance for ships passing through maritime choke-points. Spartan Scout can be modified for mine detection or anti-submarine warfare. When equipped with a Hellfire or Javelin missile, it could attack other surface vehicles or conduct precision strikes ashore.
Gettysburg completed its operational testing with Spartan Scout Dec'03 and sent the results for further evaluation.
Robot Boat -- unmanned surface vessel precision engagement module (USV PEM). The 36-foot robot boat carries both missiles and a .50 caliber machine gun. Testing launched six missiles 24Oct'12. Intended to resist attacks by small boat swarms against larger ships.
It took a decade, but glad it is here . Read more .
Unmanned Patrol Boat Technology -- 05Oct'14 -- to be applied to rigid-hull inflatables and larger patrol boats to operate autonomously to identify and block threats. When a threat requires, the boat can be operated remotely including firing the 50-cal machine gun. A swam of 13 was demonstrated in August. A kit to be applied to current boats is to be available for harbor and fleet use within a year.
Sea Hunter (ACTUV) Anti-Submarine Continuous Trail Unmanned Vessel is an autonomous vessel to track diesel electric submarines spanning thousands of miles of range and months of endurance -- the first "theator level" robot. Leidos' model is an unmanned trimaran built out of carbon composites. A test vessel fitted with autonomy software and sensors to mimic the configuration of the ACTUV completed 42 days of at-sea demonstrations to fulfill collision regulations. The first operational prototype, named Sea Hunter, is scheduled to launch and begin at-sea testing in mid-2015. -- 18Nov'14
The ACTUV submarine hunter is 132 ' long, 145 tons, range 10,000 nmiles. Christened 7Apr'16 in Portland, Oregon. Speed test, 27 knots. If two years of trials are successful, it may be armed. [video]
Large Displacement Unmanned Underwater Vehicle (LDUUV) -- a mini-sub drone being designed for intelligence, surveillance and mine countermeasure missions capable of being launched by multiple platforms, including littoral combat ships, Virginia-class submarines and Ohio-class guided-missile submarines, Emphasis on South China Sea. Milestone A authorized. -- 17Aug'16
Fleet Tanker. Replacement of Kaiser (TAO-187) class, . 17 ships of similar capabilites of Kaisers Double hulled. -- 06Feb'15
AIR CRAFT
Osprey V-22.
Twin-engine, tilt wing aircraft. Twelve were initially ordered for evaluation in 1998. It has gone through a very public evaluation period after a training
accident which lost both crew and onboard marines. The USMC wants
348 units to replace aging helicopters and the Navy and Army want
50 each. The Osprey is faster, longer range, quieter, and carries a larger payload than helicopters.
Range 500 miles ; speed 275 mph ; 24 passengers ; external payload 5 tons. Aerial refueling. In an assault configuration - over 200 miles with 18 troops.
Applications: Marine MV-22 for all uses. Navy HV-22 for search and rescue. Air Force CV-22 for special operations.
7March03. All Ospreys received a priority hydraulic system change; to be back in service by March 21.
23Nov03. The Marine Corps MV-22 Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft completed its latest series of sea trials using USS Bataan (LHD 5) "This was the final flight deck stability test before the V-22 goes into production" .
25 March'09. Bataan (LHD 5) to deploy with ten Osprey.
Now deployed with Air Force and Marines. Navy considering for COD use.
Nov 2011. Boeing pushing for replacement of Army helicopters. Model would be able to have longer propellers and not require folding wing to fit aboard ships, hence be simpler and lighter.
Entered full fleet service -- no longer in Next Generation comments.
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles. Predator (Air Force) is an endurance-type UAV that operates at medium altitude, 15,000 to 20,000 feet and can stay airborne for more than 24 hours. Shadow (Army, Marine) is a tactical UAV that operates below 10,000 feet and in the neighborhood of five to six hours in the air. Scan Eagle operates in the 2,000-foot regime or lower ; it is such a small UAV that one person can pick it up and carry it around, 4.8-ft w/10.2-ft wing. Coast Guard is developing Eagle Eye VUAV tilt rotor for shipboard surveillance -- think mini-Osprey. Fire Scout MQ-8 autonomous helicopter is intended for LCS. see Fire Scout below.
See small fixed wing Silver Fox , Ion Tiger , and Puma. Larger BAMS/Predator/Mariner , MQ-9 Reaper and Combat trial X-47B (UCAV).
Sly Fox is test of a UH-19XRW Hoverwing in ground-effect mode with a thought to unmanned military capabilities of the hybrid hovercraft and ground-effect vehicle that can lift 6-feet off the water to go fast and avoid obstacles. See civilian
Silver Fox , Unmanned Aerial Vehicle. "An overgrown model airplane," used in battles in Iraq to provide Marines with live views of the battlefield.
Silver Fox was developed in 2002 for tracking whales and built from off-the-shelf model airplane parts, imaging equipment and Global Positioning Satellite technology. It can be launched by hand by throwing it into the wind and has a flight time of about 5 hours. The UAV is controlled through a laptop computer that can fly several of the aircraft at the same time. It has cameras that provide a real time downlink in color, monochrome and infrared. "Rather than a high value piece of equipment, it gives us the freedom to be use, abuse and lose."
March'03 . Six aircraft rushed to Iraq provided protection to American troops by flying convoy escort and reconnaissance and surveillance missions for Special Forces and Marine units.
2010 - now weighs 50 pounds, 8 hour endurance, carry 8 pound load. Use on Riverine boats.
March 2013 - No new information found. See Ion Tiger and Puma below?
Fire Scout - Jan'06, unmanned RQ-8A helicopter underwent design test flights, leaving Patuxent River, MD. and landing on LPD-13 Nashville and return. The programs improved MQ-8B is expected to arrive in Fy'08.
