ARLINGTON, Va, – At least two of the U.S. Navy’s Freedom-class Littoral Combat Ships can now down drones after the service modified the class’ Surface-to-Surface Missile Module amid increasing demands for a counter-unmanned aerial system (C-UAS) as a result of combat in the Red Sea and threats beyond.
USS Indianapolis (LCS-17) received the upgrade, which involved work on the software and hardware of the Surface-to-Surface Missile Module, in Bahrain while it was operationally deployed in 5th Fleet to support the Navy’s efforts to “promote freedom of navigation and the rules-based international order” in the Red Sea.
Capt. Matthew Lehmann, program manager of the LCS Mission Modules (PMS 420) program office, told reporters at the annual Surface Navy Association symposium in Arlington this week:
“We were able to work with IWS 80 and get Longbow Hellfire with C-UAS capability installed on USS Indianapolis while they were in Fifth Fleet before they transited home, which is an enormous win for C-UAS capability for LCS. We wanted to make sure that they had as much capability as possible,”
Originally intended to target small boats, the LCS’ Surface-to-Surface Missile Module carries 24 vertically launched AGM-114L Longbow Hellfires. In recent years, the U.S. Army previously deployed the missile for a similar anti-aircraft role on its Initial Maneuver Short-Range Air Defense, with the launcher yielding two Longbows in what the service described as “interceptors.” Apache attack helicopters deployed in the Middle East have also been seen using Hellfire missiles in anti-drone training. “This rapid integration of C-UAS capabilities enhances our ability to project power and maintain freedom of maneuver in contested environments,” said Rear. Adm. Kevin Smith, Program Executive Officer, Unmanned and Small Combatants, in a Naval Sea Systems Command press release on the upgrade.
Lockheed Martin, the manufacter of the Hellfire missile, also displayed its sucessor system, the Joint Air-to-Ground Missile, on the show floor on an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer in what appeared to be a C-UAS role.
While Lehmann highlighted that the system was operationally deployed, he also told reporters that no drones were downed by the Longbow Hellfires carried in the embarked missile module. One engagement saw all threats downed by other assets before they entered Indianapolis’ range. He also announced that more LCS’ are expected to receive the repurposed missiles, with USS Minneapolis-Saint Paul already taking on the new C-UAS mission.
“We have rapidly delivered Counter-UAS capabilities to USS Indianapolis and we just finished installation of it on USS Minneapolis-Saint Paul this November. High demand, as you know, for Counter-UAS capability and we’re very excited to for the Longbow Hellfire missiles to be on LCS”
These upgrades are the latest effort by the U.S. Navy to boost its lightly armed LCS’ amid increasing threats in the Atlantic, Red Sea, and Indo-Pacific region. Other major upgrades include the Mk.70 Payload Delivery System, a containerized four cell Mk.41 vertical launch system that has been seen on the flight decks of USS Nantucket (LCS-27) and the Independence-class LCS USS Savannah (LCS 28).
