'Sea Giraffes' join the Navy

‘Sea Giraffes’ are protecting Navy ships – and a new floating military base – in worldwide support of special operations and combat missions. Onboard warships, the Sea Giraffes radar systems are continually conducting surveillance around the ship – scanning the air and surface – looking for possible threats. When a threat is inbound, Sea Giraffes spot it early, which gives personnel and weapons systems the maximum amount of time to respond with counter-measures or threat data to nearby fighters to respond. Every second counts to reducing risk. The Sea Giraffe AMB Multi Mode Radar will now also be joining the Navy’s Expeditionary Sea Base (ESB) class ship USNS Hershel "Woody" Williams (ESB 4). ESBs are floating sea bases used to enhance combat power. ESBs are based on Alaska class crude oil carriers built by General Dynamics. The ESBs are currently designed around providing four key capabilities: Aviation, berthing personnel, support for equipment staging, and those needs for command and control. Their Expeditionary Transfer Dock (ESD) siblings focus more on vehicle staging areas and vehicle transfers to shore. Now the new compact, low weight Sea Giraffe AMB will be onboard as well. It’s an advanced radar system that can resist attempts to jam its signals and remain accurate in close-in environments. USS Lewis B. Puller (ESB 3) was the first Expeditionary Sea Base delivered; and Miguel Keith (ESB 5) is under construction. In addition to the ESB, Saab’s Sea Giraffe AMB radar (a.k.a. AN/SPS-77) is currently deployed on Independence-class Littoral Combat Ships, which were built by Austal USA in Mobile, Ala. The Navy has decided to purchase more ‘Giraffes’ for the Coast Guard. In 2017, Sea Giraffe MMR was first selected for the Coast Guard’s newest class of ship, the Offshore Patrol Cutter. (Source: Fox News 08/22/18) Gulf Coast Note: The Coast Guard selected Eastern Shipbuilding Group of Panama City, Fla., to build its first Offshore Patrol Cutters with an option for eight more. In June, ESG successfully conducted its Final Critical Design Review with the CG for the OPC program. The first hull is estimated to be deliver in 2021.