Jan'07. Upgraded from R-reconn to M-multipurpose test with 8- 2.75" rockets. Capable of operations of five hours with 130-lbs at 110 nautical miles from the launch site. Plan introduction in 2008, with full production in 2009. Program began before May 2002 -- 7-years seems long in wartime. Teens fly radio controlled helicopters in their back yard for under $300. The adult version, MQ-8, weights a ton and has a 27 foot rotor.
Sept'08. Designed for the delayed LCS, the Fire Scout is being assigned to other ships for real-world experience and armed with Hellfire missiles. Three delivered, a few on order, Speed 140 mph, controller range 140 miles with 5 hours airtime.
Apr2010 completed first 6-month mission at sea. Caught a drug runner while operating from McInerney (FFG-8.)
21June'11 - a MQ-8B was lost during a mission over Libya, downed by enemy ground-fire.
10July'11 - The Navy plans to buy up to 168 Fire Scouts based on Schweizer 333 airframe.
Multi-Mode Sensor Seeker (MMSS) target recognition sensors and 3D software for Fire Scout will identify small boats in congested coastal waters and send that information to human operators, thus saving hundreds of hours of human monitoring.
10Apr'12. Suspended 14 operational Fire Scouts after crashes in Africa and Afghanistan.
23Apr'12. Navy orders 8 MQ-8C based on larger Bell 407 ; 14-hour, 600-lb payload. Deployment 2014.
05Apr'13. a MQ-8B completes 600 deployed hours while aboard Bradley (FFG-49), usually 17 hours per day. 30 MQ-8Bs have been acquired and deployed on frigates with effective range 110 nmiles, 3 hours.
11Oct'13. MQ-8C (previously Fire-X) flight tests a Bell 407 helicopter with additional fuel capability and MQ-8B avionics and payloads. Range 125 NM, 6 hours. Planned deployment FY2014 on a destroyer and LCS.
Read more: http://defensetech.org/2013/10/07/upgraded-fire-scout-prepares-for-first-test-flight/#ixzz2hQ62CuvT Defense.org
04Dec'14 MQ-8C Fire Scout deployed aboard Jason Dunham (DDG 109) for at-sea testing. This larger helicopter drone can carry 2,650 pounds or conduct missions for 14 hours without refueling and has an operational ceiling of 17,000 feet and speed of 160 mph. Nineteen are being built, potential 70.
Broad Area Maritime Surveillance (BAMS) system involves a large unmanned aircraft capable of flying 2,000 nautical miles each way and remaining in service for at least 24 hours, while surveying large areas of open ocean or coastal areas with state-of-the-art sensors. Northrop Grumman's Global Hawk UAV (left) in use by the Air Force, and a larger version of General Atomics' Predator UAS, (right) called Mariner, are expected to be leading candidates. The Navy will require dozens of aircraft and associated systems that could cost more than $50 million each. A contract is to be awarded by September 2007 with the first of the aircraft and sensors to be ready for testing in 2011 and the system ready for operational use in 2013. Nope, now 2016.
Sept'10, MQ-4C Global Hawk awarded contract, service date 2020. To operate from five land-based sites - Florida, Hawaii, Japan, Diego Garcia, and Italy. Crew: Unmanned ; Length 47.6 ft ; Wingspan 130.9 ft ; Gross weight 32,250 lb ; Powerplant 1 turbofan ; Maximum speed 357 mph ; Endurance 30 hours ; Service ceiling 60,000 ft
Mar'12. Global Hawk, CAP version - block 30, by Northrop Grumman is mothballed as unreliable. Navy had contributed $1.2B for Broad Area Maritime Surveillance.
22May'13 MQ-4C, now called Triton, completes first flight.
Triton now planned for 2018 with full operational capability planned in 2023.
P-8 Poseidon, a modified Boeing 737-800 jetliner, Multi-mission Maritime Aircraft (MMA), a long-range anti-submarine and reconnaissance plane due in 2013 that will replace Vietnam-vintage P-3 Orions.
Although the 737 is a two engine jet, to replace four-engine turboprop P-3, it is a more capable plane and will get to target areas more quickly.
Sep'08. The U.S. Navy has ordered the first two P-8A to enter service in 2010. How many P-8s will be produced is uncertain, as UAVs are looking preferable to manned maritime reconnaissance and ASW aircraft.
Feb'11. Two aircraft are testing at Patuxent River NAS. Six aircraft are expected to be operational by 2013 with plans for 117 P-8A (Boeing 737) to replace the P-3 Orion (Electra L0188) by 2017. Range 1,200 nmile, speed 564 mph.
Nov'13. First two aircraft operational at Jacksonville, FL ; to replace P-3 with up to 50-years of service.
Jun'13. Production halved due to operational issues. Upgrades scheduled for 2016.
Dec'13. Deployed to Japan.
Mission requires suplimental coverage by MQ-4C.
MQ-9, Reaper. The Air Force version of Predator B, now called Reaper, is fitted as an attack aircraft with expected deployment on combat trials fall'07 in Afghanistan and in Iraq by spring'08. Larger, second generation Predator, about the size of an A-10 WartHog, MQ-9 can carry 14 HellFire missiles (the MQ-1 Predator can carry two; 300 mph vs. 120mph) and will be able to stay aloft for 14 hours fully armed. The pilot of the unmanned hunter-killer will be in Nevada. The Navy's MQ-9 Mariner is intended to operate from a carrier on surveillance flights of 24-hours. See BAMS above.
F-35 Joint Strike Fighter . "The F-35C is on schedule to meet the Navy's initial operational capability in 2015, and combines stealth with supersonic speed and high agility. The Lightning II employs the most powerful and comprehensive sensor package ever incorporated into a fighter."
