Littoral Combat Ship for Israel Update

Defense News has an article on all the benchmarks LCS-1 is passing as it tries to get to sea. Yawn. When it actually gets to sea, call me. If the price goes up, call me. Otherwise, I'm not interested in LCS-1. I'm tired of talking about LCS-1 getting ready, I want to see it ready already.

But I was interested in the second half of the Defense News article.

Meanwhile, Lockheed also is continuing work on an international version of the LCS for Israel. Last month, NAVSEA awarded an additional $2.5 million to the company to study the combat system configuration.

“This is an effort to look at the combat system performance with the systems the Israelis specify,” said Gary Feldman, Lockheed’s business development director for the international LCS.

Earlier this year, the company completed work under a 2006 $5.2 million NAVSEA contract to study hull, mechanical and engineering systems for the Israeli LCS.

“We validated the hull could accommodate the systems,” Feldman said. “The goal was to maintain as much commonality with the U.S. versions as possible. We were very successful. The hull is very much the same hull. The topside modifications were necessary for the combat system. We validated it with the multifunction radar, Mk 41 vertical launch system and other systems.”

In contrast with the U.S. LCS, Israel is eschewing the mission module concept in favor of a more heavily armed ship carrying permanently emplaced systems.

The new nine-month study will study integration of the Lockheed Aegis SPY-1F radar and the Israeli Elta EL/M-2248 Adir radar with the Combatss-21 system, Feldman said.

The Israelis already have specified use of a Rafael Typhoon gun, he said. The missile system is to be capable of launching a U.S. Raytheon Standard SM-2 surface-to-air missile, but the study will also look at incorporating the Israel Aerospace Industries Barak 1 and 8 missile systems.

“When the study is completed, we’ll expect the Israelis will move forward with contract design,” he said.

If the Israelis gain approval to buy the LCS, Feldman added, detail design could begin in 2009 with construction starting in 2010.

I keep wondering what a LCS with teeth will cost, but I also wonder what the LCS without teeth will ultimately cost...