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Spartan Deployed on Gettysburg
Story Number: NNS031223-02
Release Date: 12/22/2003 11:00:00 PM
From Naval Undersea Warfare Center Newport Public Affairs
ABOARD USS GETTYSBURG (NNS) -- USS Gettysburg (CG 64), which is part of the USS Enterprise (CVN 65) Carrier Strike Group (CSG) currently deployed to the Arabian Gulf, is outfitted with a special new piece of equipment that is gaining high praise from the fleet.
The Spartan Scout, a Department of Defense (DoD) Advanced Concept Technology Demonstration (ACTD), is under the direction of the Naval Undersea Warfare Center Division, Newport.
Deployed aboard Gettysburg, it is part of the Navy's only deployed strike group, which is conducting missions in support of Operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom.
Spartan is a modular, reconfigurable, multi-mission, high-speed, semi-autonomous unmanned surface vehicle (USV) capable of carrying payloads of 3,000 and 5,000 pounds for seven-and-11-meter craft, respectively. Integrated as an expeditionary sensor and weapons system designed to be a primary "force-leveler" against asymmetric threats, it enables a battle force commander to match inexpensive threats with an appropriate response.
On its first major deployment with the fleet, the seven-meter rigid-hull inflatable Spartan USV is being carried and controlled by Gettysburg. The on board Spartan prototype is configured with an electro-optical/infrared surveillance turret, surface search radar, digital imagery transmission suite and an unmanned command and control suite.
Rear Adm. James Stavridis, commander of the Enterprise Strike Group, likens the Spartan Scout as a harbinger of transformation, much like the Wright Flyer, the Wright brothers' first powered aircraft.
As part of its mission with the carrier strike group, Spartan is demonstrating its abilities as a force protection asset by providing an effective response to asymmetric threats, such as small boats.
“Spartan Scout meets a need for ship force protection,” noted Stavridis in a recent letter to the trade publication Defense News. “Spartan Scout can provide surveillance in a harbor, not only for Navy ships but also U.S. Coast Guard units responsible for port security. It can be modified for mine detection or anti-submarine warfare.
"When equipped with Hellfire or Javelin missiles," Stavridis continued, "it could attack other surface vessels or conduct precision strikes ashore. And, unlike any other unmanned system, unmanned surface vessels can relay communications to aircraft, ships and submarines."
The Spartan Scout was also a topic of discussion and one of the reasons for a recent visit by Secretary of the Navy Gordon England to Gettysburg while he was touring various assets in the North Arabian Gulf.
As a low-cost force multiplier, USVs provide increased sensor coverage in a network-centric environment, thus enabling a rapid establishment of battle space dominance while eliminating unnecessary risk to personnel and naval vessels.
The Spartan Scout ACTD is aimed at addressing joint warfighting needs in the increasingly complex and contested littoral areas of the world. In the ACTD, Spartan is specifically focused on demonstrating the military utility of modular, multimission USVs as extended sensor and weapons platforms conducting intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR)/ target acquisition; precision strike; and shallow-water undersea warfare missions in support of joint task force, battle group, amphibious and sealift operations.
The current version of the Spartan Scout used by Gettysburg is the ISR Spiral. The ISR version allows the ship’s crew to establish a Recognized Maritime Picture around the cruiser and carrier, provide force protection and possibly provide real-time surveillance around ships being boarded by Navy teams.
According to the NUWC Spartan Program Manager, Dr. Vittorio Ricci, the reports being received from the fleet on the Spartan ISR Spiral have been very positive.
“Future Spirals are planned to demonstrate warfighting capability in scenarios engaging hostile threats with gun and missile systems. Additional demonstrations will include mine warfare capabilities. Also, planning is ongoing to develop and demonstrate antisubmarine warfare capabilities,” said Ricci.
Before its deployment with the Enterprise CSG, Spartan had limited participation in several fleet exercises, including a joint task force exercise off Morehead City, N.C., and the Fleet Battle Experiment-Juliet, both in 2002.
For related news, visit the Naval Sea Systems Command Navy NewsStand page at www.news.navy.mil/local/navsea.
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