Possibly the last manned fighter plane, It tries to be everything to everybody -- "A" model for Air Force, 2012 ; 'B' model for USMC, 2013 ; 'C' model for Navy, 2015 -- is two years behind schedule, over budget, and is too complicated for combat. IMHO- War is a come-as-you-are party and we won't have time to fix it when the shooting starts. A and B models in flight test early 2009. Navy version F-35C to replace F/A-18A, B, C, and D Hornets. The first test F-35C was rolled out on 29 July 2009 made its first flight 7 June 2010; plan operational 2015. 480 Navy models on order. These are 19% heavier and have 45% larger wing area. Last Hornet was a F/A-18D made in 2000.
May'10 - Now forecast operational 2017. The Navy signed to buy 66 F/A-18E/Fs and 58 EA-18G Super Hornets to join 500 existing, as older planes wear out starting 2012. The F-35 is proving to be a high maintenance aircraft, so numbers ordered are being reduced to pay for increased development expense. When even greater numbers will be needed because of downtime ! Yet, better to fix'em now that put bad planes in the air.
Mar'13 . Order for 32 are 50% complete, 50% over budget. Proposed 680 by Navy+Marines.
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Navalized Sukhoi T-50 PAK FAs will be deployed on the Russian aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov and future Russian aircraft carriers. The T-50 is the equivalent of the F-22 Raptor air superiority fighter. The Russians have added multi-role capabilities to the top fighter ; whereas the US has designed a cheaper, multi-role aircraft, the F-35, that is not superior. First flights of the T-50 were Jan 2010. 14 test aircraft are scheduled to fly by 2015. Plan to produce 1000 Sukhoi/HAL T-50 including 800 in export variants. [pic] Speed Mach 2.3, Ceiling 11 miles, Climb 12 miles/min.
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Jan 2011. F-35 program has about 50% overrun and 2-years behind schedule. F-35B, the vertical takeoff version for Marine Corps, has been separated from the program schedule for redesign because of serious troubles; the plan had been to purchase 340 F-35Bs to replace Marine F/A-18 Hornets and AV-8 Harriers ; there is no alternative aircraft. Redesigns of F-35B has caused redesign delays in the other two versions and may be canceled. The U.K. has changed its F-35B order to the F-35C. Marine Corps will purchase 80 F-35Cs. The USN is to receive 7 F-35C in F'2012 ramping up to 20 aircraft by F'2016. Air Force is to receive 11 'A' models in F'2011 with about 1,700 planned and is said to be only 13 months behind schedule.
3Feb'11. First flight of an F-35B STOVL variant JSF by a U.S. Navy test pilot. Down blast is said to destroy asphalt and carrier decks.
18May'11. The first F-35C, with larger wing control surfaces (wing area of 668 ft² vs. 460 ft² of A model) and reinforced landing gear, is undergoing test and evaluation to evaluate flutter, loads and mission systems at NAS Patuxent River. A second test aircraft arrived this month. Catapult launches to begin. Scheduled for shipboard testing in 2013. In two years ?! -- it was authorized June'07. The prototype of the F6F Hellcat was ordered June 1941, flew June'42, and was in combat Oct'43.
04Oct'11. F-35B (Marine version) makes first vertical landing on Wasp (LHD-1). Troubled program is seeking public relations support. We need the airplane, hope it works (in both senses). (pic)
11Jan'12. First two F-35B delivered to Marine Corps. Instructor training to start in August.
20Nov'12. First operational squadron, VMFA-121, of sixteen F-35B fighters to arrive in next year. Planned operational 2015.
22June'13. Navy receives first first F-35C Lightning II for training, VFA 101. 14Aug'13 Cleared for flight, first sortie from Eglin Air Force Base as training begins for instructors and ground maintenance in this fifth generation fighter
16Aug'13. Two F-35B Marine variant testing short take-off flight day and night from Wasp (LHD-1) at sea. Operational 2015.
27Sep'13. Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 121 in training. pic
02Oct'13. F-35C Lightning II Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 101, "Grim Reapers", established at Eglin AFB, FL.
28Oct'14. Aircraft arrive Naval Air Station Oceana for VFA 101.
03Nov'14. First trap aboard Nimitz (CVN 68) begins two weeks of sea testing.
22Apr'15. Navy considers extending purchase of F/A/18 another year because of delays in F-35C.
31Jul'15. Marines declare F-35B squadron operational for any crisis. To deploy to Iwakuni, Japan, in Jan'17.
10Oct'15. Second development test of F-35C, Eisenhower (CVN 69). Successful.
25Jan'17. First West Coast squadron established with 4 F-35C at NAS Lemoore as VFA 125.
Ion Tiger . Fuel cell for prolonged (24-hour) flight of micro UAV. Weights 37 pounds, generates 3/4 HP and carries a 4 or 5 pound payload. Seven times more efficient than batteries for silent, high endurance surveillance and communications.
16-17Nov'09. Ion Tiger, a hydrogen-powered fuel cell unmanned air vehicle (UAV), flew 26 hours carrying a 5-pound payload, setting another unofficial flight endurance record for a fuel-cell powered flight.
15Apr'13 . With fuel changed to liquid hydrogen, Ion Tiger flew 48 hours.
X-47B Unmanned Combat Air System. Intended for carrier operations and to replace F/A-18 E/F force circa 2025. First flight at Edwards AFB of 50 planned before transfer to Patuxent River NAS in 2012. 5Feb11 Air Force already has more drone pilots in service than manned aircraft pilots. X-47A Pegasus 2001-2006 when joint program ended. Navy's X-47B demonstrator prototype, 62-foot wingspan, Dec 2008 ; flew Sept 2011 at Edwards AFB. Second model, AV-2 [pic], arrived at Patuxent River June 2012 for three year test program including arrested landings, catapult launches, and precision approaches to an aircraft carrier. Expected service by 2019
July'12 - operational software installed on Truman. Deck operations test completed.
