PEO(U&W) Participates in Navy Exercises
The Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Cowpens (CG 63) launches a Harpoon missile from the aft missile deck in a live-fire exercise as part of Valiant Shield 2012. (U.S. Navy photo)
Representatives from the Precision Strike Weapons Program Office (PMA-201) participated in two large-scale maritime exercises in summer 2012, demonstrating the capability of the Navy’s anti-ship missiles.
The program office supported live-fire exercises in the Pacific Islands as part of Valiant Shield, a joint-service training event held in September, and Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) in July, the largest international maritime exercise in the world.
Valiant Shield brings the Department of the Navy and Air Force together to focus on integrated joint training to detect, recognize, track and engage units at sea, in the air and on land. SINKEXs benefit the Navy by providing crews the opportunity to gain proficiency in tactics, targeting and live firing against surface targets, which enhances combat readiness of deployed units.
In preparation for the exercise, members from the PMA, including the China Lake technical project office (TPO), travelled to Guam to support fleet operators aboard USS George Washington (CVN-73), in the planning, execution and follow-up activities of the live-fire exercise.
During a maritime sink exercise, or SINKEXs, Sept. 12 the Department of the Navy employed four Harpoons and three SLAM-ERs to target the ex-USS Coronado (AGF-11).
Earlier this summer, representatives from the program office were also among the 25,000 personnel brought to Hawaii, from around the world, to support the 23rd biennial RIMPAC. The event brought 22 nations, more than 40 ships and submarines, and more than 200 aircraft to the Hawaiian Islands from July 27 to Aug. 7. It is designed to foster and sustain cooperative relationships critical to ensuring the safety of sea lanes and security on the world’s oceans through real-life simulations and trainings.
PMA-201 representatives worked with participants, domestic and international, to prepare for their live-fires more than a year prior to the events, to ensure a successful event. The team worked with fleet representatives from multiple countries , U.S. Pacific Missile Range facility, the Naval Strike Air Warfare Center (NSAWC) and U.S. 3rd Fleet.
Planning for the SINKEXs began by mapping out each participant’s key requirements and test objectives, creating a path forward to define firing scenarios and engagement parameters. With a clear understanding of goals, PMA-201 representatives provided support in finalizing live-fire details to include documentation requirements, pre-fire simulations and weapon certifications as well as remaining on hand to answer any questions about the planning and firing process.
During the July 14 SINKEX, five Harpoons were successfully launched from the ex-USS Niagara Falls (T-AFS-3), which simulated a real-life target. In conjunction with the other weapons fired that day, Harpoon missiles sank the decommissioned ship.
Source: PEO(U&W) Public Affairs
