Coastal ships of the Freedom and Independence type. Freedom and Independence class frigates Concept of operations of ships in the near sea zone
The US Navy has just begun trialling and evaluating the new Freedom-class LCS (Littoral Combat Ship), but the marketing campaign has actually already begun. 15 warships from nine countries took part in the 9th international naval exhibition IMDEX ASIA - International Maritime Defense Exhibition and Conference, which was held in Singapore from May 14 to 16.
The ships on display, based at Changi Naval Base, included patrol ships, frigates, corvettes and destroyers from Australia, France, India, Indonesia, the Republic of Korea, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and the United States. For the first time at an international salon, the leading American BKPZ Freedom, created by Lockheed Martin based on the LCS-1 concept, was demonstrated.
Construction program
Considering that in November 2012, at the Euronaval 2012 naval show, the Lockheed Martin company for the first time demonstrated a model of the multi-purpose LCS type BKPZ for foreign customers, then the first demonstration of its new ship Freedom at the show in Singapore can be considered the beginning marketing campaign to promote the concept
The LCS is a new generation of US Navy surface combatants that can operate on the high seas, but is adapted to perform a wide range of littoral combat missions. Among the main functions of the LCS are patrolling, protecting the fleet from attacks by small surface vessels, combating low-noise submarines, mine warfare, reconnaissance, and supporting the actions of special operations forces.
Due to the fact that the ships are designed using a modular concept, each of them can be repurposed to perform any of these missions in a short time. The construction of LCS ships is carried out by two main contractors under two alternative designs. The LCS-1 series is created for the US Navy by Lockheed Martin, the LCS-2 by Ostal USA.
The lead ship of the LCS-1 series, Freedom, was not only demonstrated in Singapore to the countries of the Asia-Pacific region, but will remain there for eight months, operating in the area of responsibility of the US Navy's 7th Fleet. According to the US Navy, the ship is scheduled to participate not only in the IMDEX Asia salon, but also in the CARAT (Cooperation Afloat and Readiness and Training) exercises in Southeast Asia together with regional armed forces, as well as in the SEACAT (Southeast Asia) exercises Cooperation and Training).
On board is currently a reinforced crew of 91 people, including 19 specialists to perform anti-surface combat missions, as well as an aviation unit from the 73rd attack helicopter squadron HSM-73 (Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron 73). However, the basic crew consists of 40 people, to which are added the crews of combat modules and the composition of the air wing. In total, only 75 people can be based on the ship, which is due to increased automation of on-board systems and the need to reduce operating costs.
LCS-1 Freedom was developed by Lockheed Martin and belongs to the class of frigates. It is a single-hull semi-planing ship with a steel hull and an aluminum superstructure. Structural protection is local in nature; the superstructure and weapon elements are made using stealth technology. The crew is protected from weapons of mass destruction.
LCS-1 was laid down at the Marinette Marine shipyard in 2004, launched at the end of September 2006, put into trial operation in 2008, and has been in service with the US Navy since 2011. The second ship LCS-3 was laid down in 2009 and delivered in 2012. The third LCS-5 was laid down in 2011, LCS-7 is also being built, contracts have been issued for the construction of LCS-9 and LCS-11.
The cost of the first frigates of the LCS-1 type exceeds 500 million dollars, but by decision of the US Congress the price of subsequent ships is limited to 460 million. It was supposed to build 60 frigates of the selected LCS variant (LCS-1 or LCS-2) by 2030 for $12 billion, but the crisis and rising costs led to a reduction in the program to 52 ships.
Main characteristics
Length - 115.3, width - 17.5, draft -3.9 meters, total displacement of about 3089 tons. The ship is equipped with a combined four-shaft diesel-gas turbine power plant with a total power of 113 thousand hp. with four water-jet propulsion, which allows the LCS-1 to reach speeds of up to 45 knots and make transitions to a range of 3,500 nautical miles at a speed of 18 knots.
The ship can carry two MH-60B/F anti-submarine helicopters or one MH-60B/F helicopter and two or three deck-based helicopter-type unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).
