![]() ![]() The RAF’s Storm Shadow has a 450kg warhead optimised for hardened bunker penetration so I-SSGW would complete a suite of UK land-attack weapons, each with its own advantages. It should be noted that TLAM is more powerful than most of the I-SSGW contenders and has a 1,000lb warhead and a range of about 900nm. Frigates able to attack inland targets offers greater flexibility and an alternative, if less stealthy, option. The RN’s land-attack capability has been used in several conflicts and is a powerful tool but may require the SSN to loiter in a suitable firing area for some time. On a good day, the RN is able to put only 2 or 3 SSNs to sea and they have a multitude of other pressing tasks. The RN’s limited stock of Tomahawk Land Attack Missiles (TLAM) can only be fired from submarines. The deterrent threat of being able to sink ships at range is the primary requirement but, recent history suggests that the need to strike targets inland will be more frequent than the need to hit ships. What level of overland navigational sophistication and robustness is required by the RN is unclear. Alternatively, a combination of inertial navigation (INS) and Global Positioning Systems (GPS) gives a basic capability but GPS may be denied by adversaries. A more passive method uses optical cameras to compare the terrain against a pre-programmed library using Digital Scene Matching Area Correlator (DSMAC) technology, first pioneered for the Tomahawk missile. Using Terrain Contour Matching (TERCOM) technology, active radar may be used which is more accurate and available in all weathers. “Terrain following” is a very loose description of how missiles may navigate over land and various levels of sophistication may be employed. This requirement also effectively eliminates the MBDA Exocet MM40 Block III and the Boeing Harpoon Block II+ from the competition due to their limited capabilities in this regard. The I-SSGW specification states it must be “a ship-launched, have over-the-horizon anti-ship capability and a terrain-following precision maritime land attack capability.” The desire for land-strike is sound and but adds another dimension to the project. As a critical bi-lateral international project, it is important to signal to the French that I-SSGW will only be a small purchase to cover a 10-year capability gap and does not mean the UK is losing interest in FCASW. (FCASW is an Anglo-French project to replace a variety of long-range missiles with new generation technology, it is unclear, as yet if it will be capable of hypersonic speeds or another subsonic stealthy cruise missile). The available budget for I-SSGW is up to £200M (excluding VAT if payable), enough to buy a modest stock of missiles, logistic and training support until the Future Cruise and Anti-Ship Weapon (FCASW) is available in 2028. ![]() HMS Montrose, based in the Persian Gulf is the only other RN warship currently equipped with the full set of 8 missiles. Curiously, only HMS Kent among the 3 Harpoon-capable escorts assigned to the 2021 carrier strike group deployment, sailed with the canisters in place. However, the RN recently invited Babcock to submit a tender to continue supporting the system until 31 March 2024 with 3 additional one-year options, potentially sustaining it until 2027. ![]() ![]() Its current official OSD is now 2023 which should dovetail with I-SSGW arrival. The semi-obsolete Harpoon Block 1C (GWS 60) anti-ship missile that still nominally equips the Type 23 frigates and Type 45 destroyers has survived several attempts to take it out of service. Here we assess the background to the procurement and the likely candidates. The announcement of the shortlisted options for the Royal Navy’s Interim Surface-to-Surface Guided Weapon (I-SSGW) competition should be made soon. ![]()
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