May'13 - shore based arrested landing successful.
May'13 - Launched from Bush (CVN-77) and practice touch-and-go (not landing). This is a development craft, not intended for operations.
Sept'13. Completed 100th flight. video 4 min
Nov '13. flight operations aboard Roosevelt (CVN 71).
Nov '13. Flight of the Chinese Lijian stealth drone (2013) is similar to the USN X-47B (2011) and multinational Dassault nEUROn (2012), including provisions for internal weapons carriage and a degree of autonomous operations. May be operated from aircraft carrier and under holographic ground control.
Aug '14. Sea trials on Roosevelt in conjunction with manned aircraft. Trials were fifth test period at sea, having completed 13 catapult launches, 39 touch-and-goes, and 11 arrested landings aboard Bush and Roosevelt. Nighttime taxi, deckhandling operations, and launch and recovery at 90-second intervals with manned Hornets. video
Apr '15. X-47B completes first autonomous aerial refueling. Therefore unlimited range.
Apr '15. X-47B demonstrators to become museum exhibits upon the completion of flight testing.
Nov '15. X-47B demonstrators to remain in flying condition.No mentions on manufacturer's website.
UCLASS - Unmanned Carrier Launched Airborne Surveillance and Strike System . A follow-on program, proposed X-47C,
Feb '15. Briefing to Congress says to delay the RFP again. This moves the aircraft's projected initial operating capability from 2017 to 2023. WTH?
UCLASS allows other companies to bid with relaxed specifications, hence start over again. Lobbyists vs. defense.
X-47C The follow up to the successfully completed X-47B program was to have larger ordinance capabilities to be used to provide additional ordinance/wingman with development into a semi-autonomous combat role. This conflicts with next generation manned combat aircraft projects. No discussion of the X-47C appears on the Northrop Grumman website. Have lobbyists killed the unmanned fighter-bomber?
RQ-21A "Integrator", Small Tactical Unmanned Air System (STUAS) made its first flight at sea from USS Mesa Verde (LPD 19). Larger replacement for Scan Eagle. Ln: 7.2 ft; Wing: 16 ft ; CruSp: 63 mph, 24 hr; therefore 1500 miles-- 20Feb'13
Aerostat (TIF-25K unmanned blimp) completed testing on USNS Swift (HSV-2) -- May 2013
Only current airship is MZ-3A.
Puma (RQ-20A UAV) a small hand-launched scout aircraft, battery powered, 4'7" long, 9'2" wing, 13#, completed testing on USNS Swift (HSV-2) -- May 2013
MARINES / SEALS
Advanced SEAL Delivery System, ASDS, is a 65 foot mini-submarine, which rides attached to the top of a Los Angeles Class submarine. It has increased range, speed, and capacity over the current SEAL Delivery Vehicle which is an open, wet submersible, that transports SEALs in scuba gear, exposing them longer to the elements. The four Trident-class submarines being converted to cruise missile and special forces carriers (SSGN) will be capable of carrying ASDS, as will Virginia-class attack submarines and the Jimmy Carter (SSN 23).
USMC Expeditionary Fighting Vehicle.
EFV, holds 17 people, a reinforced rifle squad, and a crew of three. The EFV, however, is designed more as a combat vehicle than a troop transport. It has a 30 mm chain gun coaxed with a 7.62 mm machine gun. It follows in the line of development from the Alligator, Bradley Fighting Vehicle, and Advanced Assault Amphibious Vehicle. The 35-ton EFV can do 20 knots in water and keep up with the M1A1 tank on land. EFV is to start reaching the field in 2008. Full-rate production of the EFV is scheduled for no later than 2020. ?!
06Jan'11. Canceled after spending $3B of projected $15B. See Fang
FANG , Fast, Adaptable, Next-Generation Ground Vehicle. Design competition by DARPA : to deliver 17 Marines, self-deploy launch for a distance of 12 miles , do 8 knots in one-foot wave height seas and handle three foot wave conditions. On land, the new vehicle will operate in all terrains with range and speed the same as an M-1A1 Tank. The new ACV should have at least one machine gun and protection against direct and indirect fire, mines and improvised explosive devices. Since the kick off on January 14, 2013, more than 1,000 participated within more than 200 teams. Penn State University’s IFAB (Instant Foundry Adaptive through Bits) will validate the winning design. Phase one (of 3) winners won $1M. Expected to speed development by a factor of 5X. Last design (see EFV above) canceled after spending $3B. The winning FANG design will be built by the DARPA iFAB led by the Applied Research Laboratory at Penn State University and will validate the manufacturability feedback, foundry configuration, and instruction generation tools as part of the build process. Ultimately, the as-built design will be subjected to test and evaluation. Read more -- April 2013
This is still taking too long ; complete design not until late 2014, then begin prototype work before submit to the picky, political, military procurement system.
