Back to news

November 24, 2020 | International, Naval

Navy Orders Two Hellfire SSMM Systems for LCS

Posted on November 23, 2020 by Richard R. Burgess, Senior Editor

ARLINGTON, Va. — The U.S. Navy has ordered two more Surface-to-Surface Missile Modules (SSMMs) for integration into the Surface Warfare Mission Package of the littoral combat ships, bring to four the number of SSMMs on order.

The Naval Sea Systems Command awarded Northrop Grumman Systems Corp. a 10.7 million firm-fixed-price contract modification for two additional SSMM systems for delivery by November 2022, a Nov. 20 Defense Department contract announcement said.

The SSMM is a modular weapons system that fires Lockheed Martin-built AGM-114L Longbow Hellfire missiles from launchers built by Teledyne Brown Engineering. Each launcher houses a total of 24 missiles. A prototype launcher has demonstrated the capability to defend against multiple swarming Fast Attack Craft/Fast Inshore Attack Craft (FAC/FIAC). During one test, a volley of six missiles were launched in rapid succession from an LCS, successfully destroying a swarm of six high-speed targets.

More than 100 missiles have been fired to date with a greater than 90% successful engagement rate.

The SSMM achieved Initial Operational Capability on the Freedom-variant LCS in February 2019 and was deployed on USS Detroit in November 2019.

Northrop Grumman is under contract to build four SSMM systems so far. The Navy has a requirement for 12 SSMM systems.

https://seapowermagazine.org/navy-orders-two-hellfire-ssmm-systems-for-lcs/

On the same subject

  • Le budget défense atteindra près de 41 milliards d'euros en 2022

    September 14, 2021 | International, Aerospace, Naval, Land, C4ISR, Security

    Le budget défense atteindra près de 41 milliards d'euros en 2022

    L'enveloppe budgétaire allouée à la défense en 2022 sera de nouveau en hausse pour atteindre près de 41 milliards d'euros, comme prévu par la Loi de programmation militaire (LPM), contre 39,2 milliards d'euros en 2021, a indiqué lundi la ministre des Armées, Florence Parly, lors de son discours de rentrée devant les personnels du ministère. « Depuis 2017, ce sont 26 milliards d'euros de plus qui auront été investis dans notre défense et nos armées. C'est considérable. C'est même historique. Et c'était nécessaire », a-t-elle souligné. D'une enveloppe globale de 295 milliards d'euros sur sept ans, la LPM 2019-2025 prévoit une nette hausse du budget défense après des années de déflation. Les hausses les plus importantes (+3 milliards par an) sont prévues à partir de 2023. « Il faudra continuer à se battre jusqu'au bout de cette Loi de programmation militaire qui doit nous emmener jusqu'en 2025 », a insisté Florence Parly. Le Figaro et Ensemble de la presse du 14 septembre

  • Poland Signs LOA for 96 Boeing AH-64E Apache Helicopters

    August 18, 2024 | International, Aerospace

    Poland Signs LOA for 96 Boeing AH-64E Apache Helicopters

    The AH-64E is the most modern configuration of the Apache and combines a battle-tested design with transformational technologies to deliver an unmatched mix of performance and versatility

  • Calling all weapons makers: Pentagon seeks new ideas to arm Ukraine

    May 2, 2022 | International, Aerospace, Naval, Land, C4ISR

    Calling all weapons makers: Pentagon seeks new ideas to arm Ukraine

    In its effort to quickly arm Ukraine against Russia, the Pentagon has announced the equivalent of an open casting call for companies to offer weapons and commercial systems that can be rushed to the fight.

All news