Ship Self Def (Engage: Hard Kill)

Afloat Counter Unmanned Aerial Systems (C-UAS) was established to meet an urgent operational need and funds the acquisition, testing, integration, and fielding of prototype C-UAS's to provide a lower cost defense in-depth solution to negate the UAS threats. The FY 2026 budget for Afloat C-UAS (2077) included $39.407 million of discretionary and $200.000 million of mandatory funding for a total of $239.407 million. The $200.000 million mandatory funds enabled the acquisition of the prototype systems identified through the testing that occurred in FY 2024 and FY 2025. In FY 2026, the program continued developing and testing C-UAS systems to pace the evolving threat. Further information for this reconciliation request is provided in Section 20010 (Readiness) of the Reconciliation Exhibit. The FY 2027 request for C-UAS will fund fielding the systems acquired in FY 2026 and acquire systems to support two carrier strike groups consisting of four to five deploying ships and one expeditionary strike group consisting of three deploying ships in for fielding in FY 2027 and FY 2028.

The Evolved SEASPARROW Missile (ESSM) Blk 1 and Blk 2 is a NATO cooperative program, including the U.S., to defend against fast, low-altitude Anti-Ship Cruise Missiles (ASCMs). It enhances shipboard firepower by enabling four ESSMs to be launched from a single MK 41 Vertical Launch System (VLS) cell on DDG and CG. This project supports eight primary efforts: 1. ESSM Systems Integration and Test: ESSM Blk 2 is undergoing Initial Operational Test & Evaluation (IOT&E) Phase 2 and integration on platforms like CVN 79 and LHA 8. It supports AEGIS and SSDS baseline testing and flight trials, using missile simulators and flight test rounds. 2. NATO SEASPARROW Technical Direction Agent (TDA): Provides systems engineering for the MK 57 NATO SEASPARROW System, including the MK 9 Tracker and MK 29 Launcher. These analyses and studies have been completed; future submissions will not include these efforts as they have transitioned to OPN. 3. ESSM Technology Roadmap Analysis & Prototyping support: Ongoing studies seek performance and producibility improvements for ESSM Blk 2 and future variants, exploring new tech and manufacturing methods to support evolving threats. Efforts will align closely to the developing requirements of the Navy Modular Missile. 4. Other Development (Blk 2 Obsolescence and Redesign, Combat System Test Bed (CSTB) and Models: Integrates ESSM Tactical Simulations into the CSTB/ETB to assess self-defense capabilities. Includes redesign studies to address aging components and support future missile models. This line will evolve into future M&S/MBSE tools in support of the next generation missile. 5. Evolved SEASPARROW Missile (ESSM) Blk 2 Software Upgrades: Updates driven by IOT&E findings, flight tests, and system changes will enhance ESSM Blk 2 capability. This line has completed its RDTE phase and will be incorporated in OMN budget. 6. C-Band Telemetry Upgrade: To support testing with multiple simultaneous missile flights, telemetry has shifted from S-band to C-band. The analyses and studies have been completed. Future submissions will not include these efforts. C-band telemeters in production and have replaced S-band type on production line. 7. NATO SEASPARROW Tracker-Illuminator System (TIS) Development: Efforts for previous OT-234 studies and analyses have been completed.

The Rolling Airframe Missile (RAM) program is an international cooperative program with the government of the Federal Republic of Germany. The purpose of this program is to develop, test, and field a surface-to-air self-defense system consisting of both a missile and launcher. The latest fielded variant, the RAM Block 2B, defends against highly maneuverable Anti-Ship Missile (ASM) threats and emerging complex raid attacks utilizing an advanced seeker and missile-to-missile link while retaining all the proven capabilities of previous RAM variants (Block 0/1/1A/2/2A); accurate terminal guidance, proven lethality, and post-launch fire and forget capability. FY 2027 through FY 2031 efforts are as follows: Complete integration of the latest RAM Guided Missile Weapon System (GMWS) into the Ship Self-Defense System (SSDS) Baseline (BL) 12 and Aegis Combat System. This will enable the fleet to deploy the full capability of the RAM Block 2B missile which entered production in FY 2023. Continue the RAM "Performance Lab" which identifies improvements for incorporation through real-world events, trade studies, modelling and simulation, experiments, and test firings. Continue the RAM Software Factory to provide end users with rapid missile software updates to address emerging threats. Develop the Ship to Missile Uplink/Downlink (Stowed Kill Improvement Project (SKIP)). SKIP will utilize missile uplinks to provide the missile with continuous data from the combat system to improve mid-course and increase the probability of kill against complex raids. SKIP downlink will provide data back to the combat system to improve kill assessment fidelity. These system performance and efficiency improvements will be leveraged to decrease the required missiles per threat therefore increasing stowed kills per launcher.

The MK 15 MOD 40 Close in Weapon System (CIWS) RAM Defense Capability (CRDC) configuration is fielded aboard Nimitz Class Carriers (CVN). It is a fast reaction, rapid fire, computer-controlled radar system that employs the Rolling Airframe Missile (RAM) as an effector for Anti-Ship Missile (ASM) defense. The MK 15 MOD 40 CIWS (CRDC) configuration was fielded in FY 2020, limited to the RAM BLK 2 missile variant. The purpose of this project is to develop and integrate the latest RAM missile variant (BLK 2B) into the MK 15 MOD 40 baseline. The RAM Block 2B missile defends against highly maneuverable Anti-Ship Cruise Missile (ASCM) threats and emerging complex raid attacks utilizing an advanced infrared (IR) seeker and Missile-to-Missile Link (MML) while maintaining all the proven capabilities of previous RAM variants (BLK 2): accurate terminal guidance, proven lethality, and post-launch fire and forget capability. Without this effort the Nimitz class carriers will be unable to utilize the latest and most capable RAM Block 2B missile which entered production in FY 2023.

Over-The-Horizon (OTH) Missile funds competitive acquisition, testing, integrating and fielding of a modern, technologically mature Over-the-Horizon Missile Launch System (OTH-MLS) surface to surface missile capability will be installed onto commissioned and in-production Littoral Combat Ship Variants/Frigate(LCS/FFG)beginning FY 2019.