2014. Winning design built, tested, and results will be transferred to industry.
2014. Program phase 2 and 3 canceled. Military claim designs must be secret. See EFV and $3B waste and ACV indecision.
06Jan'11. Canceled after spending $3B of projected $15B. See Fang
FANG , Fast, Adaptable, Next-Generation Ground Vehicle. Design competition by DARPA : to deliver 17 Marines, self-deploy launch for a distance of 12 miles , do 8 knots in one-foot wave height seas and handle three foot wave conditions. On land, the new vehicle will operate in all terrains with range and speed the same as an M-1A1 Tank. The new ACV should have at least one machine gun and protection against direct and indirect fire, mines and improvised explosive devices. Since the kick off on January 14, 2013, more than 1,000 participated within more than 200 teams. Penn State University’s IFAB (Instant Foundry Adaptive through Bits) will validate the winning design. Phase one (of 3) winners won $1M. Expected to speed development by a factor of 5X. Last design (see EFV above) canceled after spending $3B. The winning FANG design will be built by the DARPA iFAB led by the Applied Research Laboratory at Penn State University and will validate the manufacturability feedback, foundry configuration, and instruction generation tools as part of the build process. Ultimately, the as-built design will be subjected to test and evaluation. Read more -- April 2013
This is still taking too long ; complete design not until late 2014, then begin prototype work before submit to the picky, political, military procurement system.
2014. Winning design built, tested, and results will be transferred to industry.
2014. Program phase 2 and 3 canceled. Military claim designs must be secret. See EFV and $3B waste and ACV indecision.
Amphibious Combat Vehicle. Pentagon completed analysis for a new ACV for Marines.
23Aug'12 -- To be less perfect and more economical then canceled EFV.
Apr'14. Phase 1. Buy 500 personnel carriers able to ford a river by 2020.
Phase 2. Upgrade 390 existing WW2 style AmTraks AAV-7.
Phase 3. Continue R&D on something to get ship to shore in combat. All this is subject to change.
Amphibious Combat Vehicle, or ACV 1.1
Sept'16 34 ton, 700 HP, 29'x10'x 9' tall.
Sea - 6 knots for 12 miles. Land - 70mph for 250 miles.
Sixteen prototypes to be built by BAE Systems for testing.
Terrex 1. Another version is to be made by SAIC.
Decision to go forward in 2018.
Captive Air Amphibious Transporter (CAAT) - DARP experimental - 2012.
Ultra Heavy-Lift Amphibious Connector (UHAC) - USMC trial
Ship to shore for heavier loads and over shore obstacles, swamp and field. Track feet are fitted with dense air-impregnated foam blocks to make it buoyant in water and propel it on land. Half scale model tested in RIMPAC 2014. Full scale model to be 84' long, may transport 190 tons cargo or three Abrams tanks at 20 mph for 200 miles. A production version would be with a lower profile, armor, and armament. click for video
Mine Resistant Ambush Protected ,
MRAP, vehicle contract was let to 9 vendors in January'07, each to provide four prototypes to Aberdeen Proving Grounds by 31December'07.
June'07 -- Marine Corps test 200 Cougar/Jerry in Anbar Province. Four times heavier than Hummer.
July'07 -- With no Marine Corps fatalities, goal is to replace all armored HMMWVs (4,100) USMC). 10July -- 5,000 on order from Stewart and Stevenson Tactical Vehicle Systems LP of Armor Holdings, for delivery before March'08.
19July'07 -- Congress steps in giving high priority for 3,900 by year-end '07. Taking money from other programs! Oshgosh has stopped work on driverless supply trucks to shift to a 1 billion dollar contract for MRAP personnel carriers.
Mar'13. 2,700 returning MRAP purchased by DHS to suppress domestic violence.
Jan'14. The Army had awarded a contract in 2012 to Lockheed Martin which is making progress on driverless as shown here. It is finally coming. But no progress reported in two years? -- Nov'15
M-ATV or MRAP II , all terrain vehicle is a highly survivable, off-road capable vehicle. 10June'09 contract for 6,600 to Oshkosh. First shipments being tested in US and Afghanistan. All should be delivered by March 2010. Crew 4 + 1 gunner. It looks more the size of a hummer with the same survivability as the truck sized MRAP. Superceeded by JLTV project.
JLTV , Joint Light Tactical Vehicle -- Armored Hummwv replacement. Basic armor is air transportable. Project includes enhansed armor kit plus trailer. Three models plus variations : A . Army model is for basic utility, 4-person, 3,500 lb. payload ; B . Marine model has enhansed armor kit, seats six, capable of 4,000 lb payload. C . Focused Logistics model, 2-seat, 5,000 lb load. Marines expect to order 5,000 vehicles. --- Dec'14 Contract challanged -- Sep'15
CH53K "King Stallion" developed from the Sikorsky MH-53 with double the lift capability.
Crew: 5 : Capacity: 37 troops (55 passengers) ; Payload: 35,000 lb ; Cruise speed: 196 mph ; Range: 460 nmi ; Combat radius: 126 mi ; Service ceiling: 14,400 ft ;
Polaris MRZR D4 UTV -- Bringing back a Jeep and rated 3/4 ton, too. 144 ordered for testing
WEAPONS
Robotic Mine Hunter An 11-foot mini-sub, Battlespace Preparation Autonomous Underwater Vehicle, is pre-programmed to do independent search for mines and to destroy them. This device came to light when one launched from minesweeper Swift (HSV-2) was lost during joint exercises off southern Norway . It was later found 125 miles away.The MK-6 Marine Mammal System has been deployed to Bahrain. This anti-swimmer unit of dolphins protects warships 24/7.
Unmanned Undersea Vehicle (UUV)
Underwater launch, homing, and docking of an Unmanned Undersea Vehicle (UUV) system from the torpedo tube of a submerged submarine. Called an anti-mine system, it will enable reconnaissance in littoral operations.
Kingfish UUV (underwater unmanned vehicle MK18 Mod 2) testing complete 25Jun'13, ready for deployment to Gulf to replace the in-theater Swordfish system. Launching will be from an 11-meter Rigid Hull Inflatable Boat. Read more: http://defensetech.org/?s=P-8+Poseidon&x=13&y=8#ixzz2hQDrnd6cDefense.org
Sea Scout UUV lightweight, air-launched prototype to be deployed from a sonobuoy launch container and search for 8 hours. 14May'13.
