While Australia’s Project SEA 1180 has been put on the back burner, the US Navy remains resolved to bring offboard MCM into its front line. ADM examines the means to effect this transformation, and challenges being encountered.
As a result of the 2009 Defence White Paper, Defence was directed to develop proposals aimed at rationalising the Royal Australian Navy’s (RAN’s) patrol, mine countermeasures, hydrographic and oceanographic forces into a single modular multi-role class or family of around 20 Offshore Combatant Vessels (OCVs). This programme, Project SEA 1180, signalled a shift away from the specialist platform-based capabilities currently provided by the Armidale class patrol boat, the Huon class MCMVs, and Leeuwin and Paluma class hydrographic survey vessels, and instead embraced the concept of a common OCV platform from which to deploy role-specific mission modules largely based on unmanned systems and technologies.
OCV and the White Paper Early indications of Defence’s thinking on the OCV were promulgated to industry in an ITR released in 2010. This spelled out the vision of a common hull OCV, displacing up to 2,000 tonnes, capable of undertaking a series of offshore and littoral warfighting roles, but primarily MCM, hydrographic survey, rapid environmental assessment, and border protection (patrol) tasks. Other tasks could include long range counter-terrorism/anti-piracy operations, support to Special Forces, and security/stability operations in Australia’s maritime ‘near-neighbourhood’.
At the time the ITR was issued, a First Pass approval was planned in FY 2015-2016, to be followed by a Request For Tender for platform, mission systems and support elements. Second Pass approval was expected to follow in FY 2018-2019, with an Initial Operating Capability to be achieved in 2021.
However, the 2013 Defence White Paper tempered these aspirations. While the recapitalisation and rationalisation of the navy’s patrol boat, MCM and hydrographic fleet outlined in Project SEA 1180 remains an ambition, the introduction of an OCV platform and associated mission modules has been pushed out to the farther reaches of the planning horizon. As the White Paper stated: “Government decisions on the scope and roles of future vessels will take account of the technological maturity of particular solutions, as well as the remaining life of current vessels. A modular multirole vessel remains a possible longer-term capability outcome, subject to technological maturity and an ability to provide operational flexibility with lower costs of ownership.
“However, in the shorter-term, Government will seek to replace the current Armidale class patrol boats with a proven vessel to ensure that Defence can continue to provide a patrol capability. Similarly, Government intends to upgrade and extend the existing Mine Hunter Coastal and Survey Motor Launch Hydrographic vessels until the longer-term solution can be delivered.”
While SEA 1180 remains unapproved, and somewhere in the long grass of the materiel plan, other navies are now beginning the process of recapitalising their MCM forces through the integration of modular unmanned systems. This means, in big handfuls, replacing specialist low-signature vessels with network-enabled offboard ‘systems of systems’ deployed at stand-off ranges. The end result will be to take manned platforms out of the minefield, relying instead on sensors and effectors carried by unmanned platforms to pinpoint and - where necessary - neutralise mine-like objects.
There is no disguising that not all in the international mine warfare community are convinced as to the maturity of unmanned vehicles and sensor payloads to perform many of the missions currently executed from manned MCM platforms. There are worries as to whether hard-won experience, expertise and front-line capability accumulated over many decades could be lost in a headlong dash to embrace new autonomous techniques, unmanned technologies and operating methodologies.
Indeed, while autonomous robotic systems are already beginning to enter service, it is accepted that work remains to advance technology and system maturity. That is not just about the autonomous vehicles themselves – it is also about implementing the required command control and communications infrastructure to permit robust ‘system of systems’ integration, and developing the associated concepts of operation. More mundane platform physical integration issues – notably launch and recovery – also require attention.
Against this, proponents argue that the pace of change is accelerating, and insist that the technologies, techniques and procedures required to underpin the transition to offboard MCM are maturing fast. Science, technology, research and development activities across industry and the defence scientific community are making significant strides, leveraging from targeted investments in vehicles, sensor payloads and ancillaries, plus an infusion of autonomous unmanned vehicle (AUV) technology and knowledge from the commercial offshore sector.
