The demonstration took place during the Rim of the Pacific exercise, Credit: Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Jordan Jennings/U.S. Indo-Pacific Command.

The Naval Surface Warfare Center, Port Hueneme Division (NSWC PHD), along with partners had installed the first Over-the-Horizon (OTH) Weapon System on the destroyer USS Fitzgerald (DDG 62). 

The deployment of the weapon system supported the launch of a Naval Strike Missile (NSM) from the US Navy Arleigh Burke-class destroyer in the Pacific Ocean during the Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) exercise on 18 July 2024. 

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The installation saw collaboration among Program Executive Office Integrated Warfare Systems (PEO IWS) 3H, Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division (NAWCWD) China Lake, General Dynamics Mission Systems, and Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace AS.  

The OTH system, a long-range surface-to-surface warfare system, was added to about a dozen Independence-variant littoral combat ships over the past five years. 

In late September 2023, the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations issued a challenge to PEO IWS to install an OTH on the destroyer in time for the exercise.  

This left the team with a tight nine-month deadline before the biennial international fleet exercise.  

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NSWC PHD employees took on a range of tasks, from developing ship installation drawings to obtaining cybersecurity approval and installing and testing the equipment.  

The project involved nearly 20 organisations and required accelerated efforts to secure cybersecurity accreditation known as authority to operate for the OTH software. 

NSWC PHD Port Hueneme OTH customer advocate Eric Romero said: “This was a high-visibility requirement for the Navy.” 

The OTH system was installed on USS Fitzgerald at Naval Base San Diego from mid-March to late May, with the main components being the launcher and an operator interface console.  

To ensure compatibility with the destroyer, a navigation adapter was also required. After installation, NSWC PHD trained the crew and supported system testing while underway. 

During RIMPAC in Hawaii, USS Fitzgerald participated in a sinking exercise with other ships and aircraft.  

The target was a decommissioned amphibious ship located approximately 50 nautical miles off the coast of Kauai.  

With NSWC PHD team members monitoring remotely, USS Fitzgerald launched its first NSM from the OTH, which successfully searched for, detected, and engaged the target.