Worldwide, the major navies as well as
those with littoral warfare missions are getting rid of their existing fleets
of FAC-Ms and light multi-role guided-missile corvettes (both armed with
anti-ship cruise missiles of various types) and are opting for new-generation guided-missile
corvettes (popularly referred to as littoral combatant ship, or LCS) that
displace more than 2,500 tonnes and up to 3,500 tonnes. This trend, which is
gaining more traction with every passing day, is due to the following:
1) FAC-Ms and light multi-role guided-missile
corvettes have their own set of weaknesses that makes them no more effective
than larger principal surface combatants. The LCS is capable of all of the
peacetime and most of the wartime abilities of the FAC-M and light multi-role guided-missile
corvette. Most importantly, the geography of 21st century seapower does
not lend itself to low-endurance warships dependent upon isolated fixed bases
for support.
2) The new-generation LCS can fulfill
many peacetime duties, including presence functions and training with allied/friendly
naval forces, which FAC-Ms and light multi-purpose corvettes cannot. While the
LCS is a fully deployable warship capable of sustained operations at sea for at
least 21 days, FAC-Ms and light multi-role guided-missile corvettes, however,
have only an 8-day sustainability at sea and require a significant advanced
base from which to resupply and refuel. The LCS can be supported through refuelling
and resupply at sea via underway replenishment vessels.
3) In the current constrained fiscal
environment, the first priority of the Indian Navy (IN) must remain high-endurance
warships capable of extended combat operations at sea without forward base
support. A large force of FAC-Ms and light multi-purpose corvettes cannot meet
this requirement. India is a maritime nation with an interest in
protecting and securing what political scientist Barry Posen has called the
“global commons” of oceanic trade routes. Consequently, regional power
projection within the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) requires regionally deployable
naval assets rather than limited-endurance and role-specific sub-regionally
dependent vessels.
4) Finally, the geography of seapower as
understood by maritime nations with regional interests such as India does not
support the use of such short-range vessels as FAC-Ms and light multi-purpose corvettes.
Such a country must be ready to transfer significant parts of her armed forces
seamlessly over great distances. Relatively high-speed, long-range naval task
forces capable of sustained regional deployments are therefore the best
solution to the problem of geography. FAC-Ms and light multi-purpose corvettes
can be moved from one part of the IOR to another, but neither with the speed
nor cost-effectiveness of larger LCS-type platforms with better endurance. The
fleet of a regional naval power entrusted with the responsibility of being a net
security provider throughout the IOR must be able to depart from one location,
sail thousands of miles if necessary, arrive in its assigned theatre of
operations and attain sea control without reliance on forward land bases, which
may be vulnerable or unavailable for use.
The above-mentioned four underpinnings
are what must dictate the procurement of replacements for the IN’s existing
fleets of 549-tonne Project 1241RE ‘Molniya’
FAC-Ms and the 1,350-tonne Project 25 and 25A light multi-purpose guided-missile corvettes.
But that has not been the case thus far. For instance, in February 2015 the IN’s
global Request for Information (RFI) for six new-generation missile vessels
(NGMV) specified that the vessel should have a displacement of some 1,500
tonnes, must cruise at speeds of more than 35 Knots, and have an
endurance of 10 days at sea. The vessel should also carry a minimum of eight multi-role
anti-ship cruise/land-attack cruise missiles, be fitted with a point defence
missile system (PDMS) and possess a medium-range gun with ‘stealth features’ and
having range in excess of 15km.
This was followed in October 2016 by another RFI that
was sent by the IN sent to India-based shipyards—both private-owned and
state-owned—that called for the supply of seven next-generation corvettes (NGC)
capable of offensive attack with anti-ship cruise/land-attack cruise missiles,
anti-submarine warfare (ASW) operations, local naval defence, maritime
interdiction operations and visit, board, search and seizure (VBSS) missions,
with deliveries of these seven vessels beginning from 2023. In terms of weapons
fitments, the IN specified the BrahMos-1 missiles, a SAM system, cannon-based remotely-operated
close-in weapon system, a medium-range gun with 15km-range, a twin deck-borne
light torpedo launch system, and a helicopter deck capable of housing a light
twin-engined naval utility helicopter (NUH) or VTOL unmanned aerial system
(UAS).
