FY2020 US Navy Budget Highlights

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The recent United States Navy Fiscal Year 2020 budget proposal has unleashed the usual flurry of articles analyzing and discussing its ramifications. However, while the vast majority of these have focused on the same details, particularly the proposed early retirement of USS Harry Truman (CVN-75) and the introduction of large unmanned surface vessels, I will instead point out various minor pieces of information that have caught my eye.

Missiles

The greatest change is that antiship missiles are indeed back with a vengeance. In FY20, the Navy is proposing to procure no fewer than 216 antiship missiles of 5 different types and has stated a desire for an overall inventory of over 2000 dedicated antiship missiles. This is quite obviously aimed at the rapidly growing Chinese Navy. However, by my rough estimation, this is actually enough weapons to sink every non-US warship in the word twice over.

Tomahawk

Tomahawk production is restarting after a lapsing for FY19. A total of 180 weapons is planned over FY20 and FY21. After FY21 a decision will be made whether to keep the line open longer or to begin production of a Next Generation Land Attack Weapon. The new Tomahawks will be to Block V standard, introducing improved communications. All existing Tomahawk Block IV will be upgraded to Block V standard beginning in FY20, for a total inventory of 3992 weapons (this may not include the planned 180+ new builds). This upgrade process should take into the 2030’s. FY20 also sees first production of the Maritime Strike Tomahawk (MST) kits. These will be used to modify Block V Tomahawks and a total inventory of 1322 weapons is planned (it is unclear if these are part of or in addition to the 3992 missile Block V inventory). That would be enough missiles to outfit the 90 destroyers and cruisers in the current US fleet with at least 14 antiship missiles each and would give the USN the greatest surface-launched antiship missile capability in the world.

LCS Over the Horizon Missile.

However, MST will not be the USN’s only surface-launched antiship missile. LCS OTH missile procurement began in FY19 with 8 weapons, and is planned to be ramped up 18 missiles in FY20. A total of 101 missiles would be procured over the 5-year defense plan with no final total given. However, over 400 missiles would be needed to outfit every planned LCS and FFG(X) with 8 missiles each.

Long Range Antiship Missile

LRASM production is planned to continue at 48 missiles per year for the entire 5-year plan, with an objective inventory of 324 weapons (the Air Force is separately procuring a smaller number of LRASM for the B-1 bombers). Currently, the Navy only intends to use LRASM as an air-launched weapon for the F/A-18 and F-35. The 324 missile objective inventory would give each carrier around 30 missiles (assuming they are distributed evenly), which (with the introduction of MST) would likely be less than half the number carried by her escorts. If that is the case, it will significantly alter the historic balance of power between the carriers and the surface combatants.

Harpoon

The old Harpoon missiles have also seen a comeback and will supplement the newer weapons. In FY18 and FY19, the USN procured 132 Harpoon Block II+ upgrade kits and it intends to add another 118 from FY20 to FY22 for a total of 250 weapons. The Harpoon Block II+ is a much improved networked weapon. However, the upgrade will only be applied to the USN’s air-launched missiles and the surface fleet will continue to make do with the aging Harpoon Block IC until the MST reaches the fleet. The USN is also planning on pulling 60 Encapsulated Harpoon Block IC out of storage (where they have been since 1996) to restore the submarine fleet’s antiship missile capability. Given that the USN currently has 56 submarines, this is only enough for 1 missile each and Block IC is a borderline obsolete weapon. Thus, it is unclear how much capability this move will actually add to the fleet. However, it will still complicate enemy ASW planning to some degree.

Standard Missile 6

Although primarily a surface-to-air missile, SM-6 has demonstrated it’s utility as a long-range high-supersonic (Mach 3.5) antiship missile. This capability will be further improved with the SM-6 Block IB, which is scheduled to receive funding beginning in FY21. Unlike the current 14.5” diameter SM-6 Block IA, the SM-6 Block IB will use the same 21” diameter airframe as the SM-3 Block IIA. This will not only massively increase the weapon’s range, but it will also likely increase velocity to hypersonic levels, creating an incredibly effective antiship missile. Also revealed in the budget is that the USN now intends to integrate SM-6 with the Zumwalt-class destroyers - possibly for use primarily as an antiship weapon along with MST. A total inventory of 2100 SM-6 is currently planned (enough for around 23 per destroyer). The active radar homing SM-2 Block IIIC (effectively a shorter-ranged SM-6) is also planned to begin procurement in FY21, with a planned inventory of 1000 missiles. While there is currently no confirmation, it is quite possible that this will also have a long-range antiship capability.