Sea Sentor and TRAPR DCL are U.K and U.S. systems being tested that can detect torpedoes, fire anti-torpedoes and decoys, and make evasive maneuvers.
Airborne Laser Mine Detection System. First test unit of ALMDS delivered 30Jan'07. Mounted on Littoral Combat Ship MH-60S helicopter, it has no water components for rapid detection of near surface mines over a broad area.
Remote Minehunting System or RMMV - remote multi-mission vehicle
The RMS, now RMMV components include an unmanned remote minehunting vehicle, a semi-submersible, diesel-powered vehicle that tows the AN/AQS-20A minehunting sonar ; a mission control and display which integrates RMS into the undersea warfare system of a late model destroyer or littoral combat ship, and a launch and recovery system. The 23-feet, 4' dia, 7-ton, 16-knot RMMV provides real-time sensing. A mine that costs only a couple thousand dollars can cause hundreds of millions of dollars in damage to Navy ships and put the affected ships out of action for months. Sea Talon is an anti-submarine version.
20Jun'13. Reliability testing of LCS remote minehunting system (RMS) completed. Ready to begin development.
Large Training Vehicle (LTV-28) desendent of Sea Stalker, 27' long, 38" dia, to depth 3000 feet. Accepted Aug'14
Laser Weapon System (LaWS). Laser defensive raygun successfully destroyed aircraft over water.
3Jun'10. Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/scitech/2011/01/20/raygun-breakthrough-revolutionize-naval-power/#ixzz1BgKCHkDf
Jan '11. Laser anti-aircraft gun. Prototype of FEL laser (free electron laser) successfully tested. Navy hopes to have a full-power, megawatt, prototype by 2018. Will they be able to hit multiple missiles? Yes
Project terminated in FY 2012 Congressional budget. - 21June'11 Obviously resurrected
30July'12. The Laser Weapon System (LaWS) temporarily installed aboard the guided-missile destroyer USS Dewey (DDG 105) in San Diego, Calif., as a technology demonstrator built by the Naval Sea Systems Command from commercial fiber solid state lasers, utilizing combination methods developed at the Naval Research Laboratory. The same weapon that can be used to identify and then issue a non-lethal warning to an approaching unmanned air vehicle can then set a drone ablaze and send it crashing to the ground. With lasers, our aim becomes more precise, and we can engage at the speed of light.
14Aug'12. Office of Naval Research Solicits Bids for Solid-State Laser Weapons for Ships.
08Apr'13. Laser weapon to be mounted on Ponce (AFSB[I] 15) [Gulf base] in Fiscal 2014.
30Apr'13. The need for reliable, high-voltage shipboard power has become a matter of national security.
07Jun'13. We've already successfully test-fired on unmanned aircraft and small boats. Additional target sets will follow.
And the best part of this story? It costs less than $1 to take a shot with a laser, and it doesn't require our Sailors to load ships up with hazardous materials such as propellants and explosives. You need two things to operate a laser: electricity and cooling. We can get the electricity from the ship's power system and use available chilled water to cool it. With ample supply of both, we have a virtually bottomless magazine.
08Apr'14. Laser combined with a Phalanx Close-In Weapon mounting allows precision targeting to be integrated and installed for a 10Kw weapon test on Ponce (AFSB(i)-15) Special Ops ship stationed in Persian Gulf this summer. Good thinking. Hope is to install 30kW units on DDG and LCS starting in 2016. Please hurry.
10Dec'14. LaWS completed all tests aboard Ponce flawlessly in all weathers against all air (drone) and sea (speedboat) targets. video
05Feb'15. CNO wants to "get us off gunpower" aboard ships. LaWS and Rail Gun will give an unlimited magazine.
GBAD , Ground-Based Air Defense Directed Energy On-the-Move program aims to provide an affordable alternative to traditional firepower to keep enemy unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) from tracking and targeting Marines on the ground. This is land version of LaWS. Power 25Kw ; Weights about a ton and mounts on JLTV ; Recharge time 20 minutes. Hope is to field test in 2016.
Rolling Airframe Missile, RAM. Eleven Sidewinder missile launcher intended to provide greater range than Phalanx.
Mines. The navy currently has [only] three types of mines, all aircraft delivered, bottom layers converted from bombs. Mk 65-thinwall, 2,300 pounds ; Mk 63- 1,000-pound ; and Mk 62- 500-pound mines. No development. Mines ended both the Pacific War and Vietnam War. They should not be neglected.
Mark 60 CAPTOR anti-submarine deep-water anchored mine. When its sonar detects a hostile submarine, the CAPTOR launches a Mark 46 torpedo.
Rail Gun. A railgun uses electricity to propel a projectile instead of an explosive charge or rocket. Office of Naval Research made a 33-megajoule shot, the equivalent energy of a 33 ton truck at 100 miles per hour, firing to a range of 110 nautical miles. 10Dec'10 Development tied to the DDX project. Some estimate deployment date as 2035.
Project terminated in FY 2012 Congressional budget. - 21June'11
31Oct2011. Testing continues this year with a gun able to launch a projectile at mach 7. Deployment date reduced to 2025, still too far away to garner budget conscious support.
31Jan'12. Raytheon awarded $10MM to build power supply. Humm?
07Apr' 14 Navy plans to install and test a prototype electromagnetic railgun aboard a joint high speed vessel in fiscal year 2016. Fires a 25# finned bullet at mach 7 able to destroy in air, land, sea with contact.
04Feb'15. Testing firing rate of 10 rounds per minute. Non-explosive, 24" long, 28 pound projectile uses kenetic energy to destroy targets.
