PORT HUENEME, Calif. - The U.S. Navy completed initial operational testing and evaluation (IOT&E) of the littoral combat ship's Independence variant with a successful SeaRAM (Rolling Airframe Missile) firing event aboard USS Coronado (LCS 4), June 3.
The tests demonstrated the core Anti-Air Warfare capabilities of the ship against an Anti-Ship Cruise Missile. As part of the testing Coronado scored a mission kill against its intended Unmanned Aerial Vehicle target. This was the second of two successful SeaRAM firings from Coronado. During the same underway period, the test team was able to complete 12 planned tracking events, all with satisfactory results.
"The crew of Coronado is to be commended for their exceptional performance during IOT&E," said Capt. Tom Anderson, LCS program manager. "The successful testing on the Independence variant demonstrates the self-defense capabilities of the ship and systems and instills confidence in Coronado as the ship prepares for its maiden deployment this summer."
This firing event is the second shipboard launch for the new SeaRAM self-defense system and was the result of long-term planning, performance analysis and assessment, and modeling and simulation.
"USS Coronado is designed to fight and win in contested waters, where high-end anti-ship cruise missiles pose a significant threat to naval forces," said Cmdr. Scott Larson, Coronado's commanding officer. "Today's test validates the Independence variant's ability to effectively neutralize those threats and demonstrates the impressive capability SeaRAM brings to our arsenal."
The SeaRAM system combines the Close-In Weapons System (CIWS) self-defense system's radars and fire control system with the RAM missile. Each system has separately contributed to Navy ship defense for many years. Together, the CIWS/RAM combination provides a capable, reduced manning anti-cruise missile and aircraft self-defense capability for Navy ships.
Program Executive Office Littoral Combat Ships (PEO LCS) and Program Executive Office Integrated Warfare Systems (PEO IWS) coordinated the testing.
LCS is a modular, reconfigurable ship, with three types of mission packages including surface warfare, mine countermeasures, and anti-submarine warfare. The LCS class consists of the Freedom variant and the Independence variant, designed and built by two industry teams. Purchased under an innovative 20 ship block-buy acquisition strategy, there are six LCS in commission, 20 under contract, and 14 under various stages of construction.
PEO LCS is responsible for delivering and sustaining the fleet's littoral mission capabilities. PEO IWS is responsible for surface ship and submarine combat technologies and systems, and for implementing Navy enterprise solutions across ship platforms. Consistent delivery of high-quality warfighting assets, while balancing affordability and capability, is key to supporting the Navy's Maritime Strategy.