The Independence-class LCS USS Santa Barbara (LCS 32) achieved a first last month, becoming the first ship to complete mine warfare training milestones with unmanned surface vessels, an important step forward in the Mine Countermeasures (MCM) mission module, on schedule for its maiden deployment in 2025.
Parts of the MCM mission package achieved Initial Operational Capability (IOC) on March 31, 2023 after an extensive series of qualification tests aboard USS Cincinnati (LCS 20). The first operational and complete MCM mission package was brought aboard USS Canberra (LCS 30) in April 2024. The effort throughout 2024 concluded with the qualification tests of the mission package being performed by the crew of Santa Barbara.
“The United States has the privilege, and I would say the challenge, of being the first ones out of the gate and putting it into theater. I’m not saying we got it right, I’m saying we’re first out of the gate.”
Captain Scott B. Hattaway, Director, SMWDC Mine Countermeasures Technical Division
Santa Barbara is the third Independence-class LCS to be fitted with the MCM mission module. USS Canberra (LCS 30) and USS Tulsa (LCS 16) were first and second respectively. No Freedom-class Littoral Combat Ships will be fitted with the MCM package, leaving the entire U.S. MCM capability within the U.S. Pacific Fleet.
The lethality milestones achieved by the crew of Santa Barbara mark a major step forward in the deployment of the MCM mission module, paving the way for its maiden deployment to the Middle East.
The first Littoral Combat Ships equipped with the MCM mission module will deploy to the Middle East in 2025 and 2026 Captain Hattaway told at the Naval Leaders’ Combined Naval Event 24 (CNE 24) conference in the UK in May 2024. He added that the next four ships equipped with the mission module will be forward deployed to the 7th Fleet Area of Responsibility.
If deployments prove successful, the U.S. Navy will begin the process of divesting legacy Avenger-class mine countermeasure ships and MH-53E Sea Dragon Airborne Mine Countermeasure Mission (AMCM) helicopters in 2025.
What makes up the LCS MCM mission module?
At the core of the LCS mine warfare mission is the Independence-class LCS itself, which can provide self defense capability to mine countermeasure assets in the area. This includes missile defense provided by the 11-cell Raytheon SeaRAM launcher and general defenses against surface, air, and land targets with the BAE Systems Mark 110 57mm gun.
Embarked for the MCM mission is a MH-60S Seahawk mine warfare helicopter equipped with the AN/AES-1 Airborne Laser Mine Detection System (ALMDS) which excels at locating moored mines in shallower water. The MH-60S also offers the AN/ASQ-235 Airborne Mine Neutralization System (AMNS), offering a safer method to counter-mine potential threats compared to traditional mechanical minesweeping with EOD divers.
The unmanned portion of the MCM mission module are Common Unmanned Surface Vessels (CUSVs) developed by Textron Systems, also known as the Fleet-class of USVs. These CUSVs can carry the AN/AQS-20C, a forward-look and side-scan sonar capable of locating sea mines, or the Unmanned Influence Sweep System (UISS) which adds acoustic and influence sweep capability to the CUSVs deployed by LCS motherships.
The components of the LCS MCM mission module were not originally designed to be loaded into the 30,000 square feet of mission bay space and shortcomings have been encountered in balancing the space between 11 meter CUSVs, four or five 12-foot CONEX boxes, a lift system for the CUSVs, and an independent berthing box for the operators of the MCM suite.
Due to these space constraints, modularity of this platform is no longer offered or being pursued by the U.S. Navy to switch between mission modules, a sharp turn from the original planning of the LCS.
Current limitations of the LCS Mine Countermeasures mission package
According to Captain Scott B. Hattaway, Director of the SMWDC Mine Countermeasures Technical Division, the 11 meter CUSV is currently limited by form factor, limiting the endurance of the platform and the weight of the cable for towed sonar depth. The current form factor of the CUSV is limiting the maximum performance that can be extracted from the AN/AQS-20C sonar suite.
Another limiting factor, according to Captain Hattaway, is the range offered by the CUSV. Line of sight between the LCS mothership and the CUSV is required. In heavy sea states, effectiveness is limited. Bandwidth is taxed by the amount of information that needs to be shared back and forth to the operator and the sensor suites. The U.S. Navy is working on methods to extend the range of deployed CUSVs, including the use of Starshield, the U.S. military’s arm of the Starlink satellite internet platform.
“We’re looking at having a UAV with a towed antenna, raising the elevation to hundreds of feet in the air that will allow us to increase the range of USVs, as well as having Starlink as a backup.”
Captain Scott B. Hattaway
The maiden deployment to the Middle East will supplement forward deployed Avenger-class mine countermeasure ships currently homeported in Bahrain. The deployment will also allow for the collection of real-world data and feedback from sailors to refine the mission package and make necessary design changes ahead of a wider rollout to the LCS fleet.