From
the above, it becomes clear that the IN remains intellectually stunted by being
unwilling to take the required paradigm transformational leap of the type
required for the net security provider for the IOR. Sound common sense suggests
that the IN should combine its NGMV and NGC requirements by opting for
common-hull 3,500-tonne LCS-type vessels (numbering 18 units) that ought to
incorporate the following:
1)
A 76/62 SRGM of the type already in service with the IN, plus two
remotely-operated six-barrelled AK-630M cannons as close-in weapon systems.
Fire-control for all these weapons will be provided by the Pharos radar, which
is now being co-developed by THALES of France and India’s Bharat Electronics
Ltd.
2)
Up to 24 vertically-launched Barak-8 LR-SAMs.
3)
Up to 12 dual-tasked, vertically-launched long-range cruise missiles (either
BrahMos-1/BrahMos-NG or Nirbhay) equipped with DRDO-developed X-band imaging
monopulse active seekers capable of accepting programmable target recognition
algorithms for either land-attack or anti-ship strike in real-time.
4)
Twin two-tube heavyweight torpedo launchers—one on the port-side and one on the
starboard-side of the LCS.
5)
Integrated main mast (of the types available from France, The Netherlands,
Italy or Russia) that houses all the required types of RF sensors, optronic
sensors as well as integrated communications and electronic warfare suites. By resolving the electromagnetic conflicts and line-of-sight
obstructions inherent to traditional topside antenna arrangements, the
integrated mast aims at delivering an unobstructed field-of-view,
reduced radar cross-section; ease of electromagnetic friction and simplifies shipboard
integration.
This in turn provides a significant benefit in terms of
improved operational performance and availability, shorter shipbuilding time,
reduced maintenance requirements and significant savings in below-deck volume.
In an integrated mast various antennae are integrated within the design of the
mast itself along with the electronic equipment to be “integrated” in the mast
as a single unit. The result is a mast that is a structurally self-supporting
module.
6)
A multi-purpose, remotely-operated rigid-hull inflatable boat (RHIB) capable of
carrying either side-scan sonar, or mine-detection sonar, or mine disposal robotic
vehicle, or a dunking sonar. Such vehicles are also known as unmanned surface
vessels (USV).
7)
A stern-mounted helicopter deck capable of accommodating a 10-tonne naval
multi-role helicopter and an armed VTOL-UAS that is also equipped with both a
search radar and an gimballed optronic sensor suite.
8)
A new-generation 360-degree augmented reality wall Combat Information Centre
(CIC) housing the combat management system (CMS), which is network-centric and
makes extensive use of software-defined radios (SDR).
Potential
Contenders
Outside
the US, there are only three major shipbuilders that are implementing on-going
contracts for supplying LCS-type multi-mission guided-missile corvettes—Naval
Forces of France, Fincantieri of Italy, and Russia’s United Shipbuilding Corp.
France’s
Naval Forces has bagged contracts for its Gowing-2500 LCS design from Malaysia
(six units) and Egypt (four units). The Gowind-2500 LCS incorporates the SETIS CMS
(originally developed by DCNS for FREMM guided-missile frigates and
GOWIND family of corvettes), the Panoramic Sensors and Intelligence Module
(PSIM)—an assembly bringing together the integrated mast with its various
instruments as well as the Operational Centre and its associated technical
rooms, and a high-degree of integration, automation and conviviality. The 2,600-tonne
Gowind-2500 LCS has a length of 102 metres, width of 16 metres, maximum speed
of 25 Knots, crew complement of 65, range of 3,700 nautical miles while
cruising at 15 Knots, and a combined
diesel and diesel (CODAD) propulsion package.
Fincantieri’s
LCS design has been ordered by the Qatar Emiri Naval Forces (QENF)—this being
for four vessels. Each such LCS will have a full load displacement of 3,250 tonnes,
and have a length of 107 metres. The armament suite will comprise dual
quad-cell MBDA-supplied Exocet MM-40 Block-III anti-ship cruise missiles, twin
Marlin 30-mm remote weapon stations, a 76mm OTOBreda main gun, 16-cell vertical
launch system (VLS) for the MBDA-developed Aster-30 long-range surface-to-air
missile (SAM) and a 21-cell Rolling Airframe Missile (RAM) system. In addition, the vessel is fitted with a CODAD propulsion package,
and can accommodate 112 people on-board, including 98 crew-members.