The US Navy is pioneering this change, looking to forego dedicated MCM platforms in favour of forward deploying modularized mine warfare packages aboard its new Littoral Combat Ship (LCS). It has set out an ambitious programme – but a multitude of teething troubles are also indicative of the challenges faced in embracing such a radically different way of MCM.
Modular MCM Northrop Grumman was in January 2006 contracted to perform the role of Mission Package Integrator for the LCS Mission Modules programme. In this capacity, Northrop Grumman is working with the government's Mission Package Integration Laboratory at the Naval Surface Warfare Center Panama City to produce and deliver capabilities according to the technical architectures developed by the LCS Mission Modules Program Office (PMS 420).
Mission modules combine a variety of mission systems (vehicles, sensors, weapons) and support equipment that, together with modified ISO support containers and associated equipment, plug into the LCS ‘seaframe’ via standard interfaces. These mission modules are then combined with the LCS mission crew – plus the supporting organic aviation capabilities offered by the organic MH-60S utility helicopter and MQ-8B Fire Scout Vertical takeoff and landing Tactical Unmanned Air Vehicle (VTUAV) – to form the total mission package.
Equally important is the mission package open computing environment - the means by which mission modules and their associated control and communications functionality interface with the Total Ship Computing Environment. Individual mission packages interface with the two different LCS ‘seaframe’ classes through documented Interface Control Documents to enable a ‘plug and play’ type approach.
Work continues to mature the MCM Mission Package – five of which will have been delivered by the end of Fiscal Year 2014 (FY14) - with operational testing planned for Fiscal Year 2015 (FY15). This will field a common set of unmanned, modular MCM systems from the LCS so as to quickly counter the full spectrum of mine threats and enable assured access. To achieve this, the package brings together a number of system components to search for, identify and neutralise mine threats through the water column.
The capability is being delivered in four increments. Increment I, due to achieve Initial Operating Capability (IOC) in FY15, addresses rapid minehunting and clearance through manned Organic Airborne MCM (OAMCM) assets, and sustained minehunting using the Lockheed Martin Remote Multi-Mission Vehicle (RMMV) and Raytheon AN/AQS-20A towed variable depth sonar.
In the OAMCM domain, the AN/AES-1 Airborne Laser Mine Detection System (ALMDS) and the Raytheon AN/ASQ-235 Airborne Mine Neutralisation System (AMNS) provide the MH-60S with the ability to detect, classify and neutralise mines ‘in-stride’. The ALMDS uses pulsed laser light and streak tube receivers housed in an external equipment pod to image the entire near-surface volume potentially containing mines; AMNS uses the Archerfish ‘one-shot’ neutralizer vehicle to identify and neutralize in-volume and bottom mines.
Increment 1 also introduces the AN/WLD-1(v)2 Remote Minehunting System (RMS), an integrated mine reconnaissance outfit (consisting of the semi-submersible RMMV, the AQS-20A towed sensor, and line-of-sight and over-the-horizon telemetry providing for command and control and mine reconnaissance sensor data transmission) for the detection, classification, identification, and localisation of bottom and moored targets in shallow and deep water. Two RMS systems are fielded in each package.
Three out of four MCM Mission Package Development Test phases, performed using USS Independence, have concluded to date. Phase 4 (two periods) will be completed by the end of FY14. Operational Testing is planned to follow in the third quarter of FY15.
Increment 2, due to achieve IOC in FY16, adds the VTUAV-borne AN/DVS-1 Coastal Battlefield Reconnaissance and Analysis (COBRA) multispectral imaging system for beach and surf zone mine and obstacle detection. The initial Block I variant is a passive system with capabilities of daytime surface-laid mine line and obstacle detection in the beach zone, limited detection capability in surf zone, and off-board processing.
