Harpoon upgrade

[jurrien visser (JuVi op Twitter)]

Ben nog niet echt overtuigd van de capaciteit van dit wapen.
De AAW van moderne schepen kan behoorlijk goed zijn. En waar moderne ASuW wapens inzetten op actieve CM's, Stealth, eindmanouvres en/of supersonische snelheid, lijkt dit wapen geen van deze te bieden. De Harpoon is al lang ineffectief, en  dit wapen lijkt me een longer range version van de Harpoon.

Ik ook nog niet... maar eens zien wat de LRASM als alternatief op de mat brengt. (al wordt nu ook hard gewerkt aan een stealth opvolger van de klassieke Tomahawk)

[jurrien visser (JuVi op Twitter)]

Navy to Field New "Moving Ship Attacking" Tomahawk -Mid 2020s

Mooi op tijd voor: Walrusvervanger. vMFF en vLCF.

[Harald]

Navy to Field New "Moving Ship Attacking" Tomahawk -Mid 2020s

The Pentagon and the Navy are accelerating a new maritime-specific Tomahawk missile designed to advance the weapon's ability to address fast-emerging near-peer threats

The Pentagon and the Navy are accelerating a new maritime-specific Tomahawk missile designed to advance the weapon's ability to address fast-emerging near-peer threats and destroy enemy ships moving at sea.

Unlike a typical Tomahawk missile which, over the years, has been used to successfully target and destroy "fixed" targets such as enemy bunkers, static troop locations, command-and-control as well as key infrastructure - the new Maritime Strike Tomahawk is specifically engineered with a next-generation ability to track and destroy moving targets at sea, Navy and Raytheon developers say.

The Maritime Strike Tomahawk hinges on new seeker technology and faster computer processing speeds to engineer several modes wherein the Tomahawk can be re-targeted in flight to destroy moving targets in the event of unforeseen contingencies.

Navy program managers have told Scout Warrior that the weapon incorporates an all-weather  seeker, coupled with mid-course in-flight target updates, will provide the missile the ability to strike a moving maritime target.

"Maritime Strike Tomahawk will integrate a multi-mode seeker into Block IV Tomahawk Cruise Missile.   The seeker suite will enable MST to engage moving targets,"  Navy Tomahawk program manager, Capt. Mark Johnson, told Scout Warrior in a written statement.

Johnson added that the program is a new start acquisition effort which plans to field the new Tomahawk by the mid 2020s.

Naval Air Systems Command awarded Raytheon a $120-million deal to develop the weapon as part of a fast-tracked acquisition effort, a Pentagon announcement said.

"The weapon is designed to engage high-value moving targets such as enemy ships. Different countries are releasing more and more capable ships. We want to enable the US Navy to have freedom of the seas and have sea control," Chris Sprinkle, Maritime Strike Tomahawk Manager, Raytheon, told Scout Warrior in an interview.

While weapons developers explain that many of the particular details of the new seeker technology are not available for discussion for security reasons, officials do say it is designed to integrate with and function alongside existing Tomahawk targeting and navigation technologies such as infrared guidance, radio frequency targeting and GPS systems.

"The multi-mode seeker rides on a very capable multi-function processor.  When people talk about radar and IR systems put onto a weapon platform, they recognize that the antennas you see on the front end are useless if there is not a capable processor is on the back side," Sprinkle said.

Constructing an "upgradeable" technology such that processing hardware can quickly be integrated with new software as threats emerge is an integral component of the new seeker technology.

"This allows us to operate whatever set of sensors are needed to meet operational requirements. If the threat has evolved, we won't have to bring the missile back and put on a new set of sensors," Sprinkle added.

The idea is to engineer a Tomahawk missile able to engage and destroy fast-moving near-peer rival ships and land targets in a wide variety of anticipated threat environments. For instance, should there be combat engagements with Russia or China, U.S. weapons, missiles and assets will need to operate in more challenged or contested environments – such as a scenario where satellites or GPS communications and navigational systems are compromised or destroyed.

As part of a broad weapons modernization strategy, the Navy is also upgrading its Tactical Tomahawk Weapons Control System to reduce its hardware footprint, streamline weapons functions and integrate new, updated software able to increase cybersecurity through a simplified user interface, service officials said.

