Littoral Combat Ship Conducts Developmental Testing

September 05, 2014

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USS Coronado (LCS 4) conducted firing exercises against representative fast attack craft using the MK 110 57mm gun, as part of sea frame developmental testing in conjunction with Combat System Ship Qualification Trial (CSSQT) Aug. 16.

The exercises marked the first time an Independence variant ship fired its core weapon system (MK 110 57mm gun) against a High Speed Maneuvering Surface Target. The objective of the test was to measure the accuracy of the ship's core weapon system against a fast attack craft.

"The Independence variant has the ability to enter and win the fight." said Cmdr. Peter Kim, Coronado's commanding officer. "Our CSSQT performance demonstrates the ship can enter a contested area at high speed, defend herself against missile and surface threats, and execute missions with the embarked mission package plus an enormous array of force options that can be rapidly employed by a Fleet Commander on short notice."

This developmental test is part of a larger series of post-delivery test and trial events which will culminate in a full Technical Evaluation and Initial Operational Testing and Evaluation of the surface warfare mission package and sea frame in 2015. Coronado was commissioned in April, and completed Final Contract Trials in June, through which the ship and its major systems were exercised.

The LCS class consists of the Freedom and Independence variants, designed and built by two industry teams. The Freedom variant team is led by Lockheed Martin for the odd-numbered hulls, (e.g. LCS 1), while the Independence variant team was led by General Dynamics, Bath Iron Works (LCS 2 and LCS 4) and Austal USA (for the subsequent even-numbered hulls). Purchased under the innovative block-buy acquisition strategy, there are 12 ships currently under construction.

LCS is a modular, reconfigurable ship, with three types of mission packages: surface warfare, mine countermeasures, and anti-submarine warfare. The Program Executive Office for Littoral Combat Ships is responsible for delivering and sustaining credible littoral mission capabilities to the fleet. Delivering high-quality warfighting assets while balancing affordability and capability is key to supporting the nation's maritime strategy.

Source : US Navy