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#20
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Mike Burleson
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Apr 14, 2004 10:51 PDT
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Greetings! Included today are two articles concerning future and current
naval developements.
Arsenal Ship Returns & Returns
Congress is pushing plans for a new bomber to be delivered by 2037.
Instead of relying on a single platform for its long-range strike
capability, the Air Force is looking towards alternatives. Of these
options, which include hypersonic vehicles, conventional ICBMs, and
unmanned aircraft (UAVs), the most surprising proposal is the Arsenal
Ship.
Plans for an all-missile firing surface ship came in 1994, as a class of
6 vessels, armed with 500 long-range missiles. Weaponry would have
included a version of the Tomahawk cruise missile designed to destroy
armor, called the Brilliant Anti-Tank submunition. The Army’s Tactical
Missile System (ATACMS) and Standard surface to air missiles would also
be loaded in the ships vertical launch system. Arsenal Ships would forgo
a massive superstructure embedded with sensors and fire control systems,
relying on Aegis cruisers and destroyers for command and control, and
missile guidance. In this she would be similar to the aircraft carrier,
which also relies on other warships for support.
Many ideas which the Navy is incorporating in its future warships were
first proposed in the Arsenal Ship program. Crew rotation, now called
sea swapping, was planned to keep the vessel forward deployed as much as
possible, save for routine maintenance. Also, reduced manning techniques
would have allowed the ship to sail with less than 50 crewmembers.
Arsenal Ships were the original littoral combat ship (LCS) and many
ingenious countermeasures would be incorporated to defend it in shallow
waters. Counter flooding would be used off an enemy shore, causing it to
settle low in the water, reducing its radar signature. A double hull to
prevent sinking would absorb mine or torpedo strikes.
Supporters promoted the arsenal ship as a complement to America's
expensive and over-worked aircraft carriers. Not surprisingly it was
cancelled in 1997 for budgetary reasons, and opposition from the carrier
lobby in the Navy. The idea was revived again during the 2000
presidential elections as part of the new administration's plan to beef
up the offensive power of the Navy. As often happens after elections,
this plan seems to have been forgotten, though the concept is refusing
to die out completely.
Older Ohio class Trident submarines, which were scheduled for
retirement, are being converted into arsenal ships of a sort. Their
spacious missile tubes, which formerly carried nuclear weapons, will be
loaded with 154 long range and conventional Tomahawk cruise missiles.
Four of these undersea battleships are due for conversion, and will also
carry Special Forces along with unmanned vehicles.
Precision guided munitions (PGMs) have increased the effectiveness of
bombers ten-fold since 1992. The accuracy of the new weapons is giving
airpower strategist new ideas as how they can be applied to cheaper
delivery vehicles. Tomahawk cruise missiles, which can be fired from
arsenal ships, have proved their accuracy since deployment in the
1980’s. Newer versions now being tested will be cheaper, even more
accurate, and carry more than one guided warhead to improve its
cost-effectiveness. The time may be right for the Arsenal Ship in some
form to be built.
A new bomber is still in the works, considering the vital role these
veteran workhorses are playing in the post Cold War military. Congress
recently allocated $45 million in the 2004 budget for a new plane and is
pushing for the reactivation of 21 B-1Bs that are in reserve, to boost
the current bomber fleet. The arsenal ship, along with UAVs and
missiles, is the Air Force's way of not placing all its strike options
into one vulnerable and expensive asset.
Aegis Goes International!
Norway is deploying the first of five new frigates armed with the latest
version of America’s Aegis weapon system, the SPY-1F. This new
adaptation of the world’s most powerful and advanced air-defense radar
is especially tailored for needs of smaller navies. The SPY-1 is
multi-function and able to track numerous surface and air targets
simultaneously.
What makes the SPY-1F unique is its application to smaller, frigate size
vessels. This summer, the Spanish frigate Alvaro de Bazan tested the
system in conjunction with the destroyer USS Mason. Bazan is a 5800-ton
ship, with four being built for the Spaniards.
At 4600 tons, Norway’s Nansen class is smaller, but every bit as
capable. Its missile suit is the Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile (ESSM).
Produced by the American Raytheon Corporation, ESSM also equips the
Australian Anzac frigates, the first vessels to deploy the new missile.
Nansen fires its weapons from an eight cell MK-41 launcher, 32 missiles,
and 4 per cell.
“The Nansen class frigate program is a tremendous international
partnership that will provide the people of Norway with proven
state-of-the-art capabilities at sea”, said a spokesman from Lockheed
Martin.
