15.01.2010
US Navy tied up a $185.3 mln contract with BAE Systems on conducting qualification tests of ship-to-shore long-range land-attack projectile (LRLAP), reports DefPro. Those projectiles are supposed to be on service of American Zumwalt-class prospective destroyers also known as DDG-1000.
LRLAP constitutes an all weather 155-mm precision guided munition. At production tests carried out by
BAE Systems, the projectile appeared to be capable to hit targets at the distance over 63 nautical miles (116.7 km). Qualification tests are expected to be completed in Dec 2012.
Zumwalt-class multipurpose destroyers are used for attack coastal and land targets as well as for air defense and troop's fire support from the sea. The construction of the destroyers started in Feb 2008. US Navy is expected to receive first ship named
Zumwalt in Apr 2013, the second one –
Michael Monsoor – in May 2014.
Destroyers
DDG-1000 will have max speed up to 30 knots. The ships' armament will include 20
MK 57 VLS launchers for 80 missiles; two LRLAP 155-mm guns and two
Mk 110 57-mm anti-aircraft guns. Besides, two helicopters
Sikorsky SH-60 Sea Hawk and three unmanned helicopters
MQ-8 Fire Scout will probably be based at
Zumwalt-class destroyers.
Source: , photo: LRLAP (baesystems.com)
