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A tri-maran Littoral Combat Ship (Littoral = shallow waters, though not limited to that)
The design for Independence (LCS 2) is based on a proven high-speed trimaran hull built by Austal (Henderson, Australia). The 127-meter surface combatant design calls for a crew of fewer than 40 sailors, while the trimaran hull should enable the ship to reach sustainable speeds of nearly 50 knots (60 mph/90 km/h) and range as far as 10,000 nautical miles (20,000 km).
With 11,000 cubic meters of payload volume the ship is designed with twice the objective payload and volume so that it can carry out one mission while a separate mission module is in reserve. The large flight deck, 1,030 square meters (11,100 sf), will support operation of two SH-60 helicopters, unmanned vehicles, or large H-53 class helicopters. The stable trimaran hull will allow flight operations in high sea conditions.
Fixed core capabilities will be carried for self-defense and command and control. However unlike traditional fighting ships with fixed armament such as guns and missiles, innovative and tailored mission modules will be configured for one mission package at a time. Modules may consist of manned aircraft, unmanned vehicles, off-board sensors, or mission-manning detachments - all in an expandable open-systems architecture.
The large interior volume and payload is greater than larger destroyers and is sufficient to serve as a high-speed transport and maneuver platform. The mission bay is 11,800 square feet (1,100 m²), and takes up most of the deck below the hangar and flight deck.
In addition to cargo or container-sized mission modules, the bay can carry four lanes of multiple Strykers, armored Humvee's, and their associated troops. An elevator allows air transport of packages the size of a twenty-foot long shipping container that can be moved into the mission bay while at sea. A side access ramp allows for vehicle roll-on/roll-off loading to a dock. The habitability area is under the bridge with bunks for many personnel.
Independence also has an integrated LOS Mast, Sea Giraffe Radar and SeaFLIR. Side and forward surfaces are angled for reduced radar profile. In addition, H-60 series helicopters provide airlift, rescue, anti-submarine, radar picket and anti-ship capabilities with torpedoes and missiles. The ship is not designed as a base for AV-8B Harrier jets or the V-22, but the flight deck is large enough to hold them.
The bow contains retractable mine detection sonar. A BAE Mk. 110 57 mm/70 gun (Bofors 57 mm) is mounted on the bow. Three SRBOC chaff and IR countermeasure launchers and 2 Nulka decoy launchers are mounted port and starboard. The Nulka is a hovering rocket decoy which attracts anti-ship missiles.
Two torpedo decoy launchers are mounted P/S aft, supplemented by the British-designed Surface Ship Torpedo Defence (SSTD) system. A Raytheon SeaRAM anti-ship missile defense system is mounted above the hangar for defense against high-performance, supersonic and subsonic threats including missiles, aircraft and small boats or ships.
With 11,000 cubic meters of payload volume the ship is designed with twice the objective payload and volume so that it can carry out one mission while a separate mission module is in reserve. The large flight deck, 1,030 square meters (11,100 sf), will support operation of two SH-60 helicopters, unmanned vehicles, or large H-53 class helicopters. The stable trimaran hull will allow flight operations in high sea conditions.
Fixed core capabilities will be carried for self-defense and command and control. However unlike traditional fighting ships with fixed armament such as guns and missiles, innovative and tailored mission modules will be configured for one mission package at a time. Modules may consist of manned aircraft, unmanned vehicles, off-board sensors, or mission-manning detachments - all in an expandable open-systems architecture.
The large interior volume and payload is greater than larger destroyers and is sufficient to serve as a high-speed transport and maneuver platform. The mission bay is 11,800 square feet (1,100 m²), and takes up most of the deck below the hangar and flight deck.
In addition to cargo or container-sized mission modules, the bay can carry four lanes of multiple Strykers, armored Humvee's, and their associated troops. An elevator allows air transport of packages the size of a twenty-foot long shipping container that can be moved into the mission bay while at sea. A side access ramp allows for vehicle roll-on/roll-off loading to a dock. The habitability area is under the bridge with bunks for many personnel.
Independence also has an integrated LOS Mast, Sea Giraffe Radar and SeaFLIR. Side and forward surfaces are angled for reduced radar profile. In addition, H-60 series helicopters provide airlift, rescue, anti-submarine, radar picket and anti-ship capabilities with torpedoes and missiles. The ship is not designed as a base for AV-8B Harrier jets or the V-22, but the flight deck is large enough to hold them.
The bow contains retractable mine detection sonar. A BAE Mk. 110 57 mm/70 gun (Bofors 57 mm) is mounted on the bow. Three SRBOC chaff and IR countermeasure launchers and 2 Nulka decoy launchers are mounted port and starboard. The Nulka is a hovering rocket decoy which attracts anti-ship missiles.
Two torpedo decoy launchers are mounted P/S aft, supplemented by the British-designed Surface Ship Torpedo Defence (SSTD) system. A Raytheon SeaRAM anti-ship missile defense system is mounted above the hangar for defense against high-performance, supersonic and subsonic threats including missiles, aircraft and small boats or ships.