The U.S. Naval Sea Systems Command informed that the navy completed initial operational testing and evaluation (IOT&E) of the Independence-variant littoral combat ships with a successful SeaRAM (Rolling Airframe Missile) firing event aboard USS Coronado (LCS 4), June 3.
According to the navy, the tests demonstrated the core anti-air warfare capabilities of the ship against an anti-ship cruise missile. As part of the testing Coronado scored a mission kill against its intended unmanned aerial vehicle target.
This was the second of two successful SeaRAM firings from Coronado. During the same underway period, the test team was able to complete 12 planned tracking events, all with satisfactory results.
“The crew of Coronado is to be commended for their exceptional performance during IOT&E,” said Capt. Tom Anderson , LCS program manager. “The successful testing on the Independence variant demonstrates the self-defense capabilities of the ship and systems and instills confidence in Coronado as the ship prepares for its maiden deployment this summer.”
This firing event is the second shipboard launch for the new SeaRAM self-defense system and was the result of long-term planning, performance analysis and assessment, and modeling and simulation.
Cmdr. Scott Larson , Coronado’s commanding officer, said: “Today’s test validates the Independence variant’s ability to effectively neutralize those threats and demonstrates the impressive capability SeaRAM brings to our arsenal.”
The SeaRAM system combines the Close-In Weapons System (CIWS) self-defense system’s radars and fire control system with the RAM missile. Together, the CIWS/RAM combination provides a capable, reduced manning anti-cruise missile and aircraft self-defense capability for Navy ships.
Program Executive Office Littoral Combat Ships (PEO LCS) and Program Executive Office Integrated Warfare Systems (PEO IWS) coordinated the testing.