Included in the LCS-1 armament includes a 57-mm Mk.110 gun, a self-defense system against anti-ship missiles SeaRAM with RIM-116 missiles, created on the basis of a 20-mm six-barreled anti-aircraft artillery system Mk-15 Mod.31 "Phalanx", unmanned vehicles in the anti-submarine version, robotic boats for search and destruction of mines, as well as protection from small high-speed vessels. The ships will be able to receive and transmit tactical information within the network structure to other US Navy ships, aircraft and submarines.
It can be considered as an innovative technology to place in the stern end of promising ships of the LCS type a special lift-slip or a small docking chamber for launching and receiving the ship's watercraft while underway and in sufficiently developed waves. The LCS project implements another very effective technology related to modularity. This technology was developed in the mid-70s by the German company Blohm und Voss AG. She was named MEKO (Mehrzweek Kombinationschiff - multi-purpose combined ship).
This technology involves the design of various versions of the platform ship (1000–4000 tons) and the manufacture of all weapon systems, the main power plant and other systems in the form of standard functional modules (FM); installation of these FMs in prepared cells; ease of replacing modules with obsolete weapons with new FMs. Having developed a certain number of types of FM, it is possible not to manufacture them in advance, but to store only technical documentation, which ensures the rapid design of various ship options in accordance with customer requirements.
Later, this technology was developed during the creation of ships of the LCS program. A significant difference between this technology and the previous one is that FMs for various purposes can be installed at the base point, which allows you to quickly change the functional purpose of the ship. Sets of combat equipment and the corresponding personnel are combined into combat modules (CM). The first combat vehicles were developed to solve the problems of anti-mine, anti-ship, anti-landing and anti-submarine defense.
/Nikolay Novichkov, editor-in-chief of ARMS-TASS Agency, vpk-news.ru/
The littoral combat ship USS Freedom (LCS-1) is the lead ship of the Freedom class LCS in the United States Navy.
The ship was built by the American company Lockheed Martin Corporation (LMT), headquartered in Bethesda (Maryland), USA, at the Marinette Marine shipyard, located in Marinette, Wisconsin.
The laying of the keel took place on June 2, 2005. Launched on September 23, 2006. Delivered to the customer on September 18, 2008. November 8, 2008 commissioned into the US Navy in Milwaukee (Wyoming).
Main characteristics: Total displacement 2862 tons. Length 115.3 meters, beam 17.5 meters, draft 3.9 meters. Speed 47 knots.
Engines: 2 Rolls-Royce MT30 36 MW gas turbine engines; 2 Colt-Pielstick diesel engines; 4 Rolls-Royce water jets. Total power 36 MW.
Cruising range 3500 miles at 18 knots. Sailing autonomy is 21 days.
Crew: 50 main crew, 40 people each, two replacement crews (“Gold” and “Blue” crew).
Swimming autonomy 21 days
Weapons:
Anti-aircraft artillery: 1x1 57mm BAE Systems Mk 110 gun, 2x1 30mm Mk44 Bushmaster II gun.
Missile weapons: in the NETFIRES UVP anti-ship module for LAM/PAM missiles, 1x21 RIM-116 air defense systems.
Anti-submarine weapons: Honeywell Mark 50.
Aviation group: 1 × SH-60 Seahawk helicopter and 3 × MQ-8 Fire Scout UAV.
On September 8, 2009, a two-month warranty repair was completed at Naval Base Norfolk. During the repair, along with the elimination of deficiencies, a number of systems and equipment were installed (including loading and unloading devices, equipment for satellite communication systems, parts of navigation equipment and components of combat systems).
On February 17, 2010, he left Naval Base Mayport and went on his first combat duty, which took place in the Atlantic and Pacific coasts of Central and South America, as part of Operation SOUTHCOM.
On February 22, 2010, the first interception of a speedboat carrying drugs was carried out off the coast of Colombia. Almost a quarter ton of cocaine was seized. On board, in addition to US military personnel, was a unit of Panamanian security forces, taken for joint activities against drug smuggling during Operation SOUTHCOM.
In February 2011, due to severe weather conditions, a 0.15 meter long crack appeared on the ship's hull. It was later determined that this was due to a poor weld. The ship was under repair from June 27 to September 19, 2011.
On March 11, 2013, USS Freedom (LCS-1) became the first LCS to reach Hawaii.
In November 2013, the ship delivered humanitarian aid to the Philippines, which was damaged by Typhoon Haiyan.