Multiple systems can now be accessed from a single workstation and other systems were condensed, freeing up space in control rooms, a Navy statement said.

Tomahawks have been upgraded several times over their years of service. The Block IV Tomahawk, in service since 2004, includes a two-way data link for in-flight retargeting, terrain navigation, digital scene-matching cameras and a high-grade inertial navigation system, Raytheon officials said.

The current Tomahawk is built with a "loiter" ability allowing it to hover near a target until there is an optimal time to strike. As part of this technology, the missile uses a two-way data link and camera to send back images of a target to a command center before it strikes. 

The weapon is also capable of performing battle damage assessment missions by relaying images through a data link as well, Raytheon said.

The Navy is currently wrapping up the procurement cycle for the Block IV Tactical Tomahawk missile.  In 2019, the service will conduct a recertification and modernization program for the missiles reaching the end of their initial 15-year service period, which will upgrade or replace those internal components required to return them to the fleet for the second 15 years of their 30-year planned service life.

Tomahawk in Combat

The weapons have been used for decades in combat. Roughly 800 tomahawks were fired in Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003 and about 200 were used in Desert Storm, Raytheon officials said.

In addition, more than 200 Tomahawks were fired in NATO action in Libya in 2012Tomahawk missiles 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. They are just over 18-feet long and have an 8-foot, 9-inch wingspan.

Tomahawks are the kind of weapon used to destroy enemy air defenses, communications infrastructure and other targets – allowing strike aircraft and various attack assets to go after targets in a much lower-risk environment. The weapon was used in this capacity against targets in Syria and the beginning of Operation Inherent Resolve as well.

Alongside Tomahawk modernization, the Navy exploring options for a next-generation land attack weapon. It remains unclear whether they will use next-generation, upgraded Tomahawks to meet this requirement or chose to develop a new system.

"Every time we go against anyone that has a significant threat, the first weapon is always Tomahawk," Sprinkle said. " It is designed specifically to beat modern and emerging integrated air defenses."

https://scout.com/military/warrior/Article/Navy-to-Field-New-Moving-Ship-Attacking-Maritime-Tomahawk-Mid-2020s-107312440

[Harald]

Royal Navy makes U-turn on retirement of Harpoon

Jane's was told at Defence and Security Equipment International (DSEI) 2017 that the Royal Navy has decided not to retire the Harpoon anti-ship missile in 2018 and the weapon will remain in service at least till 2020.

The Ministry of Defense had earlier announce the plan to retire the Boeing weapon from its Type 23 frigates in 2018 without a replacement.

http://www.janes.com/article/74044/dsei-2017-uk-defers-harpoon-retirement

[Harald]

British Frigate Fleet to Lack Anti-Ship Missiles Until 'Around 2030'  
( ... geen verstandige keuze om Harpoons uit te faseren, kunnen ze nog beter deze een upgrade geven ! )

(Source: UK Defence Journal; posted August 31, 2017)
By George Allison

http://www.defense-aerospace.com/articles-view/release/3/186448/-royal-navy-ships-will-lack-anti_ship-missile-until-2030.html

Royal Navy ships will lose anti-ship missile capability in 2018 when the Harpoon missile is withdrawn, with a replacement not due until 'around 2030'.

While the Royal Navy will still have an anti-ship capability via the submarine fleet and embarked helicopters, this will still be a significant capability gap and even then, no Royal Navy helicopters will have anti-ship missile capabilities until 2020.

As we reported last year, Harriett Baldwin and her French counterpart signed an agreement to explore future long-range weapons for the Royal and French Navies and Air Forces with the aim of replacing the Harpoon anti-ship missile and the Storm Shadow cruise missile as well as an array of French weapon types.

French arms procurement chief Collet-Billon said last year at the meeting: "We are launching today a major new phase in our bilateral cooperation, by planning together a generation of missiles, successor to the Harpoon, SCALP and Storm Shadow.

The FC/ASW (future cruise/anti-ship weapon) programme's aim is to have by around 2030 a new generation of missiles."

