LCS Mine Warfare Sailors Complete RMS Operational Assessment

The Remote Minehunting System (RMS) successfully completed the test phase of a formal Operational Assessment designed to validate the system's mine hunting capabilities and operational availability on Aug. 21 at Lockheed Martin’s Riveria Beach, Fla., Test Facility.

This Operational Assessment concludes a nine month effort to incorporate and verify RMS reliability and suitability improvements The RMS is one of several next-generation Naval mine countermeasure systems being developed by the Navy. The two Engineering Development Model (EDM) RMS systems will be formally accepted by the Navy in the very near future.

The objective of the Operational Assessment was to demonstrate the last two items remaining in RMS development; system availability and crew training. During the Operational Assessment, both the System and Crew performed flawlessly, conducting a series of detailed mission scenarios over an eight-day period, successfully demonstrating both.

The system operators and maintainers for the entire Operational Assessment were Sailors from Mine Warfare (MIW) Mission Package DET ONE – the designated lead mine warfare crew for the Navy’s newest future surface combatant, the Littoral Combat Ship (LCS 1) USS Freedom. The DET ONE crew has been detailed from the Lockheed Martin Riviera Beach, Fla., waterfront facility for training since early summer, mastering operating and maintaining the system.

Looking ahead, the Navy’s formal operational testing events should complete in late 2006 and early 2007, leading to deployment of the system on an Arleigh Burke Class Guided Missile Destroyer in 2007 and LCS in 2008. Additionally, Lockheed Martin is under contract to produce additional systems for both DDG and LCS class ships. The PEO LMW develops, acquires and maintains operationally superior and affordable systems to provide assured access for U.S. and coalition forces in the littoral battle space. These include programs in support of Mine Warfare, Littoral Combat Ship Mission Modules, Unmanned Underwater Vehicles, Maritime Surveillance Systems, Afloat Anti-terrorism/Force Protection, Explosive Ordnance Disposal, and Naval Special Warfare.

By Program Executive Office Littoral and Mine Warfare