Long Bow Hell Fire: US Navy solution to Iranian fast attack boats

[Arminkh]

Overconfidence is the biggest threat to any civilization.

Iran was able to find a solution to balance the power of US navy in Persian gulf by deploying fast attack boats.

However, as it is usually the case in a cold war, the opponent comes up with its own solutions. The laser canon was one of them which didn't really pose a credible threat on the speed boats but this new development can be something that Iran should seriously think about.

What does Iran have to counter this new threat to its missile boats?

Longbow Missile Scores 7:1 Against Fast Attack Boat Swarm | Defense Update:

Longbow Missile Scores 7:1 Against Fast Attack Boat Swarm

• Missiles
• Surface Warfare

Jul 31, 2015
1042
The test scenarios included hitting targets at both maximum and minimum missile ranges. After a stationary target was engaged, subsequent targets, conducting serpentine maneuvers, were engaged. The tests culminated in a three-target "raid" scenario. During this scenario all missiles from a three-shot "ripple fire" response struck their individual targets.

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In a recent test series performed by the US Navy, eight Army/Lockheed martin AGM-114L ‘Longbow Hellfire’ missiles destroyed seven fast naval craft simulating fast attack craft performing swarm attacks, similar to those practiced by the Iranian navy in the Arabian Sea and the Persian Gulf. The test was part of the engineering development test of the Surface-to-Surface Missile Module (SSMM), for use on littoral combat ships (LCS).

The tests, that took place in June 2015 in the Atlantic Ocean, off the coast of Virginia, evaluated the integration of the vertically-launched AGM-114L Longbow Hellfire missile system for the SSMM solution. In this application the missile receives initial target data from a surface search radar or an airborne radar on a helicopter, before launch. After launch, it activates the onboard millimeter wave seeker to find the target. The system has an initial range of eight kilometers and features fire-and-forget and multi-mode capability. The multi-purpose warhead ensures effectiveness against various types of attacking craft.

Integration of the “fire-and-forget” Longbow Hellfire missile onLCS represents the next evolution in capability being developed for inclusion in the Increment 3 version of the surface warfare mission package for LCS. When fully integrated and tested, each 24-shot missile module will bring added firepower to complement the LCS’s existing 57mm gun, SEARAM missiles and armed MH-60 Sea Hawk helicopter.

The SSMM is expected to be fully integrated and ready to deploy on LCS missions in late 2017 and to increase the lethality of the Navy’s fleet of littoral combat ships.

The test scenarios included hitting targets at both maximum and minimum missile ranges. After a stationary target was engaged, subsequent targets, conducting serpentine maneuvers, were engaged. The tests culminated in a three-target “raid” scenario. During this scenario all missiles from a three-shot “ripple fire” response struck their individual targets.


The ‘Guided Test Vehicle-1’ test was designed to test the launcher, the missile, and its seeker versus high speed, maneuvering surface targets that represented fast inshore attack craft that are a potential threat to Navy ships worldwide. “This test was very successful and, overall, represents a big step forward in SSMM development for LCS,” said Capt. Casey Moton, LCS Mission Modules program manager.

The Navy evaluated several solutions for the SSMM capability, including EO and semi-active laser guided weapons such as the Griffin IIB missile. The Longbow was selected, in part, for its ability to conduct simultaneous attacks on different targets. Another aspect was affordability, as thousands of AGM-114L are already in stock with the US Army.

In 2011 the Navy originally favored the Griffin IIB missile developed by Raytheon to be the follow-on missile, after the cancellation of the Non-Line of Sight Launch (N-LOS) missile system originally planned to be the primary surface weapon for the LCS. When the threat of Fast Attack Craft/ Fast Inshore Attack Craft (FAC/FIAC) became acute, primarily in the Persian Gulf, the Arabian Sea and the Western Indian Ocean, the capability of simultaneous target engagement became top priority, positioning the Longbow as the Navy’s favorite weapon for short- range Surface Warfare (SuW).

During the mid-June tests off the coast of Virginia, the modified Longbow Hellfire missiles successfully destroyed a series of maneuvering small boat targets. The system “hit” seven of eight targets engaged, with the lone miss attributed to a target issue not related to the missile’s capability. The shots were launched from the Navy’s research vessel Relentless. Photo: US Navy
What do you think guys?