HEL, High Energy Laser. Tested 06Apr'11 at sea to disable a small boat. MLD. See LaWS above. Terminated, seems not?
Ballistic Missile Defense. Currently 5 cruisers and 16 destroyers have anti-missile capability. To expand to 41 ships by 2016, eventually all destroyers and surviving cruisers.
A second part is a land-based version of a mobile Aegis Weapons System for foreign deployment in 2015.
Mar'13. It is easier to station several anti-ballistic destroyers overseas than to build new land bases.
Long-Range, Land-Attack Projectile (LRLAP) is a 155mm (6") gun-launched rocket-assisted guided projectile designed for DDG 1000 Zumwalt destroyers able to fire 10 rounds per minute at 45 nautical miles. Uses global positioning system (GPS)-based guidance. Shipboard testing in 2015, operational 2016.
2July'13. Successful guided flight tests to 45 n-miles.
SSTD -- Surface Ship Torpedo Defense System combines the passive detection capability of the Torpedo Warning System that finds torpedoes, classifies and tracks them, and deploys a Countermeasure Anti-Torpedo, an encapsulated miniature torpedo designed by Penn State. At-sea tests were conducted aboard Bush (CVN 77) May 2013. Navy plans to equip all aircraft carriers and other high-value units with SSTD by 2035. Assuming carriers are still viable in 22 years.
MaRV - Maneuverable Reentry Vehicles. This new super-weapon an outgrowth of Chinese anti-ship missile program, super in that it cannot be stopped. A rocket is launched into near earth orbit, maneuvers and than attacks a target at hyper speed, 8000 mph, while being able to maneuver in flight. First it is hard to know that it is a weapon, just an object in space. It maneuvers so that a future track cannot be made for interception, at that speed there in no time to detect, track, plot a counter, and launch an interception. The Chinese are developing such to attack our aircraft carriers ; in principle could attack anything, anywhere. Expensive weapon, but who worries about cost when plotting an offense or in defense? This gizmo is better than an intercontinental missile in that the first half of the flight is already completed : the launch of a satellite is noted and when nothing untoward happens generates no alert. Can we assume we have something similar? Defenses include anti-missile systems, anti-anti-missiles, decoys, chaff, jamming, thermal shielding, and anti-satellite weapons. China is presumed to have somewhere between 200 and 1000 nuclear warheads. We have ten carriers. Lots left over for other targets. -- Feb 2014
DF-21D Dongfeng (east wind) Carrier killer missile. Range 1,550km (950mi) , speed 10 times the speed -- faster than anything that could intercept it. -- FT 03Sep'15
Griffin B laser-guided missiles able to hit targets at ranges up to 4 kilometers has been outfitted to four PCs based in Bahrain : Typhoon, Firebolt, Sirocco, Whirlwind. Six more to be equiped by 2016. -- 14May'14
Read more: http://defensetech.org/2014/05/08/navy-test-fires-griffin-missiles-from-pc-boats/#ixzz31khowpEb Defense.org
Seafox . U.K. remote-controlled vehicle that is used to locate, identify and destroy sea mines. Four feet long, 100 pounds including warhead. Deployed from helicopter, minesweeper, or small boat. Has sonar and live video; controlled by a fiber optic cable at 6 knots, Made by German Atlas Elektronix UK for about $100K each. Deployed to Allied minesweepers in Gulf in July 2012.
May'13 included in this year's 41-nation Persian Gulf exercises. Equipped with an explosive charge to shoot and destroy mines. Read more
Upgrade to Tomahawk missiles that weigh 3,500 pounds with a booster and can travel at subsonic speeds up to 550 miles per hour at ranges greater than 900 nautical miles. Navy has purchased 3,000 Tomahawk Block IV missiles since 2004. They are just over 18-feet long and have an 8-foot, 9-inch wingspan. Upgrades of Block IV can be retargeted in flight. Planned is an active seeker to track moving targets.
Unmanned Influence Sweep System (UISS) is a 40-foot-long unmanned boat to launch from a Littoral Combat Ship, to emulate a ship, and detonate underwater mines. The first prototype, scheduled 2016, will pave the way for initial production, ruggedized to withstand the detonation of nearby underwater mines. The Navy hopes to have the UISS in the fleet by 2019 with 40 systems. -- 5Nov'14 This is to replace the helicopter borne device for LCS that failed. Production models may be smaller, which could be needed as this sounds suicidal for the drone, yet cheaper than a ship and lives.
Low-cost UAV Swarming Technology (Locust) is a technology to coordinate a mass of small drones. A Navy-standard sonarbouy launcher carries 30 drones able to be launched from land, sea, air in under a minute. Drones are loaded with their wings and tail folded. These snap into position after firing, and the propeller-driven drones can fly at 85MPH and have a range of 20 miles from their controller. Expendable, controlled wirelessly by a person for reconnaissance or attack missions. Live testing 2016. -- Apr'15
Nulka Mk-234is a rocket propelled, disposable, offboard, active decoy designed to ?seduce? anti-ship missiles away from their targets ; it hovers in mid air while seducing the incoming anti-ship missile.
SUPPORT
Fuel Cells at Sea The Office of Naval Research (ONR) is developing innovative propulsion systems based on new fuel-cell technology for efficient generation of electrical power and greater design flexibility for future ships. Fuel cells do not require combustion and are far more efficient than gas turbines and diesel engines. Fuel cells will permit design of a "distributed" power system that can be dispersed throughout the ship instead of being co-located with the ship's shaft. This added flexibility will improve ship survivability. The Navy's DD(X) land-attack destroyer program will test fuel cell technology as a supplemental power source.[Think of early factories where all power came from on central shaft with belts running to each machine. Now we have an electric motor on each machine. So too Fuel Cells can be located where needed and not depend on a central engine room.]
