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Exclusive: US Navy Enhances Defense of combat ship with Hellfire Missiles and Advanced Counter-Drone Systems.
On January 16, 2025, the U.S. Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) announced a significant enhancement to the defense capabilities of the U.S. Navy combat ships, with the USS Indianapolis (LCS 17), a forward-deployed Freedom-variant littoral combat ship (LCS), receiving critical upgrades to its Counter-Unmanned Aircraft System (C-UAS) capabilities. As part of this upgrade, the ship has integrated Longbow Hellfire (LBHF) missiles into its Surface-to-Surface Missile Module (SSMM) to enhance its ability to counter both traditional maritime threats and emerging aerial challenges posed by unmanned systems.
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An AGM-114L Longbow Hellfire missile launches from the Surface-To-Surface Missile Module (SSMM) aboard the Independence-variant Littoral Combat Ship USS Montgomery (LCS 8). The missile exercise was the first proof-of-concept launch of the Longbow Hellfire missile against a land-based target. (Picture source: U.S. DoD)
The LBHF (Longbow Hellfire ) missile, originally designed to counter small boat threats with its precision-guided capabilities, now plays a dual role in neutralizing drones and other aerial threats. The Longbow Hellfire variant incorporates radar-guided technology, enabling it to engage targets in adverse weather conditions and through battlefield clutter, significantly improving its effectiveness in complex operational environments. With a range of up to 8 kilometers, the LBHF missile uses a laser-guided warhead for high precision, while its radar seeker offers enhanced target acquisition, even in conditions where visibility is limited. This integration of Hellfire missiles into the C-UAS (Counter-Unmanned Aircraft System) suite allows the U.S. Navy USS Indianapolis Littoral Combat Ship to rapidly neutralize both surface and aerial threats, reinforcing the LCS's (Littoral Combat Ship) adaptability in the face of modern multi-domain challenges.
The SSMM (Surface-to-Surface Missile Module) was originally designed to counter surface threats, particularly targeting small boats in littoral waters. Equipped with the Longbow Hellfire (LBHF) missile, the LCS (Littoral Combat Ship) gained the capability to engage such threats at extended ranges, using vertically launched Hellfire missiles. The Hellfire missile system has proven highly effective for naval forces due to its precision and versatility. The missile's versatility extends beyond surface targets to land-based and air threats, with the Longbow Hellfire version offering significant advantages in terms of target acquisition and tracking in all-weather conditions. This version of the Hellfire missile incorporates radar-guided technology to improve tracking and targeting in poor visibility, such as fog, rain, or smoke, ensuring the missile can engage fast-moving maritime targets with high accuracy even in challenging environments.
With the growing presence of unmanned aerial systems (UAS) on modern battlefields, the U.S. Navy recognized the need to equip its ships with more advanced systems to counter these threats. The USS Indianapolis is now among the first ships in the Navy to benefit from the integration of C-UAS technology into its existing capabilities. Drones, with their ability to operate in a variety of roles from surveillance and reconnaissance to offensive strike missions, present a complex challenge for naval defense forces. Their low cost, mobility, and range of operational uses make them a difficult threat to counter. The C-UAS capabilities aboard the USS Indianapolis allow it to detect, track, and neutralize these aerial threats, further enhancing its operational flexibility.
In 2022, the SSMM demonstrated its ability to counter land-based threats with a successful land attack demonstration, highlighting the module's evolving role in meeting a broader spectrum of threats. The integration of C-UAS capabilities into the module underscores the Navy's recognition of the growing threat posed by unmanned systems, which both state and non-state actors increasingly use to challenge naval superiority. The flexibility of the LCS—a ship designed for rapid adaptation through modular mission packages—enables it to quickly incorporate new capabilities such as the C-UAS system and Longbow Hellfire missiles, thus ensuring that the ship remains highly effective against emerging threats.
The Longbow Hellfire missile is a sophisticated, precision-guided weapon that was originally developed for use by Apache AH-64 helicopters to engage both ground and aerial targets. It is part of the Hellfire family of missiles, but the Longbow variant incorporates advanced radar-guided technology, which distinguishes it from other versions of the missile. The Longbow Hellfire is equipped with a millimeter-wave radar seeker that allows it to track targets with a high degree of precision, even in adverse weather conditions such as rain, fog, or smoke. This capability is particularly valuable in dynamic combat environments, where traditional line-of-sight targeting can be compromised. The radar seeker enables the missile to engage targets in all-weather conditions, day or night, making it highly versatile. Its laser guidance system also ensures that it can be used effectively in tandem with other targeting platforms, giving it flexibility in both air-to-ground and surface-to-surface engagements.
Integrating the Longbow Hellfire missile into a ship, particularly a Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) like the USS Indianapolis, is unique because of the missile’s ability to adapt to a variety of combat scenarios and its ability to be fired vertically, as opposed to being launched from an aircraft or a ground-based platform. This vertical-launch configuration allows the LCS to maintain a small, agile profile while still deploying a highly effective weapon. The Longbow Hellfire is especially suitable for shipboard operations due to its relatively small size and its ability to engage multiple target types, from small, fast-moving boats to larger surface targets, and even drones in modern warfare scenarios. Its high precision and long-range capability (up to 8 km) are critical in the challenging littoral environment, where ships must operate in confined, congested waters. The missile’s radar and laser guidance ensure that it can engage targets even in cluttered environments, such as those typically found in coastal areas, making it an ideal fit for countering small boat threats, surface engagements, and now unmanned aerial systems. By integrating this missile into the LCS, the Navy has a versatile system that can effectively operate across a broad spectrum of threats, enhancing the ship's overall combat flexibility.
Rear Admiral Kevin Smith, Program Executive Officer for Unmanned and Small Combatants, highlighted the importance of these upgrades, stating that they significantly enhance the USS Indianapolis's ability to project power and maintain freedom of maneuver in contested environments. The integration of C-UAS systems strengthens the Navy's overall strategy for operational agility, deterrence, and sustained dominance in littoral regions. These areas are becoming increasingly congested and contested due to growing global maritime activity and the increasing use of unmanned technologies. The enhanced capabilities of the USS Indianapolis ensure it remains a potent asset in such regions, capable of responding to both surface and aerial threats with flexibility and precision.
By incorporating advanced systems like C-UAS and Hellfire missiles, the Navy continues to enhance its strategy for responding to evolving threats, particularly in the context of unmanned warfare. These systems not only improve the LCS's ability to defend against traditional maritime threats but also position it to counter new and emerging challenges, particularly those posed by unmanned aerial systems. As drones proliferate on the battlefield, the ability to quickly detect and neutralize them is becoming increasingly crucial. The USS Indianapolis's enhanced C-UAS capabilities reflect a broader strategic trend within the Navy, which is increasingly focused on integrating unmanned systems into its operations to enhance effectiveness, operational reach, and precision.
The LCS’s modular design, which allows for rapid integration of tailored systems, ensures that U.S. Navy ships remain at the cutting edge of technology. The USS Indianapolis stands as a prime example of how flexible platforms can be used to address both current and future security challenges. With the new integration of C-UAS capabilities and the Longbow Hellfire missile system, the USS Indianapolis can now provide a broader, more dynamic defense posture in littoral regions and beyond, ensuring continued freedom of maneuver and operational superiority in an increasingly complex and contested maritime environment.