Common requirement themes for the US Navys Small Surface Combatant: (1). Existing designs and mature concepts. - While minimsing overall project risk, there would also be an expectation the in-service ILS would also be mature with sustainment costs observed and understood across existing and mature systems. (2). Affordability. - No more blue sky dreaming for the only Morris-Groves Tier 1 Navy. With a modern economy founded on the Military Industrial Complex the issue of affordability is telling. The requirement for value-for-money is implied, and constrains options further than those identified at (1). (3). Better EW systems. - Better EW means better risk management, both tactically and congressionally. Add to that increase Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance capabilities feeding not only strategic purposes but tactical survivability isnt just clever, but essential. (4). Allusions to Open Architecture for the Combat Management System. - Keeping future materiel options open is enabled by a truly Open Architecture, though to obtain that will cost Navy money (a supplier prefers constraints to ensure future revenue generated by system integration tasks, among others). Plug-and-play is aspirational, and the overall combat system architecture will be interesting to watch in development. Federated or integrated? Both have pros and cons. (5) Increased Anti-Submarine Warfare capabilities. - Towed Array Sonar and vertically-launched Anti-Submarine (torpedo) Rockets are in. It seems Hull Mounted and Vertical Sonar are out. The shift to solely passive detection ignores the fact of detection ranges against modern submarines. The argument for including active sonar is a good one. (6) Swapping the 57mm gun for a 76mm gun. - We wonder at the wisdom behind this (implied) requirement. The 76mm gun has a solid history, however the design is old. A Bofors MkIII 57mm gun has greater accuracy, though less range, than the 76mm, but the Bofors has the title for highest weight-of-fire for any caliber below 3.9inches. We wonder what the intended use of the gun is warranting swapping new-for-old?
Posted on: Sat, 31 May 2014 05:05:38 +0000
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