Page 24 - ADT AUG - OCT 2024 Digital Magazine | GBP

independently aboard the helicopter
or in conjunction with other systems
aboard a vessel. Testing is currently
on and delivery of the first AOEW
units is expected in 2025.

The U.S. Navy is also pushing
forward with the development of
shipboard solid-state lasers (SSLs)
as part of its plan to boost sur-
face-ship self-defence capabilities.
The service’s fiscal year 2025
budget request includes continued
funding for research and develop-
Missile Defence (BMD) system, surface combatant fleet, the gov- ment of the technology. The goal
with INS Anvesh, commissioned in ernment has decided to more than is to use the technology to counter
March 2022 and India’s first floating double the size of the surface advanced threats such as anti-ship
test range, being the launch plat- combatant fleet. The service’s cruise missiles (ASCM).
form. The interceptor is reportedly future fleet will have 26 major sur-
derived from the Advanced Air face combatants comprising three Research into SSLs began as
Defence (AAD) missile that was Hobart-class air warfare, six Hunter- early as in 2014, with the installa-
developed as a part of Phase-I of class, 11 general-purpose frigates, tion of the first prototype capable
India’s BMD program. Phase-II of six large optionally crewed surface of countering surface craft and
the country’s BMD program involves vessels (LOSVs), and six remaining unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).
development of the AD-1 endo-at- Anzac class frigates. In August this Since then, the Navy has made
mospheric interceptor and the AD-2 year, HMAS Sydney successfully significant strides, developing and
exo-atmospheric interceptor. fired a Standard Missile 6; the mis- deploying additional SSL proto-
sile will be deployed, first across the types with enhanced capabilities.
With the threat from North Korean Hobart class destroyers and, in the The Solid-State Laser Technology
missiles ever present, South future, the Hunter class frigates. Maturation (SSL-TM) initiative
Korea’s Defense Acquisition has already produced results,
Program Administration (DAPA) The Republic of Singapore Navy with the Laser Weapons System
said earlier this year that it would (RSM) is also ensuring that its Demonstrator (LWSD) disabling a
soon start research and develop- shipborne defence capabilities are UAV in 2020. The Optical Dazzling
ment for developing an advanced adequate to meet new and evolv- Interdictor, Navy (ODIN) system
ship-based missile interceptor. In ing threats. During the RIMPAC has been installed on eight Arleigh
2023, the country had approved 2024 exercise in July this year, the Burke-class destroyers to provide
a US$520 million project to service’s Formidable-class frigate counter-ISR capabilities while
develop the “Ship-to-Air Missile-II” RSS Stalwart successfully launched Surface Navy Laser Weapon
designed to shoot down aircraft Aster surface-to-air missiles at two System (SNLWS) Increment 1
and cruise missiles. The project will high-speed drone targets. (HELIOS) is operational on USS
run through 2030, with the arms Preble (DDG-88).
procurement agency planning to
deploy the missile on the Navy’s One Step Ahead Meanwhile, L3Harris is working on
next-generation destroyer that is In December last year, Lockheed a maritime version of its Vampire
currently under development. The Martin and the U.S. Navy success- counter-drone weapon system to
Standard Missile-2 (SM-2) – which fully tested an electronic warfare defend ships from airborne threats.
has a range of 90 nautical miles - is (EW) pod that is being developed Vampire was initially designed as a
currently used by the Navy, and the for use in helicopters to detect truck-mounted platform offering low-
new missile is designed to have a and deceive anti-ship missiles. cost precision defence for ground
longer range. According to the company, the forces, but the company is now
Advanced Off-Board Electronic working on adapting the system for

Bolstering Capabilities Warfare system (AOEW) demon- us aboard ships. Another option
strated the “ability to defeat threats” being looked at is using smaller
China’s military build-up has while mounted to a Sikorsky unmanned ships to host the system,
Australia worried as well. After an MH-60R helicopter. The AOEW thus forming a defensive cover
independent analysis of its navy’s is capable of either working around the main manned ship..

24 | AUGUST - OCTOBER 2024 WWW.GBP.COM.SG/ADT