Gun Systems for U.S. Navy Littoral Combat Ships to be built by BAE Systems

Posted by John McHale
ARLINGTON, Va., 22 Jan. 2011. BAE Systems will provide the primary gun systems on 10 U.S. Navy Littoral Combat Ships (LCS) to be built by the Lockheed Martin-led team. BAE Systems will equip the 10 ships with 57 millimeter Mk 110 gun systems.
BAE Systems will also provide a digital fire control system that allows the Mk 110 to accurately fire automatic salvos of the highly lethal 57- millimeter Mk 295 ammunition at a firing rate of 220 rounds per minute and a range of up to nine miles.
"BAE Systems' 57mm gun brings a new level of versatility against an ever-expanding range of threats, thereby matching the multi-mission requirements of the LCS program," says Mike Smith, managing director of weapons programs for BAE Systems.
The 6-mode programmable 57-mm Mk 295, pre-fragmented and proximity-fused (3P) ammunition allows the system to perform against either an aerial, surface, or ground threat without requiring multiple round types. Sailors can switch from warning to live fire to engage a target in seconds, and the servo-controlled electro hydraulic gun laying subsystems provide robust endurance and extreme pointing accuracy, even in high sea-state conditions.
The system requires minimal manpower for operation and maintenance, and affords a high availability due to a redundant architecture design, built-in test functions, ready component access, and onboard tools and spares.
Work on the contract will take place at BAE Systems' facilities in Louisville, Ky.; Minneapolis; and in Karlskoga, Sweden. Production of the gun systems is expected to run through 2017.

Gun Systems for U.S. Navy Littoral Combat Ships to be built by BAE Systems

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