U.S. Navy Issues RFI for Large Surface Combatant

U.S. Navy Issues RFI for Large Surface Combatant
PACIFIC OCEAN (December 8, 2016) The U.S. Navy's most technologically advanced surface ship USS Zumwalt (DDG 1000) steams in formation with USS Independence (LCS 2) and USS Bunker Hill (CG 52) The DDG 1000 could well serve as a base for the future LSC (U.S. Navy Combat Camera photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Ace Rheaume/Released)
The U.S. Navy issued its Request for Information (RFI) document for the future Large Surface Combatant (LSC). The LSC is likely to replace the ageing Ticonderoga-class of guided missile cruisers as well as possibly the older DDG 51 destroyers.
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According to the RFI document, the U.S. Navy’s LSC Program will be a new acquisition program that will leverage the DDG 51 Flight III combat system while identifying and evaluating the integration of non-developmental mechanical and electrical systems into a new or modified hull design, incorporating platform flexibility and growth opportunities to meet future Fleet requirements.

The Navy intends to evaluate the following capability areas for possible integration into the initial LSC baseline:

• Ability to integrate Warfare System elements including the DDG 51 Fight III and the weapon systems listed below.
• Increased flexibility/adaptability features such as expanded Space, Weight, Power and Cooling Service Life Allowances to allow for more rapid and affordable upgrades in capabilities and maintenance over the ships’ service life, and allow for fielding of future high demand electric weapons and sensors, and computing resources.
• The ability of the ship’s Vertical Launch System to accommodate longer and larger diameter missiles for increased speed and range of weapons.
• Additional capacity for an embarked warfare commander and staff.
• Support for 360-degree coverage with Directed Energy weapons.
• Improved signatures with support for additional improvements over time.

U.S. Navy Issues RFI for Large Surface Combatant 2
DDG 51 Flight III scale model on HII stand at SNA 2019. The LCS Program will be a new acquisition program that will leverage the DDG 51 Flight III combat system.

Potential ship designs will look to accommodate the above capability increases, with a consideration towards additional growth capacity for projected future systems requirements. Designs will also look to incorporate flexibility features to enable timely and affordable back-fit and forward-fit of future systems to pace known threats, and meet future emergent needs through evolutionary block upgrades and modernization.

U.S. Navy Issues RFI for Large Surface Combatant 4
The future LSC are set to be fitted with next generation strike weapon NGWS

A requirements analysis process for a Future Surface Combatant Force (FSCF) is currently being conducted by the U.S. Navy. The Future Surface Combatant Force is envisioned to include Large Surface Combatants (LSC), Small Surface Combatants (SSC), Optionally Manned or Unmanned Surface Vehicles (O/USV) and a common Integrated Combat System (ICS). The U.S. Navy is currently developing requirements for a LSC as part of the FSCF vision.

U.S. Navy Issues RFI for Large Surface Combatant 3
Picture of a poster on General Atomics stand at SNA 2019: Directed energy weapon systems fitted aboard USS Sterett (DDG-104). The RFI calls for the future LSC to be able to support such weapons.

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