Freedom-class littoral combat ship USS Detroit (LCS 7) successfully conducted the first-in-class test firing of Automatic Launch of Expendable System for Ship Self Defense (ALEX) off the coast of the Virginia Capes, May 7.

The installation of ALEX marks a design change from the first two Freedom LCS's, USS Freedom (LCS 1) and USS Fort Worth (LCS 3), which is fitted with TERMA Soft Kill Weapons System (SKWS) launchers. USS Milwaukee (LCS 5) and follow on ships are all to be fitted with ALEX.

Detroit's captain, Cmdr. David Adams said, "CSSQT is my opportunity to see the different aspects of my warship's layered defense in action. My crew and the folks from NAVSEA did an excellent job executing this testing."

The testing was conducted using a learjet radiating signals to simulate a hostile aircraft targeting Detroit. The aircraft then changes its air speed, flight path, and signal radiation to mimic the profile of an inbound missile. It is then up to ship's watch standers to engage the simulated threat using ALEX.

ALEX fires Mk 214 Sea Gnat (Chaff) rounds which produce clouds of radar reflecting aluminum coated fiberglass confetti to create large decoy radar signatures intended to seduce missiles away from the ship. ALEX's operating system is also wired into the ship's navigation equipment which enables it to recommend optimal courses that will keep the decoy cloud downwind of the ship.

Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC) Dahlgren took the opportunity to make structural observations of the Mk 137 launchers, their mounts, and the launch deck in conjunction with NSWC Crane's functionality test. Representatives were also present from NSWC Corona and from NSWC Port Hueneme Division for data analysis

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