@yavar @haman10 @2800 @The Last of us @SOHEIL @Daneshmand

 

[C130]

far to short range. would be good to stop ramming suicide fast attack craft, but against fast attack with 25km range it would helpless against C-701 - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia and I wouldn't be surprised if ER version in the works already fielded.



AFA 2014: Griffin ER Missile | Military.com


Griffin ER has double the range of Hellfire Longbow.

 

[Arminkh]

far to short range. would be good to stop ramming suicide fast attack craft, but against fast attack with 25km range it would helpless against C-701 - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia and I wouldn't be surprised if ER version in the works already fielded.



AFA 2014: Griffin ER Missile | Military.com


Griffin ER has double the range of Hellfire Longbow.

I agree. But Iran's swarm tactics require some of the boats to get close enough to use their rocket lunchers in order to overwhelm the defenses.

This new hellfire will work perfectly on them.

 

[C130]

I agree. But Iran's swarm tactics require some of the boats to get close enough to use their rocket lunchers in order to overwhelm the defenses.

This new hellfire will work perfectly on them.

well if that's the stragety they would be dead meat.

lauching 10+ C-701 just themselves would overwhelm a LCS. would only need one to hit to cripple it.

 

[Arminkh]

well if that's the stragety they would be dead meat.

lauching 10+ C-701 just themselves would overwhelm a LCS. would only need one to hit to cripple it.

These Hellfires can be launched from the choppers as well right?

I quit reading after that!!!! LOL, fast attack boats balancing the power with the USN

Well then you missed the news. too bad.

 

[Capt.Popeye]

I agree. But Iran's swarm tactics require some of the boats to get close enough to use their rocket lunchers in order to overwhelm the defenses.

This new hellfire will work perfectly on them.

That swarming tactic had limited utility. It could have caused some damage to Frigate sized ships, maybe even have caused a sinking. But ships larger than that it was a rapidly diminishing asset....... no way that it would have sunk a Carrier.

 

[Basel]

well if that's the stragety they would be dead meat.

lauching 10+ C-701 just themselves would overwhelm a LCS. would only need one to hit to cripple it.

To handle this threat an upgraded / modified AGM-65 will be good to have.

AGM-65 Maverick - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[Azeri440]

I quit reading after that!!!! LOL, fast attack boats balancing the power with the USN

he is indeed right , its not open ocean where USN would sail without a match , its Persian Gulf

a swarm of fast boats that carry about 2 anti-ship missiles each can deal a lot of damage to USN at a cheap cost to Iran

Overconfidence is the biggest threat to any civilization.

Iran was able to find a solution to balance the power of US navy in Persian gulf by deploying fast attack boats.

However, as it is usually the case in a cold war, the opponent comes up with its own solutions. The laser canon was one of them which didn't really pose a credible threat on the speed boats but this new development can be something that Iran should seriously think about.

What does Iran have to counter this new threat to its missile boats?

Longbow Missile Scores 7:1 Against Fast Attack Boat Swarm | Defense Update:

Longbow Missile Scores 7:1 Against Fast Attack Boat Swarm

• Missiles
• Surface Warfare

Jul 31, 2015
1042
The test scenarios included hitting targets at both maximum and minimum missile ranges. After a stationary target was engaged, subsequent targets, conducting serpentine maneuvers, were engaged. The tests culminated in a three-target "raid" scenario. During this scenario all missiles from a three-shot "ripple fire" response struck their individual targets.

Share on emailShare on printfriendlyShare on pocketMore Sharing Services44

In a recent test series performed by the US Navy, eight Army/Lockheed martin AGM-114L ‘Longbow Hellfire’ missiles destroyed seven fast naval craft simulating fast attack craft performing swarm attacks, similar to those practiced by the Iranian navy in the Arabian Sea and the Persian Gulf. The test was part of the engineering development test of the Surface-to-Surface Missile Module (SSMM), for use on littoral combat ships (LCS).

The tests, that took place in June 2015 in the Atlantic Ocean, off the coast of Virginia, evaluated the integration of the vertically-launched AGM-114L Longbow Hellfire missile system for the SSMM solution. In this application the missile receives initial target data from a surface search radar or an airborne radar on a helicopter, before launch. After launch, it activates the onboard millimeter wave seeker to find the target. The system has an initial range of eight kilometers and features fire-and-forget and multi-mode capability. The multi-purpose warhead ensures effectiveness against various types of attacking craft.