From Russia’s United Shipbuilding Corp comes two
offers: the Project
20385 multi-mission guided-missile corvette from the St.
Petersburg-based Northern Shipyard (Severnaya Verf), a subsidiary of
United Shipbuilding Corp; and the Project 20386 multi-mission guided-missile
corvette from a partnership of Severnaya Verf Shipyard and Sredne-Nevsky
Shipyard.
The Project
20385 multi-mission guided-missile corvette was offered three years ago to the
IN for meeting the NGC requirement. This vessel has a displacement of 2,500
tonnes, a length of 106 metres, width of 13 metres, a speed of up to 27 Knots,
a cruising range of 3,500nm, an endurance of 15 days, and a crew complement of
99.
The
Project 20386 LCS has a full displacement of 3,400 tonnes and is 109 metres
long and 13 metres wide. It produces a top speed of 30 Knots, has a cruising
range of 5,000nm, crew complement of 80, a combined diesel-electric and gas
turbine (CODLOG) propulsion package that integrates two 27,500hp M90FR
gas-turbine engines from NPO Saturn, two electric powerpacks with a power
output of 2,200hp each, and a 6RP speed-reduction unit.
The Project 20386 LCS
comes fitted with a modular armament suite that incorporates either two four-cell
3S-24 inclined launchers with the Kh-35E Uran anti-ship cruise missiles, or
containerised launchers with the Kalibr-family of long-range cruise missiles.
Air-defence is provided by two eight-cell 3S-97 ‘Redut’ VLS coupled to the
Zaslon multifunctional radar that has its active phased-array antenna arrays
integrated with the tower-mast construction (I.e. an integrated main mast).
The
LCS’ near-field area is protected by two 30mm AK-630M CIWS mounted in pair on the
aft superstructure. The LCS is also armed with a nose-mounted A-190-01 100mm
naval gun that can be controlled by the Zaslon radar. Also carried are the ‘Paket’
ASW suite with twin four-cell SM-588 launchers for 324mm torpedoes, Minotavr-ISPN-M
hull-mounted panoramic sonar, Signa-20380 CMS, and a collapsible stern-mounted
helicopter hangar.
When it comes to robotic,
remotely-operated vehicles, several options are available from France’s ECA
Group and Japan’s Japan's Mitsui E & S Shipbuilding Co. The latter’s
vehicle is a high-performance mine-hunting system specifically designed for the
steep bathymetry and strong currents around Japan. With a length of 1.8 metres
and a weight just below 90Kg, the whole system comes with a control station and
cable winch. It is indeed controlled via a “fine optical cable”, allowing the
vehicle to achieve speed and good manoeuvrability, while the high-power battery
systems (LiSO2 and Li-Ion) provide long endurance. The cable winch with auto-tensioner
makes the cable resistance much smaller, contributing to fast target detection.
For optical identification at greater depth, the robotic vehicle is fitted with
a high-definition camera. The operator can get a clear sight at low light
intensity. Thanks to a unique thruster arrangement, the vehicle can approach a
target from various angles. Japan’s Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF)
selected this robotic vehicle after evaluating other foreign systems including ECA
Group’s K-Ster.
For meeting the USV requirement, the Seagull
from Elbit Systems of Israel (represented in India by the Kolkata-based Garden
Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers) will be the ideal choice. Back in 2017, Elbit
Systems, by using SATCOM data-links, demonstrated that the Seagull USV, sailing
in Israel’s Haifa Bay, could perform operational ASW missions using control
consoles situated some 3,515km away in the UK. Operating the L-3 Ocean
Systems-supplied DS-100 HELRAS dipping sonar in conjunction with Elbit Systems’
proprietary software, Seagull performed real-time detections and classification
of objects, thereby demonstrating the capability to deter and dissuade hostile
undersea activities.
The Seagull demonstration team included two operators—a
USV operator and sonar operator. The Seagull is a 12-metre long multi-mission USV that
can be operated from a mother-warship or from shore-based stations. It provides
multi-mission capabilities, including ASW, mine-hunting and mine-sweeping,
electronic warfare (EW), maritime security and underwater commercial missions, by
leveraging modular mission system installation options and offering a high
level of autonomy. It features inherent C4I capabilities for enhanced situational
awareness, and has a mission endurance of more than four days.