The missiles however will not be ready to replace Harpoon until 2030, leaving the Type 26 Frigates without any real means to engage surface warships aside from their helicopters.

.../...

According to the Telegraph, Rear-Admiral Chris Parry said about the issue: "It's a significant capability gap and the Government is being irresponsible. It just shows that our warships are for the shop window and not for fighting." (end of excerpt)


Click here for the full story, on the UK Defence Journal website.
https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/british-frigate-fleet-lack-anti-ship-missiles-around-2030/?utm_source=TW&utm_medium=Twitter&utm_campaign=social


(EDITOR'S NOTE:  Whether by short-sightedness or gambling with the defense of the kingdom, successive British governments continue to do away with naval capabilities to save money.
In the past decade or so, the Royal Navy has seen its Harrier naval fighters retired, its aircraft carriers paid off, and its Nimrod maritime patrol aircraft program axed, all to save money.
This has led to the loss of its fixed-wing aviation, its aircraft carriers and its maritime patrol capabilities as well as over half of its fleet of frigates and destroyers.
Leaving its frigates and destroyers without an anti-ship missile of their own, and thus forced to rely on short-range helicopter-launched missiles, is a dangerous loss of capability that their single gun will be unable to compensate.
In addition, it is replacing combat-capable frigates by OPVs and the future Type 31 frigate, which promises to be little more than a glorified OPV.
Once again, a British government is gambling that the Royal Navy, which it continues to send in harm's way, will not be involved in combat.
A dangerous gamble, as the Falklands War amply demonstrated.)

[Harald]

DoD awards first LRASM production contract

The US military is to receive its first air-launched Lockheed Martin AGM-158C Long-Range Anti-Ship Missiles (LRASMs) in the third quarter of 2019, under a Department of Defense (DoD) contract awarded on 25 July.

The contract, which is valued at USD86.5 million, will see Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control deliver 23 Lot 1 production LRASM missiles by 29 September that year. Although awarded by the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, the contract is understood to cover missiles for both the US Air Force (USAF) and US Navy (USN).

Developed as a successor to the Lockheed Martin AGM-158A Joint Air-to-Surface Stand-off Missile (JASSM) and AGM-158B JASSM-Extended Range (ER) missiles currently fielded, the LRASM is a stealthy subsonic cruise missile that differs slightly from these earlier systems in some undisclosed aspects of its propulsion and sensor systems while retaining the basic form of its predecessors.

http://www.janes.com/article/72611/dod-awards-first-lrasm-production-contract


impression of the LRASM in the final stages of an attack on enemy shipping

[Harald]

Hoe dan ook, de LRASM zal zeker zijn van gebruik binnen de US Navy (opvolger van Tomahawk ?)

Lockheed Martin Taps ViaSat's Datalink Communications System LRASM Missile Integration

CARLSBAD, Calif. — ViaSat Inc., a global broadband services and technology company, announced in a June 14 release it received a follow-on contract from Lockheed Martin to deliver datalink communications for the integration and test phase of the U.S. Navy's Long-Range Anti-Ship Missile (LRASM) program.

The contract calls for ViaSat to provide Weapon Data Link L-Band Units to support the overall missile test program's datalink communications requirements, as well as engineering support for software enhancements and flight test support.

The LRASM program is the key pillar of the U.S. Navy's Offensive Anti-Surface Warfare effort to improve its ability to engage and destroy high-value targets from extended range. The ViaSat datalink solution will enable the LRASM weapon system to communicate with launch platforms and provide growth opportunities in the future.

"Being selected by Lockheed Martin to provide the datalink unit for LRASM is a huge milestone for us," said Ken Peterman, president, Government Systems, ViaSat. "It validates our approach to the weapon datalink market by leveraging next-generation technology from our Battlefield Awareness and Targeting System product line. The ViaSat datalink units provide highly-advanced communications capabilities and enhanced performance beyond previous weapon datalink offerings as well as a significantly reduced form factor with minimal development expense to our customers."

http://seapowermagazine.org/stories/20170615-LRASM.html

[StrataNL]

NavyRecognition heeft meer details over de nieuwe RBS15! (die nog geen naam heeft)

"we learned during IMDEX Asia 2017 that Saab is still working on a product name for its next gen missile."

