According to the War Zone, in an important move to enhance the combat capabilities of the littoral combat ship (LCS) fleet, US Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro announced that many LCS ships will be equipped with the Mk 70 payload launch system.
This system promises to help LCS overcome inherent firepower limitations thanks to the ability to launch powerful missiles, including SM-6 missiles and Tomahawk missiles.
The Mk 70 is a containerized launch system, developed based on the Mk 41 vertical launch system (VLS), widely used on other US warships.
The Mk 70 allows LCS ships to launch multiple types of missiles from a single launcher, providing flexibility in combat. The Mk 70 will enable LCS to conduct long-range attacks on sea and land targets.
In October 2023, the US successfully tested the SM-6 missile launch from the Mk 70 system on the USS Savannah (LCS-28) in the East Pacific region. This demonstrated the flexibility and power of this system.
In addition to the SM-6, the Mk 70 is also capable of launching Tomahawk missile variants, including land attack and anti-ship missiles. Thanks to that, the LCS has diverse combat capabilities in many different environments.
However, installing the Mk 70 launcher system also means a big trade-off. The helicopter launch and recovery area on the deck will be eliminated to install the Mk 70, making it difficult for the LCS to detect long-range targets and face close-in threats.
To overcome these limitations, the US Navy has used data from external platforms to support the Mk 70's fire control. Equipping additional external radars and sensors, such as the AN/TPQ-53 radar on the USS Savannah, will help expand the ability to detect and attack targets, increasing independence in combat.
With plans to equip the entire LCS fleet with the Mk 70 in the near future, the US Navy hopes that this system will help "save" the LCS program, which has been criticized for its high cost and limited effectiveness in the past.
While questions remain about the LCS's survivability in large-scale warfare, the addition opens up new opportunities for the LCS fleet in modern offensive and defensive operations.
