The U.S. Navy successfully concluded the second and final phase of reliability
testing of the littoral combat ship (LCS) remote minehunting system
(RMS) off the coast of Palm Beach, Fla., June 14, enabling the service
to progress toward developmental testing.
The remote minehunting system, consisting of a semi-submersible remote
multi-mission vehicle (RMMV) operating with the AN/AQS-20A variable
depth mine-hunting sonar, was designed to detect, classify, identify
and locate bottom and moored mines in shallow and deep water.
The RMS will provide the Navy the capability to keep ships and sailors
out of the minefield, and will be deployed from the littoral combat
ship (LCS) as part of the ship's mine countermeasures mission package.
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The
system completed more than 850 hours of testing during 47 missions over
a four-month period.
"I am extremely pleased with the outcome of this event," said
Rear Adm. James Murdoch, program executive officer for littoral combat
ships. "It gives us great confidence as we prepare for the next
phases of RMS and LCS mine countermeasures mission package testing."
The tests, conducted at the Lockheed Martin facilities at Riviera Beach,
Fla., included participation by sailors from the Littoral Combat Ship
Squadron Mine Countermeasures Detachment who assisted with both mission
operations and vehicle maintenance, and engineers from the Naval Surface
Warfare Center Panama City Division, who supported all aspects of the
testing. The tests validated reliability improvements made to the RMMV
design in this increment and demonstrated the required reliability necessary
to meet program requirements.
"Initial analysis of the data indicates that we have met or exceeded
the reliability growth program objectives and are ready to proceed to
the developmental test phase, which is scheduled to commence in the
fourth quarter of fiscal year 2013," said Steve Lose, remote minehunting
system program manager.
The RMMV is a high-endurance, semi-autonomous, low-observable, unmanned,
diesel-powered vehicle, operated and maintained from the LCS. The AN/AQS-20A
incorporates five separate sonar/sensors in a compact, lightweight,
and hydro-dynamically stable towed body. The AN/AQS-20A localizes mine-like
objects and provides the operator with a visual image and a contact
data list. All mission data are recorded by the LCS for post-mission
analysis.
Program Executive Office Littoral Combat Ships (PEO LCS) is affiliated
with Naval Sea Systems Command and provides a single program executive
responsible for acquiring and sustaining mission capabilities of the
littoral combat ship class, beginning with procurement and ending with
fleet employment and sustainment. The combined capability of LCS and
LCS mission systems is designed to dominate the littoral battle space
and provide U. S. forces with assured access to coastal areas.
from : Program Executive Office Littoral Combat Ships Public Affairs
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