U.S. Navy Fact Sheet

Littoral Combat Ships - Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) Mission Package

Description
An LCS equipped with an ASW Mission Package (MP) provides the Joint Force Commanders with the capability to conduct detect-to-engage operations against modern diesel-electric and nuclear submarines in littoral areas and defeat those that pose an immediate threat. The capability enables operational commanders assured access in contested, anti-access, and area denial littoral environments. Specific ASW capabilities include protecting forces in transit, protecting joint operating areas, and establishing ASW barriers. The LCS ASW mission is to conduct ASW operations in support of a carrier strike group (CSG) or amphibious readiness group (ARG), or while operating as part of an LCS surface action group (SAG) or independently. This will allow for the protection of CSG and ARG operating areas, the establishment of ASW barriers, and the escort of high-value units (HVUs) into and within theater. These efforts must be effective in the shallow littoral as well as in the deep water approaches to the littorals.

Features
A second generation (Spiral BRAVO) ASW Mission Package is under development for delivery in the 2016 timeframe. Planned components include:

ASW Escort Module
• Variable depth sonar (VDS)
• Multi-function towed array (MFTA) acoustic receiver
• Launch, handling and recovery equipment
• Signal processing and systems control
• Support containers
Torpedo Defense Module
• Alertment: MFTA with Acoustic Intercept (ACI)
• Countermeasures: Light Weight Tow (LWT)
Aviation Module
• MH-60R Helicopter w/ALFS
• Vertical Takeoff Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (2)
• Support containers
ASW Mission Management / C2 Center
• Mission package application software
• Networks that interface with the total ship computing environment

Background
The Littoral Combat Ship is a fast, agile, and networked surface combatant optimized for operating in the littorals. The primary missions for the LCS include countering diesel submarine threats, littoral mine threats and surface threats such as small surface craft attacks to assure maritime access for Joint Forces. The underlying strength of the LCS lies in its innovative design approach, applying modularity for operational flexibility. In executing each mission, LCS employs a modular Mine Countermeasures (MCM), Surface Warfare (SUW), or Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) mission package. In other words each mission package can be quickly installed aboard an LCS ship to fulfill a specific mission, and then be removed, maintained, and upgraded at the Mission Package Support Facility (MPSF) for future use aboard any LCS ship.

Mission Packages were created for LCS in response to an ever changing threat environment and identification of warfighting gaps in the littorals. Because the Navy awarded two different LCS ship designs, all mission packages are interchangeable between both ship designs. A mission package consists of mission modules, mission crew Sailors and support aircraft with aviation Sailors. Mission Modules (MMs) combine mission systems (vehicles, sensors, and weapons) and support equipment that install into the seaframe via standard interfaces. Thus, a mission package fielded on board an LCS is described in three layers:

• Mission Systems = Vehicles, Sensors, and Weapons
• Mission Module = Mission Systems + Support Equipment
• Mission Package = Mission Modules + Mission Crew Detachments + Aircraft

The quantity of each mission package type differs based on an analysis of projected operational needs; therefore, mission packages are developed and procured separately from the LCS seaframes. Currently, the Navy plans to procure 55 LCS ships as well as 16 ASW mission packages. This concept reduces the overall cost of the LCS and will allow a smaller crew to operate and maintain the ship’s core systems.