14Aug'13 Solid-Oxide Fuel Cell Tactical Electrical Power reduces fuel consumption by half, less need for convoys, save lives.
Sea-Based X-Band Radar Station. Photo of SBX being transported on MV Blue Marlin
The SBX is a combination of the world's largest phased-array X-band radar carried aboard a mobile, ocean-going semi-submersible oil platform. It will provide the nation with highly advanced ballistic missile detection and will be able to discriminate a hostile warhead from decoys or countermeasures. The SBX spans 240 feet in width and 390 feet in length. It towers more than 280 feet from its keel to the top of the radar dome and displaces nearly 50,000 tons. The platform is twin-hulled, self-propelled and stable in high winds and turbulent sea conditions. The SBX is scheduled to arrive in Adak, Aleutian Islands, Alaska, later this year. Although home-ported in Adak, it will be capable of moving throughout the Pacific Ocean to support both advanced missile defense testing as well as defensive operations. -- 2007
- Followup. This $2.2B progam was never installed at its prepared site in Adak and never completed a totally sucessful interception. Able to detect at extreme distance, but not discriminate, and with narrow field of visablility. Is in limited test mode 2014. Two land based versions have been installed in Japan.
Joint Precision Approach and Landing System -- JPALS
This is a GPS based system so that aircraft can land at night or in bad weather using local equipment with an encrypted signal, low radiated power, accurate to within 1 foot. 28Sep'08 Navy gave Raytheon $233 million to complete work on an aircraft carrier version.
SRDRS - Submarine Rescue Diving and Re-compression System, is an air deployable rescue asset that can be delivered and installed on pre-screened military or commercial vessels and mated to a distressed submarine within a 72-hours of first rescue notice.
Navy Cyber Forces (CYBERFOR) established 26Jan'10 at Little Creek-Fort Story as type commander for cryptology, signals intelligence, cyber, electronic warfare, information operations, intelligence, networks and space disciplines. About time.
Vulcan Engine. DARPA is working on Vulcan, power generation turbine engine, to reduce turbine fuel consumption by 20 percent compared to existing DDG-51 Class gas turbine generator sets.
DHS . The Navy has 33 ships assigned to Drug Interdiction and to Maritime Counter Terrorism.
Green Fuel. A 50-50% blend of algae oil and petroleum tested in retired DD-964 to and from San Diego in Nov 2011.
Pacific Rim exercise received 450,000 gallons at $424/gal of bio-fuel for a 50/50 blend. - 15Jun'12.
Mar'13 . Cost now down to $15 compared to less than $5 for regular.
Jun'14 . 37 million gallons of biofuels are being sought to blend with marine diesel and jet fuel by the Defense Logistics Agency. Price premium capped at 71 cents per biofuel gallon. $5.71 ? I bought diesel at $3.79 this morning.
July'14 Navy plans for biofuels to comprise up to 50 percent of the fuel used by deploying ships and aircraft throughout the fleet in calendar year 2016.
Sep'16 100% biofuels test flight from algae tested for JP-5 jet fuel, sees no difference.
MUOS - Mobile User Objective System's first satellite of a constellation of four for 3G mobile communications was accepted. Will teens give up their 4G to enlist?
CANES - Consolidated Afloat Network and Enterprise Services -- installed on McCampblell (DDG-70) for operational testing 2013. Intent is to consolidates five legacy networks and expand features. Plans for 190 ships, completion by 2022.
Shipboard Autonomous Firefighting Robot (SAFFiR) is a human-sized autonomous robot [also Autonomous Shipboard Humanoid (ASH)] capable of finding and suppressing shipboard fires and working seamlessly with human firefighters. The robotic teams will conduct shipboard trials onboard the ex-USS Shadwell, the Navy's full-scale fire test ship moored in Mobile, Alabama later in 2014.
05Nov '14. SAFFiR identifed overheated equipment and used a hose to extinguish a small fire aboard Shadwell.
Wave Glider is an autonomous sea-going robot to acoustically monitor oceans from surface to 25,000 feet. Powered by solar or wave motion. Sept'14.
Ghost Swimmer a biomeimtic robot modeled after a bluefin tuna that cruisers silently under automomious and remote control. -- Dec'14
pic 1 , pic 2 artical
TALON, Towed Airborne Lift of Naval Systems, is a kite that raises sensors far above the superstructrue of a ship.
Universal Launch and Recovery Module to launch undersea vehicle from a ballistic missile tube. A buoy lifts the vehicle from the tube. Can be up to 5' diameter, 23-feet long and 15 tons. -- Jan 2014
SideArm is a butterfly net on a crane to catch drones that cannot land vertically.
Pod is a deep water based container that can be called the surface from anywhere to release its payload, typically a drone, to provide a presence in romote areas of interest before the Navy can arrive.
MIW RAC is a portable, remote-controlled flying drone system that can detect buried or underwater mines during amphibious beach landings.
DARPA, Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency. Link to far future projects still in the idea, design, and prototype stage. Lots of neat stuff there.
Electromagnetic Maneuver Warfare (EMW) capabilities are emerging from laboratories to make a vital operational impact in the Fleet: integrated communications, command-and-control, signals intelligence, spectrum management, electronic warfare, cyberspace, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance as well as targeting and combat capabilities, machine autonomy and microwave weapons.
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CNO Navigation Plan 2016-2020
Program Guide 2013 208 page PDF
Testimony March 2013
Testimony March 2012
Testimony March 2011
USN Program Status 2010 180 page PDF.
2009
Navy Fact Files