Unmanned floating missile launchers linked to sensor network could help U.S. Navy gain firepower advantage
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.
Other vessels would spot targets for the barge. A human operator on a nearby ship or at some base on land then would order the barge to open fire. With the press of a button, scores of missiles could arc toward an enemy fleet. Cheaply.
Related: Electro-optical sensors key to missile defense
John Keller, chief editor
Military & Aerospace Electronics