From April 25 to May 16, 2014, off the coast of San Diego (Southern California), unmanned and manned helicopters took part, in which the USS Freedom (LCS-1) took part. Thus, on May 12, 2014, the MQ-8B Fire Scout UAV and the SH-60R Sea Hawk manned helicopter were launched from its deck for the first time.
Captain 1st Rank V. Spirin,
captain 2nd rank D. Vasilevsky,
Captain-Lieutenant E. Leonov
It outlined the background of the Program for the creation of multi-purpose ships of the coastal sea zone for the American fleet - frigates (FR) of the LCS class, which was preceded in the mid-90s of the last century and in the early 2000s by two others - “Surface Ship of the 21st Century” (SC-21 ) and "Future Surface Ship" (FSC) for the construction of destroyers and guided missile cruisers, respectively. However, due to severe cost savings and budget cuts for the Navy, they were curtailed or only partially implemented.
The latest program (LCS) was also not ignored by foreign media due to the extreme high cost of the project, numerous design problems, and inconsistencies during construction, especially at the initial stage. Foreign experts express concern about the ship’s low survivability, its weak weapons, etc.
Readers may first of all be interested in the analysis of the cost of the program at various stages of its implementation, carried out by the authors of the article, as well as the strategy of the leadership of the Maritime Ministry for the acquisition
Basic LCS Projects
This project, which involves the construction of the first 24 ships, is known as LCS mod. 0+. However, two of them were built according to the previous one - LCS mod. 0, not much different from the last one.
| Basic design of the Freedom-class frigate (LCS-1) from Lockheed-Martin: 1 - aft ramp for launching and receiving delivery vehicles; 2 - runway; 3 - compartment for placing payload modules; 4 - RAM anti-aircraft missile system; 5 - hangar; 6 - 30-mm artillery mount Mk 50; 7 - radar; 8 - GKP; 9 - 57-mm artillery mount Mk 110; 16 - crew cabins; 11 - gas turbine unit MT30; 12 - diesel engines; 13 - main gearboxes; 14 - water jet propulsors |
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| Basic design of the Independence-class frigate (LCS-2) from General Dynamics: 1 - launching and receiving system for delivery vehicles; 2 - take-off and landing pad for two H-60 helicopters or one H-53; 3 - compartment for placing payload modules; 4 - air defense missile system "Si RAM"; 5 - hangar to accommodate two N-60 helicopters; 6 - antenna devices of radio-electronic equipment; 7-nose 57 mm - AU; 8 - mine detection sonar; 9 - wheelhouse; 10 - crew cabins; 11 - compartment lift for placing payload modules; 12 - auxiliary equipment of the payload module (containers, standard interface systems, hardware); 13 - ramp for loading payload; 14 - two 12.7 mm aft machine guns on the left and right sides |
The basic LCS is a relatively inexpensive ship. Unlike other multi-purpose ships with their inherent capabilities, it was conceived as a ship with interchangeable weapons and REV modules, including uninhabited underwater vehicles (UUV). One functional module can be replaced in a short time by another depending on the task at hand in order to solve it as efficiently as possible. This approach, according to foreign experts, is the most promising, given that equipment and weapons, as practice shows, become obsolete faster than the established service life of ships ends.
It is assumed that the main tasks of LCS-type frigates will be carried out in the coastal zone - combating low-noise diesel-electric submarines, conducting mine action operations, and combating fast boats, including those operating in large groups. They can also be involved in reconnaissance, ensuring the safety of navigation (including the fight against terrorism and piracy), supporting operations carried out by the Marine Corps and special operations forces, and protecting territorial waters. LCS can perform secondary tasks without the use of special weapon modules and REVs, however, some of them can be more effectively solved only with their help.
The displacement of the LCS is about 3000 tons, which is more consistent with the characteristics of a corvette (or light frigate), as well as a coast guard ship. The full speed is more than 40 knots, which exceeds the same indicator for the missile launcher and EM missile launcher of the American Navy by an average of 10 knots. The shallow draft compared to them allows the FR to operate in shallow waters in close proximity to the enemy’s coast and to use ports with shallow depths.
Fridam-class frigates (LCS-1)
The lead ship of Lockheed Martin, Freedom (LCS-1), was laid down on June 2, 2005, launched on September 23, 2006, and commissioned into the US Navy on November 8, 2008. In February 2010, he went on his first campaign, which took place 2 years later than planned.
