The US Navy’s eighth Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Harry S Truman (CVN 75) has set sail from Naval Station Norfolk, Portsmouth, Virginia, to undergo combat systems ship qualification trials (CSSQT).
During the operational tests, the aircraft carrier will demonstrate its close-in weapons system (CIWS), rolling airframe missile (RAM) and Nato Sea Sparrow missile system (NSSMS) capabilities.
Fire controlman 3rd class Ronda Johnson, one of four CIWS technicians aboard Truman, said that the USS Harry S Truman would also conduct a surface engagement drill where a remote controlled high-speed moving surface target (HSMST) will be used.
During the towed drone unit (TDU) drill, the unmanned unit was pulled along by the aircraft served as a target for the CIWS to track and fire, demonstrating its ability to strike airborne targets.
Fire controlman 2nd class Michael Desantis, NSSMS work centre supervisor for combat systems department’s CS-7 division, added: "One missile will be fired at a drone controlled from shore.
"Our goal during the test will be to get the unarmed missile as close to the drone as possible without hitting it."
USS Harry S Truman will also test self defence systems (SSDS), which consists of all onboard weapons systems, to ensure SSDSs ability to defend the ship while combating against potential missile threats and attacks from small, high-speed craft.
CS-7’s division office chief warrant officer 2 Eric Stolen said: "At a rate of fire between 45 and 100 rounds per second, the CIWS is more than capable of shredding anything that poses a threat to us.
"With the NSSMS, RAM and CIWS systems, we have layers of protection against any threat."
The aircraft carrier’s NSSMS and RAM are scheduled to undergo testing later this month.
Image: US Navy’s Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Harry S Truman (CVN 75). Photo: US Navy photo by photographer’s mate 1st class Michael W Pendergrass.
