Lockheed Martin to Develop Undersea Vehicle

By RICHARD R. BURGESS
Managing Editor

The Naval Sea Systems Command has awarded Lockheed Martin a $6.8 million contract to design a mission-reconfigurable unmanned undersea vehicle (MRUUV) capable of being launched from the 21-inch torpedo tube that is standard on all U.S. Navy submarines.

The MRUUV--an evolutionary development of the tube-launched Long-range Mine Reconnaissance System (LMRS) being developed by Lockheed Martin--is intended to be launched from a Virginia-class or Los Angeles-class attack submarine (SSN) for clandestine intelligence collection, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR), as well as mine neutralization and tactical ocean survey.

The mission-reconfigurable UUV offers advantages over single-mission UUVs because submarine torpedo spaces are too small to carry separate 21-inch UUVs for each mission. By reconfiguring sensor packages and other mission payloads on the UUV either inside the submarine or at a support facility ashore, the mission payload can be optimized for the submarine's overall mission.

Several economies also would be possible by implementing the MRUUV concept because, although the mission payloads would be interchangeable, the vehicle's propulsion, control, navigation, ballast, trim, and obstacle-avoidance systems would be common for all missions.

The Flight 1 21-inch MRUUV is expected to weigh approximately 2,800 pounds and will capitalize on the BLQ-11 Long-range Mine Reconnaissance System to provide an initial ISR capability for current SSNs. The Flight 1 development phase is scheduled to follow the design phase in fiscal year 2005. Operational tests are scheduled for FY 2007. The Flight 1 MRUUV is scheduled to reach initial operational capability in late 2007.

A larger MRUUV--5,000­20,000 pounds or more--also is envisioned for fleet deployment beginning in FY 2010. This large vehicle--which would dock to a mother submarine or be launched from a missile tube--may include robust ISR as well as advanced mine countermeasures and antisubmarine warfare capabilities including submarine track and trail. The Flight 2 MRUUV also may be able to deploy smaller UUVs, decoys, unmanned aerial vehicles, and/or fixed sensors.

Perry Technologies, a unit of Undersea Systems, a division of Lockheed Martin Naval Electronics & Surveillance Systems in Riviera Beach, Fla., will perform most of the design and development work on the MRUUV. Development of the company's WLD-1 Remote Minehunting System also took place at the Riviera Beach facility.

Defense Industry Notes

* Lockheed Martin Naval Electronics & Surveillance Systems of Moorestown, N.J., has been awarded a $267.5 million Naval Sea Systems Command contract for an Aegis Weapon System for the Republic of Korea Navy KDX-III class guided-missile destroyer. The company will provide combat systems integration, computer program development, ship integration, test support, and assistance to a Korean shipyard in installing the system. In a related development, the company also has completed the fourth Aegis Weapon System for the Spanish Navy's F-100 frigate program.

* Raytheon Network Centric Systems of St. Petersburg, Fla., has been awarded an $89.7 million Naval Sea Systems Command contract for the fiscal year 2003 production of Cooperative Engagement Capability (CEC) systems. CEC is a sensor netting system that extracts and distributes sensor data, derived from multiple platforms, to all units participating in a combat operation (or training exercise) to enhance overall battle force anti-air warfare capabilities. Raytheon will build 13 CEC systems under the contract as well as three planar-array antenna assemblies, one stand-alone processor, and associated spare parts. In a related development, The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) is developing prototype hardware and software for a series of land-based tests designed, according to John Barnes, APL's CEC project manager, to demonstrate that "CEC improves the [U.K.] Royal Navy's situational awareness and current weapons capability performance."

* Lockheed Martin Aircraft and Logistics Center in Greenville, S.C., has been awarded an $82 million Naval Air Systems Command contract to provide phased depot maintenance (PDM) on the Navy's P-3 Orion maritime patrol aircraft. The work will supplement the PDM work carried out by the Naval Aviation Depot in Jacksonville, Fla.

* Electric Boat Corporation--a General Dynamics company--has been awarded a $24 million Naval Sea Systems Command contract modification for long-lead time materials for the conversion of four Ohio-class ballistic-missile submarines to guided-missile submarines. The contract award modifies a five-year, $436 million contract awarded in September 2002.

* Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems has been awarded a $15.3 million Naval Sea Systems Command contract for five Ship Self-Defense Systems (Mk2 version), including one each for the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) and LHD 8, the next Wasp-class amphibious assault ship, as well as three land-based systems. The SSDS provides a rapid-reaction anti-air defense capability against high-speed, low-flying antiship missiles.

* Northrop Grumman Ship Systems (NGSS) has been awarded a $15.1 million Office of Naval Research contract to evaluate the performance of composite structures in high-speed hull forms and displacements. The composite high-speed vessel project is designed to demonstrate the potential of composites to lower maintenance requirements, reduce life-cycle costs, and improve the stealth characteristics of naval vessels. "This contract will allow our team of designers and engineers to demonstrate the capability and potential of lightweight composite materials for small combatants," said Philip A. Dur, Northrop Grumman corporate vice president and president of NGSS.

* Lockheed Martin Naval Electronics & Surveillance Systems­Undersea Systems of Syracuse, N.Y., has been awarded a $13 million Navy contract to provide seven AQS-232 Airborne Mine Neutralization Systems (AMNSs) and associated support equipment for the Navy's MH-53E mine countermeasures helicopters. The AMNS, which is designed to be remotely operated, and expendable, will be used to identify and neutralize bottom and moored mines.

* The aircraft carrier Ronald Reagan--the ninth Nimitz-class CVN built by Northrop Grumman Newport News Operations--completed its acceptance trials under the watchful eyes of the Navy's Board of Inspection and Survey on 29 May 2003. CVN 76 is scheduled to be commissioned on 12 July 2003.

* The Ingalls Operations division of Northrop Grumman Ship Systems has started fabrication of LHD 8, the eighth Wasp-class amphibious assault ship. Unlike her steam-powered predecessors, LHD 8--scheduled for delivery in mid-2007--will be powered by gas turbine engines. *

The seventh and final Bob Hope-class strategic sealift ship built by Northrop Grumman Ship Systems Avondale Operations has finished predelivery sea trials in the Gulf of Mexico and has been delivered to the Military Sealift Command (MSC). The 950-foot-long USNS Roy P. Benevidez (T-AKR 306) brings to 19 the number of large, medium-speed, roll-on/roll-off ships in service with MSC. The 24-knot ship features almost 400,000 square feet of cargo space and can carry more than 1,000 military vehicles, including M1A1 tanks, as well as other outsized equipment and other cargo. The ship--which has a full-load displacement of 62,069 long tons--can be operated by a crew of only 27 mariners.