As reported earlier in the Naval News’ Land Based Anti-Ship Missiles (LBASM) article, the U.S. Army has now decided to purchase the U.S. Navy’s Tomahawk cruise missile and the dual-role Standard SM-6 Anti-Air and Anti-Surface/Ship missile and use both for the Long Range Precision Fires (LRPF) priorities.
These two U.S. Navy shipboard missiles, now U.S. Army truck-mounted, can also act as Anti-Ship missiles for the U.S. Army or the U.S. Marine Corps. The Maritime Tomahawk can be used, and the radar-guided Standard SM-6 has an incorporated Surface-to-Surface/Anti-Ship targeting capability, although its 140-pound warhead is much smaller than the 1,000-pound warhead on the Tomahawk missile.
Breaking Defense provided the news coverage:
“Lockheed Martin won a $339 million contract today to integrate two Raytheon-made missiles, now used by the Navy, into a truck-mounted artillery battery by 2023 […] Lockheed Martin won the OTA contract, worth up to $339.4 million with all options, to integrate the two missiles – both built by Raytheon – into the Army fire control systems, vehicles, and support equipment required for a fully functioning artillery battery. Lockheed builds the current wheeled HIMARS and tracked MLRS launchers, which can handle a wide variety of current and future Army weapons, but neither the service nor the company would say whether they could fire either SM-6 or Tomahawk, citing security concerns […] They are set to enter service in 2023. […] I asked the Army if it would modify either weapon to better its needs: The answer is no. `The Army will not modify the Navy missiles,’ an official said in an email to Breaking Defense. That means the Army’s going to buy exactly what the Navy is getting.”
By Sydney J. Freedberg Jr. on November 06, 2020
Another Possible U.S.M.C. Anti-Ship Option: Boeing’s GLSDB
At Modern Day Marine,2020, held virtually due to the COVID pandemic, Boeing Defense, Space and Security, exhibited their Ground Launched Small Diameter Bomb (GLSDB) at their virtual interactive website. Sarah Reed, spokesperson for Communications & Branding, Weapons at Boeing Defense, Space & Security described the genesis for the creation of adapting the SDB from an aerial launch platform to ground and possibly even maritime launch systems.
“The GLSDB program was created in pursuit of specific program requirements, in this case the U.S. Army’s Precision Fires programs. Additionally, the 2017 Laser GLSDB demonstration was done in conjunction with the Army in addressing their moving target requirement. To date, the U.S. Navy has not had any similar programs, but we continue to hold numerous discussions with international naval forces interested in a MLSDB capability.”
Sarah Reed, Communications & Branding, Weapons at Boeing Defense, Space & Security
According to Boeing, “the Ground Launched Small Diameter Bomb (GLSDB) will provide the warfighter with a long-range, precision fires weapon capable of conducting reverse slope engagements and defeating targets ranging from hardened facilities to soft-skinned assets. With a 360-degree target engagement ability, GLSDB provides commanders and planners with a highly flexible weapon which complements existing ballistic trajectory weapons. GLSDB builds upon Boeing’s highly successful Small Diameter Bomb Increment I (SDB I) and existing Multiple Launch Rocket System rockets. The SDB I is a 250-pound class weapon with an Advanced Anti-Jam Global Positioning System aided Inertial Navigation System, combined with a multipurpose penetrating blast-and-fragmentation warhead and a programmable electronic fuze.”
Carried and launched from a tracked MLRS or 6×6 HiMARS, the GLSDB can be an U.S. Army or U.S. Marine Corps Anti-Ship option that doesn’t cost as much as the Tomahawk or Standard SM-6 missiles. The GLSDB’s range would be less than the two U.S. Navy missiles, but the MLRS and HiMARS should be able to carry their full complement of rockets, 12 rockets for the tracked MLRS and 6 rockets for the HiMARS.
In October, 2020, a Boeing spokesperson responded to a request for information from Naval News regarding the interest and testing of the GLSDB:
“GLSDB has had three successful live fires with the most recent taking place in Sep 2019 in Norway achieving 130km range with 1-meter accuracy. GLSDB is a proven design and has been successfully launched on three occasions—twice internationally and once in conjunction with the US Army. The live fire events have proven the concept is ready to be integrated quickly into operational ground forces. GLSDB has been presented to the US Army Fires Center of Excellence but is currently not part of their LRPF Modernization Priorities. Boeing was selected by the US Army RCCTO [Rapid Capabilities and Critical Technologies Office] to pitch the GLSDB concept at its Industry Days in Feb 2019. The presentation was met with interest by several parties but was not selected to continue in the RCCTO track as they are bound by the Army LRPF Priorities. The USMC has shown interest in the GLSDB capability; discussions continue between Boeing and various entities in the Marine Corps.”
Sarah Reed, Communications & Branding, Weapons at Boeing Defense, Space & Security
The GLSDB brochure states that this MLRS rocket topped with GBU-39 A/B Anti-Jam GPS glide bomb has a maximum range of around 150 km/93.2 miles forward, and since the rocket launcher’s box can traverse 360-degrees, GLSDBs can fire up to 115 km/71.4 miles off to the sides and 70 km/43.4 miles behind the launcher, allowing for better Anti-Ship and Anti-Access/Area Denial deterrence in all directions.
Regarding weight and cost, “GLSDB, as a six-weapon bundle, weighs approximately 6,500 lbs. GLSDB provides ranges out to 150 km, with fully programmable impact conditions as is found in all SDB weapons, and does it at a per unit cost lower than any competitors,” Sarah Reed said.
Small Diameter Bomb for the Naval Forces?
If the GLSDB can be launched by the Marines’ ground-based multiple rocket artillery HiMARS, can the Small Diameter Bomb be launched fromships armed with the MK41 or MK57 Vertical Launch Systems? Sarah Reed answered:
“Boeing has developed an initial concept for a Maritime Launched Small Diameter Bomb (MLSDB) that provides the customer with additional capability. The design envisions the MLSDB to be a stand-alone system consisting of two to eight all-up rounds. This modular concept design allows MLSDB to be installed and employed from a large array of surface ships without the requirement for specific launch systems. While MLSDB could be added to a vertical launch system, Boeing’s current modular concept allows MLSDB to be integrated and installed on surface ships at a very low cost and with greatly reduced integration time. At this point, MLSDB remains in the preliminary design stage, but we remained engaged with the customer to ensure we can meet their needs.”
Will the U.S. Marines Get Harpoon Missiles on a Truck?
Naval News also asked Boeing at Modern Day Marine 2020 about the Harpoon Anti-Ship cruise missiles being a potential truck-mounted LBASM for the U.S. Marines (such as the 100 Harpoon Coastal Defense System Launcher Transporter Units and 25 radar trucks being sold to Taiwan). “While the Harpoon has been mounted on a truck in the past, we are not currently working that configuration for the U.S.M.C,” Sarah Reed said.
