A recent report on accidents and mishaps in the Air Force reveals some mixed data, while the force looks for what s next with its tanker fleet. Also, updates on PT uniforms and tests, and analysis on what s ahead in counter-drone warfare. All that and more on Defense News Weekly for March 19, 2021. Close
US Navy investigates potential LCS class-wide design flaw December 15, 2020 Issues with the propulsion system on the littoral combat ship Little Rock, shown here, have raised concerns of a class-wide issue with the complicated drive train. (MC2 Amanda Battles/U.S. Navy) WASHINGTON Repeated failures in the propulsion train on the Freedom-class littoral combat ships Little Rock and Detroit have raised the specter of a class-wide design flaw that could trigger an expensive reworking of a crucial component on 17 of the Navy’s small surface combatants. The issue being investigated is whether there is a fundamental issue with the design of the Freedom-class’ combining gear a complex transmission that connects power from two large gas turbine engines and two main propulsion diesel engines to the ship’s propulsion shafts, which propel the ship through the water with water jets.
Littoral combat ship Cooperstown passes acceptance trials December 15, 2020, by Naida Hakirevic
The US Navy’s new littoral combat ship (LCS) 23, the future USS Cooperstown, has completed acceptance trials in Lake Michigan.
Photo: Lockheed Martin
Trials included a full-power run, maneuverability testing, and surface and air detect-to-engage demonstrations of the ship’s combat system. Major systems and features were demonstrated, including aviation support, small boat launch handling and recovery and machinery control and automation, according to Lockheed Martin.
Now that trials are complete, the ship will undergo final outfitting and fine-tuning before delivery to the navy next year.
LCS 23 is the 12th Freedom-variant LCS designed and built by the Lockheed Martin-led industry team. The newbuild was christened in Wisconsin in late February this year.
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Mobile is the 23rd littoral combat ship (LCS) and the 13th of the Independence variant to join the fleet. Delivery marks the official transfer of the ship from the shipbuilder, Austal USA, to the Navy. It is the final milestone prior to commissioning, which is planned for spring 2021.
“This is a day of celebration for both the Navy and our country with the delivery of the future USS Mobile,” said LCS program manager Capt. Mike Taylor. “This ship, and her crew, are foundational to our nation’s security.”
Four additional Independence-variant ships - Savannah (LCS 28), Canberra (LCS 30), Santa Barbara (LCS 32), and Augusta (LCS 34) - are in various stages of construction at Austal USA, and two more are awaiting the start of construction following LCS 34.
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Icebreaker Needs. The U.S. Coast Guard needs more polar icebreakers and should evaluate ice strengthening for some of its high-endurance National Security Cutters and forthcoming medium-endurance Offshore Patrol Cutters, says a new analysis by Rand Corp. analysts. Given the rapidly changing nature of polar conditions, the likelihood that new icebreakers will be operating for decades, increasingly diverse mission sets, and unknown future requirements related to military competition, environmental protection, search and rescue, fishery enforcement, and other potential missions, new icebreakers will need to be designed with multi-mission capabilities in mind, the report says.
Private Equity Deal. The private equity firm J.F. Lehman and Company has acquired CodeMettle, a provider of custom software development and proprietary software solutions for the management of communications networks for defense and commercial applications. Terms of the deal, which inc