LCS reduce-weight sonar award nears

The Navy plans to announce within weeks a final design for two reduced-weight sonar systems for deployment with Littoral Combat Ships to hunt submarines. In 2015, the Navy awarded contracts to Raytheon, Advanced Acoustic Concepts and L-3 Communications to reduce the weight of two core systems - variable depth sonar and passive multi-function towed array sonar from LCS’ anti-submarine warfare (ASW) mission module - to 105 metric tons. The firms have submitted their weight-reduction proposals. Navy is “very close” to exercising one or multiple options for the final design, said Capt. Casey Moton, program manager for the LCS mission modules. Moton is hoping that “it’s anywhere from a few weeks to a month.” Once awarded, the ASW module will move into its engineering and manufacturing development (EMD) phase. Industry is slated to deliver the EDM-version of the ASW mission module in 2017. The award will have implications not only for the LCS, but the multi-mission frigate version of LCS. All 20 frigates would be permanently equipped with the sonars. (Source: Defense Daily 02/01/16) Gulf Coast Maritime Note: The Austal USA Shipyard in Mobile, Ala., builds the Independence variant of LCS.