Unmanned floating missile launchers linked to sensor network could help U.S. Navy gain firepower advantage
The loss of the SSGNs, along with the decommissioning of 22 old Ticonderoga-class cruisers, could cut by a fifth the fleet’s overall VLS capacity.
May 20th, 2021
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Navy is about to lose many vertical missile launchers that give a firepower advantage over any potential foe. There’s an obvious way to replace them, and Navy officials are beginning to explore the idea. Forbes reports. Continue reading original article
The Military & Aerospace Electronics take:
20 May 2021 -- An unmanned surface vessel (USV) could fit this role. Rather than wrapping a billion-dollar manned warship around every cluster of vertical launch system tubes, the Navy could develop a cheap USV that is little more than a floating magazine.
Missile barges could motor into a battle zone under their own power. Or auxiliary vessels could tow them. Once on station, they’d plug into a sensor network the fleet is developing.
https://www.militaryaerospace.com/sensors/article/14203664/missile-launchers-unmanned-sensor-network
