By Mikael Perron, 13 May 2024
I did get across the publicity from BAE system to announce their participation to this year CANSEC event. I was surprise to discover yet again a new mast configuration and a few more details for the CSC!
First, it does now feature what seem to be a fire control radar in front of the main mast. It most certainly serve together with the Leonardo 127/64 LW main gun, leaving the SPY-7 radar to track and illuminate targets for the AA missiles (Sea Ceptor, ESSM & SM2 Block IIIC). The main mast looks a lot like the previous iteration but with a distinctive upper end. This time there are what seem to be EW device on the port and starboard side of the mast.
Another details consist of the NSM launcher configuration. They are now angled forward with the exit end facing outward instead of inward. It is about time we get on with the final configuration and start building these ships! Word is out that pre-construction module construction is to start within a few month and the full implementation is to be by year ends or beginning of the next one. Not soon enough!
9 thoughts on “Updated CSC graphics again!”
Hello Mikael. Yes, you are correct. “Another” iteration of the CSC Frigate from Lockheed Martin & BAE, although this one seems to “fill in” the large hole at the top and it does look more “credible” than the last one. It seems LM is keeping us all guessing until the design is completed. Cannot imagine why BAE would have the NSMs “angled” unless these NSMs are “trainable” like the BAE NSMs on their proposed 64 missile enlargement for the Hunter class?
The Spring 2024 edition of the Maritime Engineering Journal also showcases the model above with a slightly better view, alongside one of the most extensive explanations of what systems are integrated at this point in time. I recommend anybody who is interested to take a look for themselves.
https://www.canada.ca/content/dam/dnd-mdn/documents/mej/43-150-maritime-engineering-journal-107.pdf
I will list the interesting changes/additional capabilities below:
AN/SLQ-32(V)6 Block II ESM – Nicknamed “Slick-32”, this is a proven and very capable electronic support measures system utilized on many of the newer Arleigh Burke class destroyers of the US Navy. If I am not mistaken, this is one of the first times that this sensitive technology has been exported for use in another country. The system utilizes radar warning receivers and active jamming in concert with the other types of decoys and electronic countermeasure systems to help defend the ship from incoming threats.
Tomahawk Missile – Tomahawk land attack missile is mentioned again for the first time in a few years, it had been replaced by the vague title of “Naval Fire Support Missile” on recent fact sheets. The missiles Canada might eventually purchase will likely be Block V, the sub-type will depend on what exactly the RCN views as its primary potential targets.
Nulka Decoy System – Another proven and very effective decoy system out of Australia, this is a rocket powered hovering decoy which is fired from vessels in order to lure anti-ship missiles away. These were previously fitted to the Iroquois class destroyers but were retired from RCN service with those ships.
Leonardo Lionfish 30mm – This new gun system from Leonardo likely comes as a package deal with the 127mm gun, being more modern and suited to upcoming threats than the previously listed Marlin-WS 30mm. The new “X-Gun” has additional fire rate settings and better designed to tackle aerial and sea based unmanned threats. Improved standard ammunition (can still use NATO standard), a larger ready reserve of ammunition on the mount, increased mechanical reliability, easier maintenance with a stealthy enclosure around everything.
NA-30S MK-2 Fire Control System – Modern weapon control system from Leonardo to aim the 127mm gun. Dual band system with low observability antenna, X-band for search & acquisition and Ka-band for closer range DART guided ammunition targeting against low altitude threats. Low overall footprint, very modern and seemingly quite capable. Features TV cameras, IR cameras and lasers on mount for targeting.
Most interesting reading! Thanks for sharing it on the forum.
More on the 30mm X-Gun here. The article mentions that two customers for the newfangled piece have emerged, both navies: the Marina Militare and the RCN.
https://www.edrmagazine.eu/leonardo-details-its-30-mm-x-gun-and-announces-first-two-customers
“Main mast” refers to vessels with more than one. In this case, “mast” is the correct term. As for fire control radar, are you referring to the X-Band surface search antenna for navigation?
Hello David. You can clearly see the Leonardo NA-30S MK-2 Fire Control Radar System for the 5″ 127mm Leonardo Vulcan Gun in front of the CSC “Mast”. This is a new FCS from Leonardo specifically for their 127mm Vulcan gun. This radar will be integrated into the CSC Aegis (CS) utilizing the Canadian Tactical Interface (CTI) module for the integration. Cheers!
True enough, ‘integrated mast’ would be even better. Since English is not my first language, I will make it an opportunity to improve my written English skills. For the fire control radar, I am referring to the NA-30S MK-2 Fire Control System, behind and above the navigation radar. We now know the model thanks to the information provided by Jimmy.
Interesting Mikael. How would you integrate this Leonardo FCS into the CSC mast, and why would you?
Hello David. That is not what I meant. I was only answering David’s comment about ‘Mast’ vs ‘main Mast’. I was saying that we could also call it an ‘integrated mast’. As for the fire control radar, I was also answering David confirming that I was pointing to the NA-30S MK-2 Fire Control System and not to the navigation radar that could be already seen on earlier graphics. Like you said, this iteration is ‘credible’ and is hopefully the final one. Cheers.