N0002418R5401_Encl_1.pdf

Enclosure (1): Outline of anticipated ESSM Block 2 launcher upgrade engineering effort

Background

The trainable GMLS Mk 132 Mod 2 GML holds eight (8) ESSM in two hard mounted/fixed cell banks of four (4) cells each. The GMLS is a legacy platform that was designed and developed in the 1970s for the deployment of the RIM‐7 NATO Seasparrow Missile. The fundamental structure of the Mk 132

GML has not changed since it was first designed and deployed for use with the RIM‐7H missile.

While modifications have been made to integrate the ESSM engagement capability into the parent self‐defense combat system, improvements intended to address the physical impacts to the above deck GML of housing the heavier ESSM have not been fully realized to date. The proposed GML upgrade will seek to ameliorate the weight impacts now addressed through various mitigations, including relaxed slew/train requirements and additional/modified support equipment to aid launcher loading/unloading operations (i.e. water bladder as ballast, modified missile loader beam).

An effort was undertaken in 2015 to replace the aluminum launcher cell banks ‐ boxes mounted on each side of the launcher pedestal housing for missiles ‐ with an existing lightweight, composite ESSM vertical launch canister from another system. That canister is a fielded component which has previously passed some number of US and Danish qualification tests with a RIM‐162E ESSM (TVC rail launched ESSM round). This approach allowed for the reuse of the existing Mk 132 launcher pedestal assembly and execution of the upgrade as an ORDALT to the existing Mk 29 Mod 4/5 launchers.

That effort successfully completed a Systems Requirement Review (SRR) and Preliminary Design

Review (PDR) before a decision was made to explore competitively procurement of the required launcher modernization. (Note: The technical data procured in association with efforts completed to date is expected to be made available to parties of interest).

System Overview

An overview of the Mk 29 Mod 5 GMLS and ESSM Blk 1 (currently in service) and Blk 2 missiles

(current an ACAT II development program) is provided below. Additional technical data (e.g. interface descriptions, specifications, and drawings, etc) can be made available to interested qualified industry parties upon request. An extensive list of available technical documents is provided in Appendix A.

Mk 29 GMLS Segment

The primary functions of the GMLS are to accept and execute engagement commands from and provide engagement status to the controlling source, and to provide on‐mount storage and cyclic firing of up to eight ESSMs. In support of these functions, the GMLS MOD 5 provides the capability to maintain a physical and logical interface with the controlling source, determine target interceptability and engageability, calculate missile orders and commands, control launcher pointing in stable space, and execute performance monitoring, fault isolation, and data recording.

The following equipment/components constitute a GMLS Mk 29 Mod 5:

1) Mk 132 Mod 2 Launcher (GML) – Provides on‐mount stowage and protection for a maximum of eight ESSMS. The launcher consists of aluminum cell banks and a launcher pedestal which, with the assistance of servo motors, positions the launcher in train and elevation. This is the area of focus of the launcher upgrade.

2) Mk 34 Mod 2 System Launcher Controller (SLC) ‐ Provides processing of non‐tactical and tactical

GMLS software and provides a human interface for launcher maintenances. The SLC interfaces with the SSDS, NAVSSI, IRIG‐B, and MK 132 Launcher (via the MIC)

3) Mk 8 Mod 3 Maintenance Interconnecting Cabinet (MIC) ‐ is the primary interface between the

SLC and the GMLS. The MIC contains the power and signal distribution for the launcher.

4) Mk 108 Mod 2 Guided Missile Launcher Control (LCC) – Receives position and rate orders and supplies servo drive commands to the launcher.

5) Mk 147 Mod 0 Power Supply – routes launcher train/elevate power and provides input power to servo electronics, power amplifiers, and brake release mechanism of the launcher.

6) Mk 109 Mod 0 Deck Station Launcher Control‐ Controls movement of the launcher during launcher loading/unloading.

The interfacing of the various components of the MK 29 is graphically depicted in figure 1 below.

Figure 1‐Mk 29 Architecture

ESSM Blk 1

The ESSM Block 1 is a semi‐active, X‐band guidance, solid‐propellant surface‐to‐air missile. The ESSM Block 1 is tail‐controlled and dorsal fin stabilized, and is electronically conditioned for target flight and acquisition by pre‐launch commands. The ESSM is cylindrical in shape with an ogival shaped radome. It consists of seven sections: radome, guidance, ordnance (warhead), transition, propulsion (rocket motor), control, and Thrust Vector Controller (TVC). The ESSM Block 1 is 10 inches in diameter from the TVC through the transition section, and tapers to an 8 inch diameter through the warhead section.

Four control fins are mounted aft on pivoting shafts equally spaced around the Control Section. Four dorsal fins are affixed in line with the control fins and run longitudinally along the Propulsion Section, terminating near the Warhead Section. After launch, the TVC section performs any pitch‐over maneuver necessary after the missile is clear of own ship. The electrical interface to the ESSM occurs at an umbilical connector located on the control section. An umbilical cable, supplied with the ESSM round, connects between the launcher and the missile. The missile end of the umbilical cable features a shear connector, which shears at launch. A graphical depiction of the ESSM Blk 1 is shown in Figure 2 below.

An overview of the mass properties is also provided in Table 1.