Integration of the “fire-and-forget” Longbow Hellfire missile onLCS represents the next evolution in capability being developed for inclusion in the Increment 3 version of the surface warfare mission package for LCS. When fully integrated and tested, each 24-shot missile module will bring added firepower to complement the LCS’s existing 57mm gun, SEARAM missiles and armed MH-60 Sea Hawk helicopter.

The SSMM is expected to be fully integrated and ready to deploy on LCS missions in late 2017 and to increase the lethality of the Navy’s fleet of littoral combat ships.

The test scenarios included hitting targets at both maximum and minimum missile ranges. After a stationary target was engaged, subsequent targets, conducting serpentine maneuvers, were engaged. The tests culminated in a three-target “raid” scenario. During this scenario all missiles from a three-shot “ripple fire” response struck their individual targets.


The ‘Guided Test Vehicle-1’ test was designed to test the launcher, the missile, and its seeker versus high speed, maneuvering surface targets that represented fast inshore attack craft that are a potential threat to Navy ships worldwide. “This test was very successful and, overall, represents a big step forward in SSMM development for LCS,” said Capt. Casey Moton, LCS Mission Modules program manager.

The Navy evaluated several solutions for the SSMM capability, including EO and semi-active laser guided weapons such as the Griffin IIB missile. The Longbow was selected, in part, for its ability to conduct simultaneous attacks on different targets. Another aspect was affordability, as thousands of AGM-114L are already in stock with the US Army.

In 2011 the Navy originally favored the Griffin IIB missile developed by Raytheon to be the follow-on missile, after the cancellation of the Non-Line of Sight Launch (N-LOS) missile system originally planned to be the primary surface weapon for the LCS. When the threat of Fast Attack Craft/ Fast Inshore Attack Craft (FAC/FIAC) became acute, primarily in the Persian Gulf, the Arabian Sea and the Western Indian Ocean, the capability of simultaneous target engagement became top priority, positioning the Longbow as the Navy’s favorite weapon for short- range Surface Warfare (SuW).

During the mid-June tests off the coast of Virginia, the modified Longbow Hellfire missiles successfully destroyed a series of maneuvering small boat targets. The system “hit” seven of eight targets engaged, with the lone miss attributed to a target issue not related to the missile’s capability. The shots were launched from the Navy’s research vessel Relentless. Photo: US Navy
What do you think guys?

@yavar @haman10 @2800 @The Last of us @SOHEIL @Daneshmand

even though the range of anti-ship missiles can be at 200kms+ , what is the capability of those fast attack boats?

range of engagement?

 

[IR-TR]

I quit reading after that!!!! LOL, fast attack boats balancing the power with the USN

Not on it's own. But coupled with a narrow strait of Hormuz, and land based missile systems, it could 'balance' the power with any navy.

That swarming tactic had limited utility. It could have caused some damage to Frigate sized ships, maybe even have caused a sinking. But ships larger than that it was a rapidly diminishing asset....... no way that it would have sunk a Carrier.

Read up on a secret USN exercise from the early 2000s, declassified later. Swarm tactics sunk multiple aircraft carriers and large USN ships. The scenario? And Iran-US naval war in the Persian Gulf.

Millennium Challenge 2002 - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[haman10]

What does Iran have to counter this new threat to its missile boats?

Actually , Iran's tactics have matured as well with the production of new cruise missiles .

Iranian speedboats don't go any closer to a US warship than 50-30km radius . that means with this standoff capability , USN should come up with far better tactics than this one .

i think this missile is a good deterrent when it comes to somali pirates , but when it comes to IRIGCN , it won't score one single kill .

remember that these kinda cruise missiles are all fire-and-forget . meaning that the boat can just shoot the missile and run away : at incredible speeds and quite frankly do a considerable damage with just one shot

this is what happens after a zuni rocket hits a US carrier :

I quit reading after that!!!! LOL, fast attack boats balancing the power with the USN

Snake's venom (zahre mar) .

too much smilies kid

anti-ship missiles can be at 200kms+

that tactic could expose the crew :not to the US warship's range - but to the fighter jet's HARM missile .

closing up to 50km in PG can be safer than using those kinda missiles who need radars on the host ship

 

[AMDR]

 

[Azeri440]

that tactic could expose the crew :not to the US warship's range - but to the fighter jet's HARM missile .

closing up to 50km in PG can be safer than using those kinda missiles who need radars on the host ship

yep . that's why I am asking

those fast attack boats shouldn't have a radar capable of tracking targets at that range

 

[Siavash]

How many Hellfires can they carry? The low tech counter act is to launch preliminary cheap aluminium coated fiber glass RC's fast boats and draw the Hellfire attention of the USN and deplete the stocks of the particular ship and then launch the actual attack in presence of EECM and decoy along with cruise missile and supersonic anti ship missiles.

