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Littoral Combat Ships - Mine Countermeasures (MCM) Mission Package | | | Description
The first increment of the MCM Mission Package is a major step forward in achieving the Navys goal of providing Joint Force Commanders with mine detection and neutralization capability that does not put ships at risk in minefields. Future increments add additional capability, including beach zone mine detection, mine sweeping, near surface mine neutralization and buried and surf zone mine detection.
The LCS MCM Mission Package conducts its mine countermeasures operations through the employment of aviation assets and unmanned surface, semi-submersible and submersible vehicles that together are equipped with an array of sensors and systems to detect, localize, neutralize and, sweep mines. These systems are designed to be employed while the LCS remains outside the mine threat area.
| | | Features
Remote Minehunting Module
AN/WLD-1(V) Remote Multi-Mission Vehicle (RMMV) (2)
AQS-20A
Cradle Pallet Assembly
Capture Spine
Support Containers
Near Surface Detection Module
MH-60S Helicopter
AN/AES-1 Airborne Laser Mine Detection System (ALMDS)
Support Containers
Airborne Mine Neutralization Module
MH-60S Helicopter
AN/ASQ-235 Airborne Mine Neutralization Systems (AMNS)
EX 64 neutralizers
Support Containers
Coastal Mine Reconnaissance Module
AN/DVS-1 Coastal Battlefield Reconnaissance and Analysis (COBRA) System
MQ-8B Vertical Takeoff Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (VTUAV)
Support Containers
Unmanned Mine Sweeping Module
Unmanned Surface Vehicle (USV)
Unmanned Surface Sweep System (USSS)
Support Containers
Buried Mine Hunting Module
Surface Mine Countermeasure Unmanned Underwater Vehicle (SMCM UUV) (Knifefish)
Launch, handling and recovery equipment
Support Containers
Mission Package Application Software (MPAS)
Mission specific application software that support the MP in planning and executing the MCM missions
Mine Warfare and Environmental Decision Aids Library (MEDAL)
| | | Background
The Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) is a fast, agile, and networked surface combatant optimized for operating in the littorals. The primary missions for the LCS include countering submarine, surface and mine threats to assure maritime access for joint forces. The underlying strength of the LCS lies in its innovative design, applying modularity for operational flexibility. Fundamental to this approach is the capability to rapidly install an interchangeable mission package (MP) into the ship to fulfill a specific mission, and to later uninstall, maintain, and upgrade it at the Mission Package Support Facility (MPSF) for future use aboard any LCS.
Mission packages (MPs) were created for LCS in response to an evolving threat environment. All mission packages are interchangeable between both LCS variants.
Mission Package can be decomposed as follows:
Mission Systems = Vehicles, Sensors, and Weapons
Mission Module = Mission Systems + Support Equipment
Mission Package = Mission Modules + Mission Crew Detachments + Aircraft
The Mission Package Computing Environment (MPCE) is the hardware computing suite installed in each ship. The Mission Package Application Software (MPAS) is the software that runs on the MPCE computer. There are currently three versions of MPAS which support the three different Mission Packages: Surface, Mine Countermeasures and Anti-submarine Warfare.
The quantity of each mission package type differs based on an analysis of projected operational needs. The Navy plans to procure 52 LCS ships and 24 Mine Countermeasures (MCM) Mission Packages.
| | | Point Of Contact
Office of Corporate Communication (SEA 00D)
Naval Sea Systems Command
Washington, D.C. 20376 | | | | Last Update: 19 December 2014 | | |
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