The ship's hull is a semi-planing type and provides high seaworthiness. It is made of steel. The superstructure is made of aluminum alloy. When designing the ship, stealth technology was widely used.
Equipment for Freedom FR was purchased, among other things, from European countries. Its combined diesel-gas turbine power plant includes two MT-30 gas turbines from Rolls-Royce (Great Britain), two diesel engines jointly produced by Fairbanks Morse and Colt-Pilstick 16PA6BSTC, as well as four gearboxes MAAG company (Switzerland).
To ensure survivability, gas turbine engines are located in different compartments on board. The main gearbox (MGG) and diesel engines (DM) are located in the following two compartments of the main mechanisms on the left and right sides, separate from the gas turbine engine. Gearboxes are located in the auxiliary mechanism compartments, which are also located aft of the main mechanism compartments.
The port and starboard main engines operate on port and starboard hydraulic fracturing. Next, the energy is transmitted along the shaft lines to the left and right side gearboxes, which drive two groups of propulsors. Each group includes two water-jet propulsors: with an adjustable direction of the jet stream and an accelerator. There are no rudders on the ship. The course change is carried out by means of water-jet propulsors with controlled direction of the jet stream.
The power plant is combined, with the joint operation of sustainer diesel and afterburning gas turbine engines at full speed. The power of the power plant is about 100 thousand liters. With. The ship's EPS includes four electric power generators driven by DD produced by the Isotta Frascini company, brand V1708. The power plant control and protection system was developed by DRS Technologies (USA). Four water jets of the SII series from Kameva, part of the Rolls-Royce company, were chosen as propulsion. The selected hull architecture and the layout of the power plant allow it to reach speeds of more than 40 knots and provide high maneuverability.
Ship weapons
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| Weapon placement on a Freedom-class frigate |
The armament of the Freedom-class frigate includes: a RAM Mk 31 air defense system with a Mk 49 launcher, developed by Raytheon, and a 57-mm Mk110 launcher manufactured by United Defense (USA), which can hit targets at a range of up to 17 km. Also on the side in the bow of the superstructure there are platforms for large-caliber 12.7-mm machine guns. Two more will be located in the runway area.
In addition, the Freedom-class ship will be based on an MH-60R or MH-60S mod. 2A (B), as well as two MQ-8B Firescout unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). The UAV is equipped with television cameras, an infrared detection system, a laser range finder, data transmission equipment, a Lynx synthetic aperture radar, and may also have electronic warfare, radio-technical reconnaissance and relay equipment. "Firescout" provides reconnaissance to a depth of more than 200 km (range of action). In the MQ-8B variant, it can be armed with Stinger and Hellfire air-to-air guided missiles, as well as Lokaas or Viper Strike submunitions.
The aircraft takeoff and landing system was developed by Mac Taggart Scott (Great Britain). The area of the runway is 1.7 times larger than that of O. Burke-class destroyers and 1.5 times larger than that of Perry-class guided missile frigates.
There are spaces in the aft part of the superstructure, and under the hangar and runway there is a compartment where interchangeable payload modules with weapons and the systems that support their functioning will be located. Depending on the nature of the tasks performed, these may be: 30-mm AU Mk 46, towed antennas of the hydroacoustic complex 2087, helicopters, unmanned aerial vehicles and mine-resistant uninhabited underwater vehicles, launching and receiving devices for boats (including those without crew "Spartan" type) , as well as other systems included in the payload modules.
Electronic weapons
The ship is equipped with a TRS-3D radar station (EADS, Germany), which can automatically detect and track up to 300 air and surface targets.
The radio-electronic equipment will also include the COMBATSS-21 automated combat control system (Lockheed Martin and Raytheon, USA) and a jamming and decoy system (Therma, Denmark).
Independence-class frigates (LCS-2)
The second hull of this ship was planned to be completed in April 2008, but this actually happened in December 2009. The FR was introduced into combat service on January 16, 2010.
