SuaveWatermelon
Posts: 65
Joined: 1/3/2014 Status: offline
|
I wouldn't quite say that this makes the LCS obsolete in the surface role. One of the advantages that the LCS brings is a greater ability to maneuver and operate in littoral waters (such as can be found in, for instance, the Norwegian fjords). What I think it would mean is that the LCS would instead be deployed in an offensive role flushing out small surface combatants with fire support from the Burkes and Zumwalts rather than as any kind of fleet defense against FACs. Additionally, if the RCS values for the both classes of LCS are correct, then both LCS classes have some very good stealth characteristics which would make them useful in heavily populated waters (such as in the Persian Gulf). USS Independence managed to evade detection for some time at RIMPAC 2014 in an ASuW exercise. quote:
“We played [opposition force] against four other vessels, two foreign and two US,” Smith said. “In a four-hour event, we got almost two hours without being seen.” Operating within a proscribed area, the ship, he said, “went all dark, [emissions control] silent, sprint and drifted, used lowest radar cross section against their helos. I think we did pretty well, you could see their helos coming toward us and then going away.” http://www.defensenews.com/article/20140830/DEFREG02/308300022/RIMPAC-Exercise-Puts-LCS-Through-Paces
|