LCS Mission Modules

Abstract

The Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) Mission Modules (MM) Program Element (PE) provides funds for detailed design, development, issue resolution, certification, integration, and testing of the LCS MM. LCS is a fast, agile, and networked surface combatant with capabilities optimized to defeat asymmetric threats, and ensure naval and joint force access into contested littoral regions. It uses open-systems architecture design, modular weapons, sensor systems, and a variety of manned and unmanned vehicles to expand the battle space and project offensive power into the littorals. The LCS MM Program employs an incremental development approach to deliver capability, which allows for insertion of mature capabilities throughout the life of the program without the need for modifications to the seaframes. Future capabilities will be considered when joint warfighting objectives or changing threats create new operational capability requirements that cannot be met by current mission package designs, or when new technological opportunities allow significant progress toward delivering cost effective, enhanced capabilities. Future mission module increments can be tested, constructed, and incorporated into existing mission packages, which is one of the most important benefits of LCS modular design. Mission Package funding is aligned into four (4) projects: 2550 Mine Countermeasures (MCM) Mission Package 2551 Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) Mission Package 2552 Surface Warfare (SUW) Mission Package 3129 LCS Mission Package Development MCM MP: Counters bottom, tethered, near surface, and surface mines in the littorals without putting sailors in the minefield. SUW MP: Increases firepower and offensive/defensive capabilities against large numbers of highly maneuverable, fast, small craft threats, giving LCS the ability to protect the sea lanes while moving a force quickly through a choke point or other strategic waterway, and to conduct maritime security missions. ASW MP: Enables the LCS to conduct detect-to-engage operations against modern submarines. C5I: Enabling products required by all MPs such as common hardware interfaces, computer operating environment (Mission Package Computing Environment (MPCE)), communications systems (Multi-Vehicle Communications System (MVCS)), aviation interface systems, and Mission Package Portable Control Stations (MPPCS). MPCE provides common services and an Operating Environment to support all Mission Package Application Software (MPAS) and Open Architecture Products. MVCS enables the simultaneous control and data exchange between unmanned mission vehicles and the ship. Aviation interface systems include integration and management of data communications, data processing, and physical hardware interfaces such as common equipment and containers used by all mission packages. MPPCS provides a mobile operating environment installed in a 20ft ISO container and serves as a surrogate ship during mission package development and integration test events at test ranges.

Document Details

• Document Type: R2 Budgetary Justification
• Publication Date: Oct 01, 2023
• Source ID: 0603596N_4_1319_PB_2023
• Change Summary Explanation: In FY 2023, the MCM MP will integrate and test Knifefish Block 1 on the Independence variant, conduct Cyber Security testing of the MCM MP, develop MCM MPAS 4.0 software, modify the MCM MP for integration of Barracuda, and commence development of the Near Surface Neutralization Module (NSN). In FY 2023, the ASW MP will continue performance testing of the DART PPTA with DT and Operational Assessment and validating the performance requirements. Following the completion of testing the LCS ASW MP will be divested in alignment with the decommissioning of eight LCS ships. In FY 2023, the SUW MP will conduct SSMM Shock Qualification Testing and initiate efforts to revise the SSMM hatch and cover design. In FY 2023, project 3129 (LCS Mission Package Common Development) efforts include continuing MPCE v2.0 tech refresh development and initiation of MVCS v1.X tech refresh development. In FY 2023, MCM MP will not conduct integration testing on the Freedom variant, instead MCM MP will support Knifefish LCS integration activities. --- FY 2023 funding increase reflects the fact that the FY 2022 President’s Budget request did not include out-year funding.
• Service Agency Name: Navy

Entities

Organizations

• United States Navy

Tags

Communities of Interest

• Autonomy
• Cyber
• Ground and Sea Platforms

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

• Aircrafts
• Anti-Tank Missiles
• Application Software
• Communication Systems
• Control Systems
• Data Processing
• Littoral Combat Ships
• Performance Tests
• Product Development
• Reliability
• Signal Processing
• Test And Evaluation
• Towed Bodies
• Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
• Unmanned Surface Vehicles
• Unmanned Underwater Vehicles
• Unmanned Vehicles

Fields of Study

• Engineering

Readers

• Naval Mine Countermeasure Systems Development.

Technology Areas

• Autonomy
• Autonomy - UAVs
• Space