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| Schematic diagram of the power plant of the Independence-class frigate (LCS-2): 1 - water-jet propulsion with variable direction of the jet stream; 2 - reduction gear; 3 - watertight bulkhead; 4-pin coupling; 5 - diesel engine; 6 - water supply; 7 - reduction gear; 8 - gas turbine engine |
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| Weapon placement on an Independence-class frigate (LCS-2) |
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| The composition of weapons and electronic weapons LCS-2 of the basic design of the Independence-class frigate (LCS-2) from General Dynamics: 1 - launching and receiving system for delivery vehicles; 2 - take-off and landing pad for two MH-60 helicopters or one MH-53; 3 - hangar to accommodate two MH-60 helicopters; 4 - SeaRAM air defense system; 5 - placement of radio-electronic equipment on the mast (a - satellite communication system antenna (3-30 GHz); b, n - satellite communication system antennas (0.3-3 GHz); c, d - communication system antenna (band 3-30 MHz); /SQR-4; k - optoelectronic system; l - antenna for detecting air/surface targets "Sea Giraffe"; m - antenna for the SINCGARS radio communication system (30-300 MHz); o - antenna for the navigation radar; - spotlight; c - antenna of the INMARSAT satellite communication system); 6 - bow 57-mm AU; 7 - mine detection sonar; 8 - two 12.7 mm machine guns on the left and right sides; 9 - PU system for setting false targets SRBOC; 10 - PU system for setting false targets "Nulka"; 11 - two stern 12.7 mm machine guns on the left and right sides; 12 - anti-torpedo defense system |
During the construction of the Independence-class frigate (LCS-2), General Dynamics paid considerable attention to increasing its speed. Extensive research was carried out to determine the optimal hull contours with improved hydrodynamic characteristics.
All General Dynamics LCS-class frigates will be built at the Austal USA shipyard. The following companies are involved in the creation of this ship: General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems of Orlington; "Arma-ment and technical product"; "Electric Boat Division"; General Dynamics Canada; "SAE of Leesburg"; BIA Systems; Marytime Applied Physics, and Northrop-Grumman Electronic Systems. As in the Lockheed Martin LCS-1 project, steel was chosen for the ship's hull, and aluminum alloys for the superstructure.
When creating the trimaran "Independence", the project of a cargo-passenger ferry of the Australian company "Austal" was taken as a basis. The selected architectural and structural type provides improved seaworthiness and increased capacity of the ship. Thus, the area of the helipad and hangar (about 1,450 m2) is almost 2 times larger than that of the Freedom-type LCS. This allows it to accommodate two medium MH-60R/S helicopters and up to three MQ-8B Firescout UAVs at the same time (on a Freedom-type LCS, UAVs can only be installed instead of one of the two helicopters).
Ship power plant
The main power plant of Independence-class ships includes: two LM2500 gas turbine engines manufactured by General Electric with a total power of 52,500 hp. With; two 20-cylinder V-shaped engines from MTU brand 20V 8000 with a total power of 22,298 hp. With; four water-jet propulsors with variable direction of the jet stream of the LJ-E series, developed by the Vyartsila-Lips company. To improve the maneuverability of the ship when mooring, a thruster is used. All power plant units are located in the middle hull of the trimaran - in compartments separated by waterproof bulkheads. This installation layout and hull architecture will allow the LCS to reach a full speed of over 40 knots.
Ship weapons
The armament includes: a 57-mm Mk 110 gun (in the bow of the ship), a SeaRAM air defense system (above the hangar), as well as four 12.7-mm machine guns (on the port and starboard sides).
The FR armament will also include various modules for solving PM and ASW missions and combating high-speed small-sized surface targets. Weapon modules include a sonar system, helicopters, unmanned aerial vehicles and uninhabited underwater vehicles in a mine-resistant or anti-submarine version and a number of other systems.
Modernized LCS project (for the last 12 ships, from LCS-33 to - 44).
Having analyzed possible threats in the theater of operations until 2025, the command of the US Navy put forward additional requirements for an improved project, which is planned to be used for the construction of the last 12 units in the series. Despite the fact that work on the creation of ships of the basic project continues, there are plans for their phased modernization.
Starting from the 2017 fiscal year, this project should include additional technical means (fixed, not replaceable modules) or improved existing ones to combat high-speed small surface targets, enemy diesel-electric submarines, as well as to provide air defense. In addition, the visibility and resistance of the ship to combat damage should be reduced. Its displacement will most likely increase slightly, and its full speed will decrease.
