Lockheed Martin's New COBRA

From Geoff Fein of Defense Daily today (subscription only).

Lockheed Martin [LMT] yesterday showcased a small tactical craft (STC) that it is proposing as both a manned boat for Special Operations Command (SOCOM) and as an unmanned surface vessel for the Littoral Combat Ship (LCS).

The Common Off Board Reconfigurable Asset (COBRA) is a 39-foot catamaran with a two-and-a-half foot draft built by Lockheed Martin using internal research and development (IRAD) funds, Ronald Harris, director, requirements and customs solutions, told reporters at a briefing in Crystal City.

COBRA is designed to carry either a mission module package up to 5000 pounds or a passenger module for 13 Marines. Lockheed intends to compete COBRA in the upcoming competition for the SOCOM Combat Craft Medium (CCM), but the article notes COBRA will have to be adjusted to meet those requirements.

CCM requirements include being able to be transported by C-130, which for COBRA means a few dimension changes. COBRA is currently a semi-swath hull, all-aluminum craft, although the article suggests an all-composite version will be built.

As the article notes, Lockheed had a bigger vision in mind.

But Harris noted that an unmanned COBRA variant would also be ideal for the anti submarine warfare (ASW) or counter mine warfare mission packages planned for LCS.

Harris pointed out that COBRA is the same size as the current ASW unmanned surface vehicle (USV) planned for LCS.

He also acknowledged that the LCS rear ramp would need to be modified to get COBRA in and out of LCS.

Nothing personal to Lockheed Martin, but I'll be impressed if the Navy doesn't require them to change that rear door on the LCS anyway. Maybe it is OK, but something just didn't look right to me. Very clever and creative stuff, and I always like it when attention is being paid MIW, because an all-composite version sounds like a useful MIW platform.