Increment III, due in the FY17 timeframe, introduces a remote influence minesweeping capability. Earlier plans for the MH-60S helicopter to tow the Organic Airborne and Surface Influence Sweep (OASIS) were abandoned when it became apparent that the MH-60S was underpowered and could not safely tow the system in the event of an engine failure.
OASIS was abandoned as a result. Instead, the Mission Package will field an Unmanned Influence Sweep System (UISS) combining an MCM unmanned surface vessel (USV) platform with an Unmanned Surface Sweep System payload. The UISS will provide the LCS with a stand-off, long endurance, semi-autonomous minesweeping capability to counter acoustic and/or magnetic influence mine threats in the littoral environment.
Also planned for Increment III is an improved version of AMNS. This will offer a capability to neutralize near-surface mines.
Increment IV, for which IOC is scheduled for FY19, brings a capability for buried mine detection using a Surface Mine Countermeasure Unmanned Underwater Vehicle (SMCM UUV) system combining the Knifefish UUV and a low frequency broadband sonar payload. General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems is prime contractor and systems engineering lead for the programme (taking responsibility for payload and mission module integration), with Bluefin Robotics subcontractor for the UUV (a variant of its Bluefin-21 vehicle).
Each SMCM UUV system will include two Knifefish UUVs, plus launch and recovery equipment, a support container, spare parts and support equipment. The advanced sensor payload is a low-frequency broadband synthetic aperture sonar being provided by Ultra Electronics with support from the Applied Research Laboratory of Penn State University.
Also planned for Increment IV is COBRA Block II. This is planned to introduce night-time minefield and obstacle detection capability and full detection capability in surf zone.
The Office of Naval Research is managing a project to enable essentially autonomous end-to-end MCM – encompassing detection/classification, identification and neutralisation - from a USV. Known as USV Payloads for Single Sortie Detect to Engage MCM, the programme could potentially lead to a USV-based system for incorporation in a future LCS Mission Package increment.
Report card The task of bringing this new MCM Mission Package into service has not run smoothly. In his FY2014 annual report, published in early 2014, the Director Operational Test and Evaluation (DOT&E) noted that the navy has “not yet demonstrated the interim sustained area coverage rate requirement through end-to-end testing”, and went on to list a series of shortfalls and concerns.
For example, during operational assessments completed in 2011 and 2012, the AQS-20A and ALMDS systems demonstrated some capability in benign operating environments, but failed to meet all performance requirements. “AQS-20A contact depth localization errors in all operating modes and false contacts in two of the three search modes exceeded limits,” the report said. “ALMDS failed to achieve the desired detection performance over the depth range prescribed by the Navy and the systems false contacts exceeded Navy limits by a wide margin.”
Mitigations have been identified for some deficiencies. However, these will require additional search missions to filter false contacts, so reducing search rate. DOT&E added that the results of operational assessments also cast doubt on the ability of the two systems to search the full water column.
The RMS, which is critical to achieving the sustained area coverage rate requirement, has also experienced developmental delays. It is no secret that the RMMV has suffered from poor reliability in its formative years, leading to the implementation of a reliability growth programme in 2011.
The DOT&E assesses that contractor tests completed in FY13 “suggest that RMMV reliability has grown since the RMS program emerged from the Nunn-McCurdy review in FY10; however, these tests were not conducted in an operationally realistic manner and the measure used was not operationally relevant resulting in artificially high estimates of reliability.
“Data from the recent development testing suggest that reliability may not have improved sufficiently to enable an LCS with two RMMVs onboard to complete the desired area search without having to return to port more often than currently planned and desired to obtain replacements.
“An accurate quantitative assessment of achieved RMMV reliability cannot be evaluated until the RMS is tested in operationally realistic minehunting missions (test conditions not achieved during the contractor testing).”
Forthcoming operational testing will provide a true litmus test of the maturity of the Increment I capability, and how well the shortfalls encountered to date have been resolved or mitigated. Navies and defence science labs worldwide – including the RAN and DSTO – will watch with interest as they also consider the right time to embrace the unmanned revolution.