Figure 2‐ESSM Blk 1 depiction

Table 1‐ESSM Blk 1 AUR Mass Properties

ESSM Blk 2

The ESSM Blk 2 is a tail controlled vertically launched missile with all‐aspect, all weather, crossing target attack capability. When compared to the ESSM BLK 1, The ESSM BLK 2 utilizes modified Guidance & Warhead Sections and modified dorsal fins. The ESSM BLK 2 employs the existing ESSM BLK 1 Rocket Motor, Control Section (CS), and Thrust Vector Control (TVC). The TVC package at the aft end of CS provides initial pitch‐over during vertical launch. The maximum gross weight of the missile at launch is 686 lbs. The missiles weight and other key mass properties such as center of gravity (CG), and mass moments are summarized in table 2 below and a graphical depiction of the Blk 2 missile is provided in Figure 3.

Figure 3‐ESSM BLK 2 depiction

Table 1‐ESSM Blk 2 AUR Mass

Properties

Launcher to Missile Interface (Mechanical)

A launch hook and launch lug interface with a launch rail in the launcher cell banks and provide a mechanical connection between the ESSM and the launcher. The locations of the hook and lug on the

ESSM are illustrated in Figure 4 (Note: hook and lug location is the same for both Blk 1 and Blk 2).

Specific properties such as location relative to missile stations, dimension and mass properties, and load requirements are provided in the supporting technical documentation.

Figure 4‐ Hook and Lug locations

Loading and off‐loading of the ESSM BLK 1 from the launcher is achieved via the Mk 14 Mod 2

Guided Missile Loader. The additional weight of the BLK 2 is expected to stress the servo motors and missile loader beyond their designed capacity. An Illustration of the current Loading process is provided in Figures 5a‐5c.

Figure 5a‐Loading of ESSM (part 1)

Figure 5b‐Loading of ESSM (part 2)

Figure 5c‐Loading of ESSM (part 3)

Launcher to Missile Interface (Electrical)

The electrical interface between the ESSM Block 1‐2 and the Launcher is provided by the missile umbilical cable. All power and signals involved with missile launch (i.e., Battery Activate, Battery

Activate Enable, Rocket Motor Arm Command, Rocket Motor Fire Command, and Rocket Motor Fire

Enable) between the launcher and missile is carried by this umbilical cable. The missile end of the umbilical cable is mated with the missile via a 42‐pin shear connector.

Detailed Requirements

This section details a list of key requirements (both threshold and objective) sought for the launcher upgrade.

Requirements Threshold Objective

The launcher shall safely house minimum of eight (8) ESSM TVC rounds in ready for launcher condition.

x

The launcher shall control the environment housing all ESSM rounds. x

Moisture x

Humidy x

Salt Fog x

The launcher shall monitor the environmental conditions of installed ESSM rounds. x

Temperature x

Moisture x

Humidy x

Salt Fog x

The launcher shall have the ability to safely initialize and fire each of a minimum of eight (8) ESSM TVC rounds.

x

The launcher shall support a mixed loadout of ESSM Blk 1 and Blk 2 rounds (i.e.

both Blk 1 and Blk 2 missiles loaded in a launcher at the same time).

x

The launcher shall be meet Grade A shock requirements of MIL ‐STD 901D for shipboard equipment with the mission requirements and mounting characteristics of the subject launcher.

x

The launcher shall be meet Grade A shock requirements of MIL‐DTL‐901E for shipboard equipment with the mission requirements and mounting characteristics of the subject launcher.

x

Upgrade shall provide positive feedback to the system that missile is properly seated in the launcher (e.g. Hooks and lugs correctly interfacing launch rail).

x

The upgraded launcher shall meet (or exceed) current maintenance and operational/engagement related train and elevation requirements.

x

The upgraded launcher shall address servo motor obsolescence while meeting (or exceeding) current maintenance and operational/engagement related train and elevation requirements.

x

The launcher shall be compatible with all US Navy CVN, LHD, and LHA deck structures and shipboard infrastructures for all known or intended launcher mounting locations, including all space, weight, height, power and associated local area environmental impact requirements.

x

The upgraded launcher shall be mounted on the deck surface and shall not necessitate significant alterations to significant ship structures in the area of the launcher mounting locations.

x

The upgrade shall reduce overall above deck launcher weight (e.g. composite materials, design for weight reduction).

x

The upgrade shall provide a means of controlling/directing exhaust gases away from critical shipboard structures and personnel areas.

x

The upgrade shall provide a means of controlling/directing ejected frangible cell cover material away from critical shipboard structures and personnel areas at launch.

x

The upgrade shall provide a means of opening missile banks in preparation for launch such that the cell covers remain captive and do not generate flying debris at launch.

x

The launcher shall support all‐weather operation of the missile (i.e. maintain missile operating temperatures), and shall provide monitoring of these conditions and feedback to control/operations.

x

The design and construction of the launcher upgrade shall maintain existing launcher safety features.

x

The design and construction of the launcher upgrade may improve upon existing launcher safety features.

x

The launcher shall maintain safe, positive control of a missile during a scenario where the rocket motor is ignited but launch is not intended (assume ESSM rocket motor thrust of 14,000 pounds).

x

The launcher upgrade shall support MBIT/reprogramming functionality by providing a safe means of connecting to the missile while installed in the launcher.

x

The launcher upgrade shall ensure safe missile egress from the launcher. x

The launcher upgrade shall eliminate or replace the current IFBAM which prevents unintended launcher movement during an inadvertent/unintended rocket motor light off.

x

Upgrade shall provide a growth path for future missile upgrades (larger diameter missile, increased missile weight, increased missile length) x

The launcher design shall support missile loading and post launch reloading at sea. x

The launcher upgrade shall support a Mean Time to Repair (MTTR) of 0.5 hours for Ship’s Force repairable items.

x

The launcher shall be compatible with the transmission of ESSM telemeter radio signals from all ESSMs installed in the launcher to a location outside the launcher.

x