To compensate for these negative aspects, it is proposed to reduce the weight of a number of ship systems, and first of all, to reduce the area of compartments for accommodating the payload (previously reserved for weapons and REV modules) compared to the basic design. In this regard, it is not planned to use the last 12 ships for anti-aircraft defense, and their main tasks will be: combating high-speed small surface targets and low-noise diesel-electric submarines in shallow waters. In addition, the upgraded LCS will be able to perform secondary tasks inherent in ships built according to the basic design.
According to preliminary estimates, increasing LCS capabilities will not lead to an increase in purchase costs by more than 20%
Thus, the modernization of the existing basic LCS project will be carried out in the following areas:
- installation of a modernized three-coordinate OVC radar;
- increasing the ship’s air defense capabilities, including the SeaRAM air defense system;
- installation of additional anti-ship missiles (ASM) to combat small, high-speed surface targets;
The 21st century opened with an ongoing secret rivalry among major countries to build the ideal type of naval military equipment. Not the last word here belongs to designers from the North American States, working on behalf of the US Navy in the construction of ships.
Recently, in America, a new generation coastal zone ship (CLS) Independene, the lead ship of type II, created according to the LCS (coastal ships operating in shallow areas) project, was designed, assembled on factory stocks and underwent sea trials. The tests carried out identified a number of serious errors of military shipbuilders.
LCS Project
The project to create LCS (coastal ships operating in shallow areas) is currently considered the main task of the US Navy, subject to urgent implementation, requiring the immediate commissioning of more than 50 high-speed and maneuverable locally based ships, which are equipped with strike, defensive weapons and radio equipment, created with the latest technology. They are designed to conduct local combat operations in coastal waters.
The “father” of this idea and the “generator” of subsequent actions was the head of the naval operations department of the US Navy headquarters, Admiral Vernier Clark. The admiral's position is that littoral ships are needed where there is no point in using ocean-going ships for tactical or financial reasons.
Littoral zones
This implies conducting combat operations in shallow depths. However, in Russian naval literature, and in the established practice of the Russian Navy, this term is used somewhat figuratively. Littoral is an area of the sea or ocean floor that is subject to flooding at high tide and the formation of shoals at low tide. From the standpoint of Navy tactics, the “classic” is a very small zone in which to build a new class of ships to control the situation in it. Western naval strategists define the littoral zone as the area of intersection of the water element and the shore, which includes the seashore, the coastline, and the coastal slope located under water. In their concept, all these objects can reach a width from several meters to several kilometers. In Russian naval theory, this part of the water area is designated as the “coastal sea zone” (from the English “litoral” - coastal).
Therefore, from our position, US Navy ships of the Independene and Freedom type must be considered from the standpoint of the tactics of action of ships in the near sea zone.
Concept of operations of ships in the near sea zone
As American military strategists think, the concept of using ships in the near sea zone is quite simple and is located in only two main directories.
The first is to use it for its intended purpose. This is used against surface small and medium ships, small submarines, coastal artillery, mobile and stationary mine systems. Thus, to carry out these combat missions, the creation of a DD(X) class warship is required, which, if necessary, could operate in the second directory, up to being used as a landing ship for special forces units or serve as a base ship for launching cruise missiles.. So wide The range of capabilities of a littoral ship suggests its rapid transformation into the type of vessel that will be necessary to complete the assigned combat mission.
A feature of the creation of such ships was the principle of modular assembly with an introduced version of the so-called. “open type architecture”, which makes it possible to use the latest construction technologies along with modern building materials.
Tender for the creation of littoral ships
6 companies showed interest in this project; as a result of the selection carried out by the US Navy commission, three contenders remained: Dynamics, Lockheed, Raytheon - well-known companies in the USA. Each concern received a contract, Dynamics for $9 million, and the rest of the military industry for $10 million. A year later, sketches of littoral ships were presented to the commission.
The Dynamics project involved the development of a trimaran-type warship. The advantages of this type of ship, along with high seaworthiness, were high speed (over 50 knots) and the operation of the ship with a small crew of about 25 people. According to the creators, it is intended to solve problems of:
- countering sea pirates and terrorists
- counteraction to coast guard boats, even when attacking in a deployed manner
- organizing search activities and destroying enemy submarines located in the coastal zone
- conducting mine action
-providing assistance to other ships
The Lockheed project involved the development and use in the construction of a ship’s hull under the name “sea blade”; it was a variant of combining the classic shapes of a ship with a version of the “glider” type. This form of construction was used by semi-sports fast ships that set speed records in transatlantic crossings. To achieve success in accepting the order by military sailors, Lockheed designers fulfilled all the customer’s requirements, especially the conditions for interchangeability and versatility, while installing modular equipment on their model.
