Lawmakers want an accounting of Defense Department plans for cross-domain, cross-service strike concepts - particularly the use of ground-based systems launched from sea-based platforms - such as the "game-changing" demonstration the Pentagon disclosed earlier this month of a Standard Missile-6 fired from a large unmanned surface vessel. The Senate Armed Services Committee, in a report accompanying its version of the fiscal year 2022 defense policy bill, directs DOD to brief Congress - no later than April 1, 2022 - on all demonstrations of ground-based systems fired from sea platforms between January 2018 and April 1, 2022. In addition, lawmakers want an update on future plans for similar experiments. "Ground-based systems of interest include, but are not limited to: the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System, Multiple Launch Rocket System, Autonomous Missile Launcher, Medium Range Capability, Precision Strike Missile, Maritime Strike Tomahawk/Tactical Tomahawk, counter-unmanned aircraft systems, and Standard Missile-6," the report states. The sea-based systems, according to the report language, include "L-class amphibious ships, Expeditionary Fast Transports, Expeditionary Transfer Dock/Expeditionary Sea Base, Combat Logistics Force ships, commercial fishing vessels, and barges."
展开▼
