United Defense’s Mk110 Gun To Arm LCS and New Destroyer

By RICHARD R. BURGESS, Managing Editor

United Defense Industries Inc. is becoming the provider of choice for close-in naval gun systems for future U.S. surface combatants. The company is positioned to arm at least three types of ships for the Navy and Coast Guard, and potentially two more.

The Navy has selected the 57mm Mk110 Close-In Gun System (CIGS) for the Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) and for the baseline design of its DD(X) next-generation destroyer. The Mk110 is a rapid-fire automatic cannon designed to defend against attacks from swarms of small boats, as well as counter air and surface targets, and support maritime interdiction operations.

Steven Kelly, director of launching systems and LCS program manager for United Defense, told Seapower that “both [LCS] teams are showing it as the baseline selection” to arm the LCS.

“Raytheon [the DD(X) systems integrator] and United Defense conducted an exhaustive study before recommending the 57mm gun as the best solution for the DD(X) CIGS mission,” said Jim Schoppenhorst, United Defense program director for the DD(X). United Defense also is developing the 155mm Advanced Gun System and the Mk57 vertical launching system for the new destroyer.

The Mk110 (formerly EX-57) is an export derivative of the Mk3 gun built by Bofors Defence of Sweden, a subsidiary of United Defense. The Mk110 will use Bofors Mk295 Mod 0 3P ammunition. Using this programmable, rapid-switchover ammunition for maritime intercept operations, the gun can fire warning shots, then nonexplosive disabling shots and then lethal explosive shots, if necessary.

The Mk110 was selected by the Coast Guard last December to arm the new Large Maritime Security Cutter (formerly National Security Cutter), eight of which are planned under the service’s Integrated Deepwater Program. Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, arranged for the appropriation of $13.1 million in fiscal year 2004 for the Navy to test the gun for the Deepwater program. United Defense estimates that the Deepwater contracts for the gun could reach $79 million.

Testing of the Mk110 at the Naval Surface Warfare Center in Dahlgren, Va., was to be completed by December, Kelly said.

He said the Mk110 is also under consideration for the Coast Guard’s Medium Maritime Security Cutter, another component of the Deepwater program. Kelly said it is too early to predict whether the gun also will arm the Navy’s next-generation cruiser, CG(X).

Boeing Gains New X-45 Development Contract

The Boeing Co. has been awarded a $766.7 million Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency contract to design, develop and build three full-scale X-45C air vehicles and two mission-control systems for the Joint Unmanned Combat Air System (J-UCAS) demonstration program during the next five years. The X-45C will be 39 feet long with a 49-foot wingspan, carry a 4,500-pound weapon payload and fly a combat radius of more than 1,200 nautical miles.

Boeing already has built two X-45As that have flown 35 test missions for the J-UCAS program, which is intended to meet Navy and Air Force requirements for strike and reconnaissance unmanned aerial vehicles.

In August, Northrop Grumman was awarded a $1.04 billion contract to build and test its X-47B J-UCAS in parallel development.

Defense Industry Notes

General Dynamics Land Systems has been awarded a $136 million Marine Corps Systems Command contract for continued system development and demonstration of the Expeditionary Fighting Vehicle (EFV). The EFV is being developed to replace the AAV7 amphibious assault vehicle in Marine Corps service.

Fabrication of the first EA-18G carrier-based electronic combat aircraft — designed to replace the Navy’s EA-6B Prowler aircraft — has begun at the Boeing Co. plant in St. Louis. The aircraft, built on the F/A-18E/F production line, is scheduled to fly in September 2006.

Raytheon Missiles Co. has delivered the initial deployment rounds of the Standard SM-3 surface-to-air missile to the Missile Defense Agency. The SM-3 — designed for defense against ballistic missiles — will be deployed on board cruisers and destroyers equipped with the Aegis combat system as part of the nation’s Ballistic Missile Defense System.