And the last one, the Raytheon project, proposed a solution to the problem of creating a littoral ship based on the small missile boat Skjold (Norway). Here, the Raytheon concern was responsible for the creation, implementation and interaction of the ship's systems, and the ship's hull construction project was carried out by another specialized engineering group. This project was distinguished by the fact that the boat was created on an air cushion, so it was not suitable for the US Navy.
Use of other types of ships
While the military department and legislators were busy with paperwork in preparation for the launch of the littoral ship program, naval leadership was testing various options for using modular systems on unconventional types of ships.
One of the options for experimental use was a ship with a small waterline area called “Sea Fighter”, which confidently operates in various extreme situations. One of the main requirements for developers when using the base of this ship was to be a modular system for equipping the vessel, and such a ship should serve as a base for receiving/landing helicopters, as well as “small-sized” ones, incl. and “automated drones”. The ship was launched in early June 2003 for sea trials. At the end of the month, having shown its best side, the ship was commissioned into the US Navy.
Tactical characteristics of "Sea Fighter"
Displacement -950 tons.
Length – 80 m.
Width – 22 m
Draft – 3.5 m
Sea crossing range -4400 miles
Crew -26 people.
The power unit is combined, the gas power plant includes 2 MTU 595 diesel engines and 2 LM 2500 gas turbine engines
The rest of the Sea Fighter equipment
2 rotary “water jets” are used as ship propulsion, one is located in each catamaran hull. When all the ship's components operate synchronously, the ship's speed reaches 50 knots.
The ship is equipped with 2 decks for landing helicopters; at the stern there is a receiving and releasing device for various types of underwater and surface automated and other vehicles that solve a wide range of tasks, from reconnaissance and sabotage to mine action.
Purpose and testing of the ship
The Sea Fighter, a ship with a small waterline area, is designed to solve two main problems. This is a study of the real internal resources of such a system of ships and the launch of a system for modular construction of sea vessels, including the acquisition of weapons. It was planned to use the so-called container option for completing vessel superstructures based on the principle of a block diagram of electronic devices. Moreover, each container represents an electronic complex of various types of counteraction to the enemy.
Initial tests of the Sea Fighter immediately yielded positive results. The results of the experiments were taken into account in the development program for LCS of both types. Recently, the leadership of the US Navy has been actively exploring the issue of the participation of ships of the Sea Fighter type in planned operations of both the US Navy and the use of these ships in areas of American economic interests and in resolving issues related to internal US problems in the waters. When it is operationally feasible to quickly move troops, such ships can be used to move forces into areas of US national interests.
Test results
In February 2004, the oversight body of the US Congress generally approved the project presented by the US Navy on the feasibility of acquiring coastal ships for the needs of the American fleet. In May of the same year, the US Navy Department announced the results of the tender, according to which the Dynamics and Lockheed concerns received contracts worth about 80 million and 47 million dollars, respectively. Dynamics will build the ships, code-designated LCS 2 and LCS4, and Lockheed will build the ships, code-designated LCS 1 and LCS3. The total cost of contracts for the construction of all ships will be 540 and 425 million dollars, respectively. In general, the Americans are ready to spend more than 4 billion dollars on the construction of all ships of this type.
In early June 2005, construction began on the lead littoral ship of the LCS 1 Freedom type, built in 2006. In November 2008, it was commissioned into the US Navy.
In January 2006, Dynamics began construction at the shipyard of the trimaran Inderpendence, in April 2008 its construction was completed and in January 2010 the naval ensign of the US Navy was raised on it.
After this, the program for building coastal ships was curtailed. Initially, the reasons for the increase in contract prices were given; the programs were subsequently closed due to lack of funding by the US Congress.
The laboriously built littoral ships LCS3 and LCS4 by the Dynamics and Lockheed concerns showed unsatisfactory results during dynamic tests; many defects and malfunctions were identified.