Basically what this article is saying the automated vertical launch has matured in hitting multiple individual targets. Well that is what expected isn't it. I mean you expect USN have intensive counter measures and have 100% response but are they able to achieve the same firepower in long run near the coastal waters? I doubt they could and eventually they will be overpowered.

This precise and automated fire power which is excellent by the way, still does not provide solution against fast underwater submarines or Hoot torpedoes. Still the USN ships are vulnerable in Persian Gulf and near coast waters which is expected anyways and that is what Iran wants. Keep them far and be safe.

Also the technology (Fire and Forget) relies heavily on onboard and on missile radar and detection mechanism for precise targeting and distinguishing targets. It is sufficient for Iran to provide surface clutter (easy and cheap to produce) along with its fake swarm attack and deplete the arsenal even further. I would like to know in case of heavy jamming, Decoy and shadow Radar targets if the system is still maintaining its 7:1 ratio.

I don't see this to be a deal breaker but it will push the boundaries of a successful swarm attack on USN. Iam sure Iranian engineers do have the solution in hand for this as well.

Unless USN could beam the ship up or cloak it (Startrek type) I doubt it would be successful in fully defending any ship in coastal waters so close to shore.

Other aspect of such game is the cost. A such hellfire would cost 50 to 110K $ each mass produced. A RC aluminum coated fiber glass boat would cost 2K$ each max. A swarm attack of 200 dummy RC boats would be equivalent to 2 hellfire cost. Considering the total number of hellfires produced during 2011-2014 tops to 24000 units and considering the in battle ratio to be lower than 7:1 (lets say 15% loss) it requires Iran to prepare a stock of 22K inflatable, partially coated fiber glass with depth charge head against the presence of maximum 24K hellfires in the region for a maximum of 100 or less successful fake swarm attacks against USN and depleted the local stock. Meanwhile move in with all other tools in place to take out all near and offending ships. Lockheed Martin needs to ramp up production. When such war happens I will make sure to buy their stock.

I am sure they have found counter balance already. It is not a big deal. By the way In terms of AI, Telemetry and control and CC4 Iran is also a capable adversary. What we can think of they think 100 times better.

 

[Arminkh]

he is indeed right , its not open ocean where USN would sail without a match , its Persian Gulf

a swarm of fast boats that carry about 2 anti-ship missiles each can deal a lot of damage to USN at a cheap cost to Iran




even though the range of anti-ship missiles can be at 200kms+ , what is the capability of those fast attack boats?

range of engagement?

They carry Noor missile (Noor (missile) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia The range, depending on the model is anywhere between 30-170 km.

They also carry Hoot super cavity torpedo (Hoot (torpedo) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia with a range of 11-15 km.

So they can fire their missiles before they even have visual contact with their target (almost 12km distance for a 10m high ship) but since the missiles are fire an forget I don't think any of the boats carry any long range tracking equipment. So unless Iran comes up with a creative way of linking its land based radars with the boats targeting systems then they need to have visual in order to fire their missiles at the right target or they may just fire at the estimated direction and hope the missile would pick the right target.

How many Hellfires can they carry? The low tech counter act is to launch preliminary cheap aluminium coated fiber glass RC's fast boats and draw the Hellfire attention of the USN and deplete the stocks of the particular ship and then launch the actual attack in presence of EECM and decoy along with cruise missile and supersonic anti ship missiles.

Basically what this article is saying the automated vertical launch has matured in hitting multiple individual targets. Well that is what expected isn't it. I mean you expect USN have intensive counter measures and have 100% response but are they able to achieve the same firepower in long run near the coastal waters? I doubt they could and eventually they will be overpowered.

This precise and automated fire power which is excellent by the way, still does not provide solution against fast underwater submarines or Hoot torpedoes. Still the USN ships are vulnerable in Persian Gulf and near coast waters which is expected anyways and that is what Iran wants. Keep them far and be safe.

