62 · MT 2/2023 From the deck maintenance. However, they require the ship to manoeuvre in order to place the payload exactly towards the desired bearing, and they can’t compensate the platform’s roll and pitch. To compensate for this, most fixed launching systems feature tubes with different firing angles, in order to to better deploy a string of decoys for specific purposes. Some of the most recent Russian warships, as Admiral Gorshkov-class frigates and Ivan Gren landing ships, are fitted with the new Prosvet-M countermeasures launching system, operating two KT-308 twelve-barrel 120mm fixed rocket launchers and eight KT-216 ten-barrel 120mm fixed mortar launchers. The first utilizes AZ-SKP-51 combined decoys (radar, optical, IR), or AZ-SMZ-51 (IR) and AZ-SA-51 (chaff). The latter launches AZ-SO-52 (laser, IR and optical) and AZ-SR-52 (chaff). Lacroix, in addition to its well-known series of ammunitions/decoys, manufactures also some fixed decoy launchers. The Sylena series include the Sylena LW for small units (two Sealir-IR, and eight Sealem-RF per launcher) and the Sylena Mk1/Mk2 for larger units (four Sealir-IR and twelve Sealem-RF, plus four optional Sealat-torpedo decoys). The last member of the family is Seamosc, a compact launcher with either six or nine ammunitions that deploy a smoke screen effective against laser and optronic sensors. An innovative lightweight solution from Rheinmetall is the modular 40mm ROSY-N (Rapid Obscuring System-Naval) to quickly deploy a multi-band smoke curtain effective against EO, IR, and laser bands, effectively hiding the hull from threats. It was designed specifically for small vessels operating in riverine and inshore areas. The system is based on up to four launchers, each with one to three magazine rows with five tubes. It can be integrated with laser warning systems and operated either fully automatically or under manual command. In facts, many naval services tend to ignore the threat of laser guided weapons, be they air-launched bombs exploiting a laser illuminator or anti-tank beam-rider missiles launched from shore or small boats. The large majority of fixed 130mm decoy launchers are variants of the same base systems, yet featuring different EW systems, number and orientation of the launching tubes, and presence of a Round Identification System. For instance, the Royal Navy operates the Outfit DLH, with Terma Soft-Kill Weapon System (SKWS) launchers. The complex includes two to eight six-barrel mortars, fitted with the Chemring 130mm SeaGnat Launching System is known as Type 726-4. These trainable, stabilized launchers come in three different configurations: 6x3 barrels (726-4), 6x4 barrels (726-4A) and the newest 8x3 barrels (726-4B). Large vessels, like the Type-055 cruisers, Type-052C/D destroyers, Type-075 LHDs and Type-071 LPDs are fitted with four launchers, totalling 72/96 ready-tolaunch decoys. Rarely, the 726-4 launchers can also deploy small depth charges, for self-defence against torpedoes and divers. Ready, Aim, Fire! On the demand side, a growing number of navies is looking for trainable decoy launchers. The UK Defence Ministry started the Maritime Electronic Warfare Program (MEWP), and a part of it, called Electronic Warfare Counter Measures (EWCM), will provide RN surface combatants with an improved soft-kill countermeasures capability. EWCM Increment-1a involves the acquisition of a trainable decoy launcher, marking a clear departure from current solution with fixed, six-barrel launchers bolted on deck. Both Chemiring’s Centurion and Cohort-SEA’s Trainable DLS were developed with one eye on such a requirement for the 130mm decoy family. Centurion is a 12-barrell trainable, variable-range launcher, coming in an unusual configuration, allowing accurate payload placement. In France, in October 2022, Safran unveiled its new NGDS-Configuration D, modifying the standard New Generation Dagaie System for its 130mm cartridges. This is a two-axis trainable twelve-round launcher, capable of operating both mortar and rocket-propelled 130 mm decoy rounds. he NGDS complex, operating twelve 150mm rockets (Configuration A), or nine 150mm rockets and twelve 80mm mortars (Configuration B) was selected by France, Canada, Singapore, South Korea, Morocco, and Egypt. It deploys the Lacroix’s Seaclad advanced decoy family, which includes Sealem (RF centroid and distraction/seduction), Sealir (InfraRed flares, working also against IIR and two-colour sensors) and Sealat (anti-torpedo). In Italy, Leonardo Electronics’ ODLS is the heir of the long-standing SCLAR and SCLAR-H family. The SCLAR-H trainable launcher includes 15 tubes for 105mm rockets and four 118mm mortars (Rheinmetall IRRAS with dual-color IR seduction/distraction, Dueras-ER with RF seduction/ distraction chaffs). The ODLS-20 has a new design and operates 20 130mm decoys, either mortar or rocket launched. It is being fitted to several Italian classes of naval vessels, such as the PPA combat patrol vessels, the last FREMM frigates, the upgraded Horizon-class destroyers, the Trieste LHD, and is being offered to the new export vessels. The ODLS-20 munitions include the combined (IR and chaff) Rheinmetall Bullfighter-D, and the new MJTE torpedo decoy. Bolted on deck Fixed decoy launchers offer some advantages, still: they are affordable, simple, compact, lightweight, easy to integrate, reliable, and need little Elbit’s Desaever Mk 4 offers 72 tubes for 115mm decoys of different types. It is available in three configurations: fixed, trainable, and stabilized. Both the Sa’ar-5 and Sa’ar-6 classes of corvettes are fitted with three Deaaever launchers, offering an impressive volume of decoys against all types of threats. (Photo: Elbit) f
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