Post by whitehorse on Jan 20, 2020 22:23:24 GMT
The Navy and Marines Want a New Land-Based, Ship-Killing Missile
The U.S. military hasn't used such a weapon since World War II.
USS Gabrielle Giffords.
U.S. Navy
The U.S. military hasn't used such a weapon since World War II.
By Kyle Mizokami
The U.S. Navy wants an anti-ship missile to protect friendly forces in coastal areas.
The prime candidate is the Naval Strike Missile, already serving on U.S. Navy ships.
The coastal defense mission is something the Pentagon hasn’t done for more than half a century, but is reviving as an option against countries like Russia or China.
The U.S. Navy and Marine Corps want a land-based version of the new Naval Strike Missile. The two services envision using the missile to make adversaries stay away from U.S. and allied-held islands and shorelines, where they could face even better threats to the survival. It’s a modern day take on the old practice of stationing big artillery guns on land prepared to duke it out with enemy ships.
The prime candidate is the Naval Strike Missile, already serving on U.S. Navy ships.
The coastal defense mission is something the Pentagon hasn’t done for more than half a century, but is reviving as an option against countries like Russia or China.
The U.S. Navy and Marine Corps want a land-based version of the new Naval Strike Missile. The two services envision using the missile to make adversaries stay away from U.S. and allied-held islands and shorelines, where they could face even better threats to the survival. It’s a modern day take on the old practice of stationing big artillery guns on land prepared to duke it out with enemy ships.
The revival of big power warfare against states like Russia and China has brought major conventional warfare to the center of the Pentagon’s attention. In a future conflict, U.S. forces facing either country would operate off the coast of Europe and Asia, often in seas crowded with the territory of allies and enemies alike allies, territory disputed, and territory that’s changed hands. One way to make sure real estate changes hands in just one direction would be by garrisoning friendly territory with mobile anti-ship missiles.
The missile in question is the Norwegian-designed Naval Strike Missile or NSM. Developed by Kongsberg, the missile is now in production in partnership with U.S. defense giant Raytheon. NSM is an anti-ship cruise missile with a range of more than 100 miles. NSM is currently being fitted to Navy’s new Littoral Combat Ships, giving them the ability to sink ships over the horizon. Here’s the first LCS fitted with the Naval Strike Missile, USS Gabrielle Giffords, firing a missile during exercise Pacific Griffin in October 2019.
The missile in question is the Norwegian-designed Naval Strike Missile or NSM. Developed by Kongsberg, the missile is now in production in partnership with U.S. defense giant Raytheon. NSM is an anti-ship cruise missile with a range of more than 100 miles. NSM is currently being fitted to Navy’s new Littoral Combat Ships, giving them the ability to sink ships over the horizon. Here’s the first LCS fitted with the Naval Strike Missile, USS Gabrielle Giffords, firing a missile during exercise Pacific Griffin in October 2019.
USS Gabrielle Giffords.
U.S. Navy
