Photo By Petty Officer 2nd Class Daniel Perez | A rolling airframe missile (RAM) launcher fires a RIM-116 missile from the...... read more read more
Subscribe
The first-in-class aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) completed a live-fire with a purpose (LFWAP) exercise of its Rolling Airframe Missile (RAM) against drone targets while underway in the Atlantic Ocean Sept. 24, 2022.
During the LFWAP, Ford fired three of her close-in weapons system (CIWS) mounts and one RAM mount, containing two RIM-116 Block 2 Missiles, designed for anti-ship and airborne threats to surface ships.
“The live-fire with a purpose event was a pivotal final test to ensure our critical self-defense weapons systems are prepared for our upcoming deployment,” said Fire Controlman (FC) 1st Class Samuel Lantinga, assigned to Ford’s combat systems department. “Our part involved a CIWS PACFIRE (Pre-Aim Calibration Firing exercise) on all three mounts, and the shooting of two Rolling Airframe Missiles at a target drone.”
Exercises like LFWAP continue to demonstrate the capabilities of the ship’s weapons systems and warfighting readiness of the watchstanders across the ship.
“Well done to the bridge navigation team that put the ship in the right place at the right time, and the combat systems department for their execution of the event,” said Capt. Paul Lanzilotta, Ford’s commanding officer. “That live fire went off just perfectly. They hit the target as intended.”
During the live-fire exercise, the Ford detected, tracked and conducted engagements of two BQM-74C Chukar recoverable, remote-controlled, subsonic aerial target that mimic some of the airborne threats a ship might see when deployed in different areas of operation throughout the world. The live fire the evolution is not fully complete until the post-firing maintenance is done, to ensure all systems are inspected, cleaned and prepared for the next event.
“We successfully engaged two BQM drones that were similar to some of the missile threats we might see on deployment,” said Lantinga. “The chance to shoot live missiles is not an opportunity that comes around very often and for some FCs it’s a once-in-a-career shot.”
The ship is currently underway prior to its inaugural deployment completing its Tailored Ship’s Training Availability (TSTA) and Final Evaluation Problem (FEP). TSTA/FEP is an in-port and underway evolution designed to evaluate unit level proficiency and develop a ship’s ability to self-train. It assesses the ship on its warfighting and damage control proficiencies by evaluating events such as General Quarters, medical emergency response, underway replenishment and daily watch standing evolutions.
For more information about the USS Gerald R. Ford, visit https://www.airlant.usff.navy.mil/cvn78/ and follow along on Facebook @USSGeraldRFord, Instagram @cvn78_grford, Twitter @Warship_78 and DVIDS https://www.dvidshub.net/unit/cvn78.
| Date Taken: | 09.24.2022 |
| Date Posted: | 09.25.2022 10:48 |
| Story ID: | 430046 |
| Location: | ATLANTIC OCEAN |
| Web Views: | 5,306 |
| Downloads: | 2 |
This work, Ford Completes Live Fire Exercise, by CPO Gary Prill, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
No keywords found.
