U.S. Navy LCS Receive Upgraded C-UAS Hellfire Missiles

ARLINGTON, Va,– At the very least 2 of the united state Navy’s Freedom-class Coastal Battle Ships can currently down drones after the solution changed the course’ Surface-to-Surface Rocket Component amidst boosting needs for a counter-unmanned airborne system (C-UAS) as an outcome of battle in the Red Sea and risks past.

USS Indianapolis ( LCS-17) obtained the upgrade, which entailed work with the software program and equipment of the Surface-to-Surface Rocket Component, in Bahrain while it was operationally released in fifth Fleet to sustain the Navy’s efforts to “advertise liberty of navigating and the rules-based worldwide order” in the Red Sea.

Capt. Matthew Lehmann, program supervisor of the LCS Objective Modules (PMS 420) program workplace, informed press reporters at the yearly Surface area Navy Organization seminar in Arlington today:

” We had the ability to deal with IWS 80 and obtain Longbow Hellfire with C-UAS ability set up on USS Indianapolis while they remained in 5th Fleet prior to they transited home, which is a substantial win for C-UAS ability for LCS. We wished to make certain that they had as much ability as feasible,”

Initially planned to target tiny watercrafts, the LCS’ Surface-to-Surface Rocket Component lugs 24 up and down released AGM-114L Longbow Hellfires. In recent times, the united state Military formerly released the rocket for a comparable anti-aircraft function on its Preliminary Maneuver Short-Range Air Protection, with the launcher producing 2 Longbows in what the solution referred to as “interceptors.”Apache attack helicopters deployed in the Middle East have also been seen using Hellfire missiles in anti-drone training ” This quick assimilation of C-UAS abilities boosts our capacity to job power and preserve liberty of maneuver in objected to settings,” stated Back. Adm. Kevin Smith, Program Exec Police Officer, Unmanned and Little Fighters, in a Naval Sea Equipments Command news release on the upgrade.

Lockheed Martin, the manufacter of the Hellfire rocket, likewise presented its sucessor system, the Joint Air-to-Ground Rocket, on the program flooring on an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer in what seemed a C-UAS function.

While Lehmann highlighted that the system was operationally released, he likewise informed press reporters that no drones were downed by the Longbow Hellfires brought in the gotten started rocket component. One interaction saw all risks downed by various other properties prior to they got in Indianapolis’ array. He likewise revealed that even more LCS’ are anticipated to get the repurposed rockets, with USS Minneapolis-Saint Paul currently handling the brand-new C-UAS objective.

” We have actually quickly supplied Counter-UAS abilities to USS Indianapolis and we simply ended up setup of it on USS Minneapolis-Saint Paul this November. High need, as you understand, for Counter-UAS ability and we’re extremely thrilled to for the Longbow Hellfire rockets to be on LCS”

These upgrades are the current initiative by the united state Navy to improve its gently armed LCS’ amidst boosting risks in the Atlantic, Red Sea, and Indo-Pacific area. Other major upgrades include the Mk.70 Payload Delivery System, a containerized four cell Mk.41 vertical launch system that has been seen on the flight decks of USS Nantucket (LCS-27) and the Independence-class LCS USS Savannah (LCS 28).

The message U.S. Navy LCS Receive Upgraded C-UAS Hellfire Missiles showed up initially on Naval News.