-The next generation missile system will have an improved combat range (compared to the RBS 15 Mk3's range of over 200 km

-upgraded missile seeker

-lower mass compared to the earlier system

-ability to combat a wide spectrum of naval and land-based targets

-new design enabling future growth potential

http://www.navyrecognition.com/index.php/news/naval-exhibitions/2017/imdex-asia-2017-show-daily-news/5214-imdex-asia-2017-first-details-on-saab-s-next-gen-anti-ship-missile-emerge.html

[Sparkplug]

Gaat de USN dan ook hun Air-launched Harpoons vervangen voor gebruik vanaf P-8A, F-18E/F/G ??

Boeing has delivered 7,500 baseline Harpoon missiles to the USN and its 30 international customers. The USN is planning to fund "long-term improvements" and inventory sustainment until at least 2035, according to Capt Engdahl.

http://www.janes.com/article/60449/navy-league-2016-usn-completes-developmental-airborne-harpoon-ii-testing

De gestelde eisen van NAVSEA (LCS e.d.) en NAVAIR (o.a. Poseidon en Super Hornet) blijken te verschillen. In het geval van NAVAIR verandert er (nog) niets.

[Harald]

Het lijkt op de handdoek in de ring gooien in de wetenschap dat ze de order niet gaan krijgen.

Gaat de USN dan ook hun Air-launched Harpoons vervangen voor gebruik vanaf P-8A, F-18E/F/G ??

Boeing has delivered 7,500 baseline Harpoon missiles to the USN and its 30 international customers. The USN is planning to fund "long-term improvements" and inventory sustainment until at least 2035, according to Capt Engdahl.

http://www.janes.com/article/60449/navy-league-2016-usn-completes-developmental-airborne-harpoon-ii-testing

[StrataNL]

Dacht dat de Mark IV geschrapt was, of is dit een verbeterde Mk III?

Dat dacht ik ook. Deze zit er een beetje tussenin, maar het kan ook zo zijn dat ze de ambities voor de mk4 naar beneden bijgesteld hebben en dat dit het resultaat is geweest.

[jurrien visser (JuVi op Twitter)]

of ... is dit even de boel opschudden in defensie land door Boeing om hun product onder de aandacht te brengen

Het lijkt op de handdoek in de ring gooien in de wetenschap dat ze de order niet gaan krijgen.

[Harald]

Zoals ik het lees, is er een Tender uitgegaan en sindsdien worden de eisen en wensen steeds veranderd door de USN.

Als ik het verhaal goed begrijp wil Boeing geen inferieur product leveren...een systeem dat minder kan dan Boeings verbeterde Harpoon kan.

Dat had ik ook begrepen uit het artikel.

Maar waarom eisen en wensen downgraden ??
Vanuit kosten oogpunt, denk ik dat een geupgrade versie van de Harpoon goedkoper zou uitvallen dan een nieuw ontwikkelde NSM en LRASM.
Vooral als de bestaande Harpoons (her)gebruikt kunnen worden met een geupgrade.

of ... is dit even de boel opschudden in defensie land door Boeing om hun product onder de aandacht te brengen

[Ronald Elzenga]

Blijkbaar wel... 'k vind dit overigens best verrassend. Je zou denken dat zo'n bedrijf met al zijn R&D middelen met wat op de proppen zou gekomen zijn.
Nu... de "tegenstanders" lijken wel zeer goede producten te maken met de NSM en LRASM.

Als ik het verhaal goed begrijp wil Boeing geen inferieur product leveren...een systeem dat minder kan dan Boeings verbeterde Harpoon kan. Als dit klopt geeft dat toch te denken..

[ARM-WAP]

Gooit Boeing de handdoek in de ring en geeft het daarmee alle kansen aan Kongsberg/Raytheon (NSM) en Lockheed Martin (LRASM)?

Blijkbaar wel... 'k vind dit overigens best verrassend. Je zou denken dat zo'n bedrijf met al zijn R&D middelen met wat op de proppen zou gekomen zijn.
Nu... de "tegenstanders" lijken wel zeer goede producten te maken met de NSM en LRASM.