AN/SPY-6

It is now confirmed that the AN/SPY-6(V)3 EASR Fixed Face will be installed on USS John Kennedy (CVN-79), leaving USS Gerald Ford (CVN-78) as the only ship to carry the AN/SPY-3 and AN/SPY-4 Dual Band Radar. Further, the upcoming refit of USS John Stennis (CVN-74) will replace her AN/SPS-48 and AN/SPS-49 radars with the AN/SPY-6(V)2 EASR Rotator. When combined with the AN/SPY-6(V)1 on the Flight III Arleigh Burke-class destroyers, the AN/SPY-6(V)3 on FFG(X), the AN/SPY-6(V)2 on the amphibious ships, and the plan to install a yet unnamed AN/SPY-6 variant on the Flight IIA destroyers, this radar will soon have a near-complete monopoly. Whether this is a good idea (especially since no version of AN/SPY-6 has yet gone to sea) remains to be seen.

FFG(X)

It appears that FFG(X) will likely have a sonar system consisting solely of the TB-37 towed array as the FY20 budget has moved the proposed VDS and low-band hull sonar to Contractor Furnished Equipment. Given that FFG(X) is being held to a strict cost limit, I believe that it is unlikely that any of the competitors will offer the more expensive options. In contrast, FFG(X) will have advanced Ships Signals Exploitation Equipment (SSEE), reinforcing its stated mission of “Electronic Maneuver Warfare” rather than the more traditional mission of ASW that many seem to believe it will have simply because it is designated “frigate.”

LCS

The LCS OTH missile appears that it may be a permanent weapon rather than one associated with any of the mission modules. This would conform with how the Harpoon installation on USS Coronado (LCS-4) has been used. More details of the LCS ASW module have also been revealed, and we now know that the towed array will be deployed on a traditional internal wench leading to a bellmouth in the starboard stern (the VDS will presumably be deployed from the stern gate). This will require modifications to the hulls beginning in FY21, and a total of 12 LCS are planned to be modified. Amusingly, given their twin sonars and generous aviation facilities, these 12 LCS may very well become the USN’s best surface ASW assets.

57mm Mk 110 Gun

FY20 plans to ramp up procurement of the Advanced Low Cost Munition Ordnance (ALaMO - no idea where the second “a” is supposed to come from) to 1935 rounds from the 886 rounds ordered in FY19. ALaMO is a guided round for use against small craft and is expected to cost $14,000 each. The first delivery is slated for slightly over a year from now in June 2020 and, if it works, ALaMO should dramatically improve the 57mm gun’s effectiveness (possibly calling into question the Hellfire missiles of the the Surface to Surface Missile Module). Also interestingly, the budget reveals that the USCG (which gets its weapons from the USN) was planning on replacing the 76mm guns of the Famous-class Medium Endurance Cutters with 57mm guns. However, this will no longer happen and the ships will now receive the 25mm Mk 38 gun instead. Given the age of these ships and their impending replacement with the Offshore Patrol Cutter (which does have a 57mm gun), it is difficult to say that this downgrade is entirely a bad idea.

DDG-51

FY20 will see the Arleigh Burke-class destroyers now receive TB-37 towed arrays while under construction rather than as refits, accelerating the growth the USN’s ASW capability. FY20 will also see the introduction of a “twisted rudder” that uses an asymmetric design to reduce cavitation, decreasing flow noise. This innovation will also be applied to the Ticonderoga-class cruisers. It is also revealed that USS Delbert Black (DDG-119), which is scheduled to commission this year, will be the first Arleigh Burke-class destroyer to mount the SPQ-9B radar, significantly improving her capability against sea skimming missiles in cluttered environments.

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