Also the technology (Fire and Forget) relies heavily on onboard and on missile radar and detection mechanism for precise targeting and distinguishing targets. It is sufficient for Iran to provide surface clutter (easy and cheap to produce) along with its fake swarm attack and deplete the arsenal even further. I would like to know in case of heavy jamming, Decoy and shadow Radar targets if the system is still maintaining its 7:1 ratio.

I don't see this to be a deal breaker but it will push the boundaries of a successful swarm attack on USN. Iam sure Iranian engineers do have the solution in hand for this as well.

Unless USN could beam the ship up or cloak it (Startrek type) I doubt it would be successful in fully defending any ship in coastal waters so close to shore.

Other aspect of such game is the cost. A such hellfire would cost 50 to 110K $ each mass produced. A RC aluminum coated fiber glass boat would cost 2K$ each max. A swarm attack of 200 dummy RC boats would be equivalent to 2 hellfire cost. Considering the total number of hellfires produced during 2011-2014 tops to 24000 units and considering the in battle ratio to be lower than 7:1 (lets say 15% loss) it requires Iran to prepare a stock of 22K inflatable, partially coated fiber glass with depth charge head against the presence of maximum 24K hellfires in the region for a maximum of 100 or less successful fake swarm attacks against USN and depleted the local stock. Meanwhile move in with all other tools in place to take out all near and offending ships. Lockheed Martin needs to ramp up production. When such war happens I will make sure to buy their stock.

I am sure they have found counter balance already. It is not a big deal. By the way In terms of AI, Telemetry and control and CC4 Iran is also a capable adversary. What we can think of they think 100 times better.

Well the challenge for US Naval ships was that the type of anti surface missiles they had were not designed to track small fast attack boats. These missiles are smaller, nimbler and can be fired in a burst of three and are optimized for close encounters.

It seems like the missile gets its original target coordinates from the ship or another missile so it must implement some type of GPS navigation system in order to approach the general position of the target and then on the terminal phase it will use its own seeker to home.

Using the GPS jamming system that Iran posses can probably interfere with the first phase and push the missile off track.

 

[Siavash]

They carry Noor missile (Noor (missile) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia The range, depending on the model is anywhere between 30-170 km.

They also carry Hoot super cavity torpedo (Hoot (torpedo) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia with a range of 11-15 km.

So they can fire their missiles before they even have visual contact with their target (almost 12km distance for a 10m high ship) but since the missiles are fire an forget I don't think any of the boats carry any long range tracking equipment. So unless Iran comes up with a creative way of linking its land based radars with the boats targeting systems then they need to have visual in order to fire their missiles at the right target or they may just fire at the estimated direction and hope the missile would pick the right target.


Well the challenge for US Naval ships was that the type of anti surface missiles they had were not designed to track small fast attack boats. These missiles are smaller, nimbler and can be fired in a burst of three and are optimized for close encounters.

It seems like the missile gets its original target coordinates from the ship or another missile so it must implement some type of GPS navigation system in order to approach the general position of the target and then on the terminal phase it will use its own seeker to home.

Using the GPS jamming system that Iran posses can probably interfere with the first phase and push the missile off track.

Correct GPS jamming that you mention is one good approach, Cooperative positioning is a Hot topic these days. Which is sensor information which is obtained via each individual system is shared and communicated with other units. A paper in Chinese defence which I accidently saw while researching cooperative positioning for indoor/Outdoor positioning showed they managed to enhance the precision of the salvo missile launch CEP by 3 dB minimum per 4 missile which seems to be right on the theory of it when cooperating. Besides cooperation gives one system benefit of seeing what it may not see individually which is in case of GPS where each individually requires 4 Sattelites to be present one may not see all 4 and one may see more than 4 where its position and targeting information would help those in need as well.

Most probably as you say these systems use Fusion of sensor inputs which is cheap now (dirt cheap) and also get reference targeting form the mother ship and adjacent ships. If so making the scene dirty and severing the link is the solution. GPS jamming that you mention is useful but should be in the whole theater. By such sensor Fusion they also made jamming difficult but not impossible. They might see better but if what they all see lacks precision they are still blind. Also spoofing the GPS system and the link is other methods. I believe the easiest is wide GPS jamming, extreme targeted noise on the used bands and increased radar clutter. These are all cheap to make.