The Nansen's builder, Izar of Spain, is also building four similar
vessels for its own country's navy. These are the Alvaro de Bazan (F100)
class, all of which come equipped with SPY-1F. In 1994, Spain, along
with Germany and the Netherlands, entered the Trilateral Frigate
Program. In an attempt to cut costs and share technology, each nation
agreed to build similar hull platforms, though not weapon systems. From
this agreement came the F100 class.
Bazan was launched in October 2000 and commissioned in September 2002.
She is armed with Harpoon anti-ship missiles, an Mk 45 Mod 2 five inch
gun and a Meroka 20mm CIWS. The helicopters carried are the Lamps 3
Seahawk. Its missile includes ESSM and the Standard SM-2R, both of which
are fired from the Mk 41 VLS.
According to Lockheed, SPY-1F is a scaled down version of Aegis, which
first deployed on Ticonderoga (CG-47) class cruisers in 1983. This new
smaller system will meet the air defense needs of many nations, from
corvettes to aircraft carriers.
2.
Presently, Aegis arms 71 vessels, with 26 in the planning stages.
Besides the US, Spain, and Norway, Japan utilizes the SPY-1D on its
newest destroyers, the Kongo class. South Korea recently announced plans
to use the new radar on future KDX-3 destroyers, four of which will be
built. Australia, always an eager buyer of American equipment, recently
announced its interest in the SPY-1F for three new anti-aircraft
vessels, to replace older ships built in the 1960’s.
The Japanese Kongo’s were the first non-US warships equipped with Aegis.
These large and highly sophisticated ships are based on the American
DDG-51 design. Each weighs 9485 tons, slightly larger than the Arleigh
Burke, which they closely resemble. The first two ships carry the SM2MR
Block 2 Standard missile, while the third and later versions carry the
Block 3. Additional firepower comes from the Oto Breda 127 mm gun and
Asroc anti submarine missiles. Kongo’s helicopter deck is larger than
the Burkes
These fine and extremely powerful warships came about after much
haggling with Congress over transfer of sensitive Aegis technology
overseas. Approval was finally given in 1988, followed by a Japanese
order of 4 vessels. Four improved Kong’s, weighing nearly 10,000 tons
are now being discussed, continuing the Japanese tradition of deploying
large, modern, and advanced warships.
As stated earlier, Aegis first went to sea on USS Ticonderoga in 1983.
During the 1960’s, the US Navy slowly awoke to the increasing threat
from Soviet anti-ship cruise missiles, along with the slow reaction time
of its own Talos, Terrier, and Tartar air defense missiles.
In mythology Aegis is the shield of Jupiter, forged by Vulcan It was
first installed on test ship USS Norton Sound (AVM-1) in 1973. A new
class of cruisers was designed, based on a Spruance class hull and its
machinery and twenty-seven were commissioned during 1983-1992. Each
carries 100 Standard missiles in their 9600-ton hull.
The heart of the Aegis system is the AN/SPY-1 radar, which can track
over 100 targets simultaneously. In 1984, the MK-41 Vertical Launch
System (VLS) was introduced on USS Bunker Hill (CG-52). The VLS greatly
enhances missile selection, firepower, and survivability by allowing
numerous launches at the same time.
Designed with an entirely new and robust hull are the Arleigh Burke
(DDG-51) guided missile destroyers, the first of which commissioned in
1991. The Burkes introduced the SPY-1D, slightly less capable radar
especially designed for the smaller vessel (8400 tons). Constructed in a
series of “Flights”, as many as 60 of these capable warships will be
built. Flight 2 introduced improvements in the SPY radar and the
Standard missile. In the Flight 2A series, a helicopter hangar was
added, a vital omission in the original design.
SPY-1A is installed on CG-47 through CG-57 class cruisers. USS
Philippine Sea (CG-58) and subsequent vessels came equipped with the
SPY-1B. In 1991 came the SPY-1D
3.
on the Burkes, later also fitted on Japanese Kongo class destroyers. A
major upgrade is currently underway on all US Aegis ships to deal with
the new threat of Theater Ballistic Missiles (TBM). This will mean more
powerful radars and missiles, as well as significantly improved
software.
Not since the deployment of nuclear power to sea has there been such a
revolution in naval warfare. As advances continue in the SPY radar, it
will doubtless give the US and her allies the edge needed to continue
the fight for peace throughout the world.
Mike Burleson is a writer and military historian living in Charleston
SC.
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