The interesting story here is that such a ship has little in the way of sensors but modern missiles are moving away from track-with-missile and semi-active homing and towards autonomous tracking that works on a network battle field. That LCS could be cued by an F-35 or E-2 Hawkey or another ship with a powerful radar.
That missile is very long range and versatile even if it is an expensive option against ships and ground targets. Getting it on more ships is a quick way to get more punch out to the “edge.”
Yup, which has the major advantage that the launcher need not radiate.
I don't think the fact that it's a LCS ship is relevant here--the important thing is the ability to separate the missile from it's control. A E-2 isn't going to want to get anywhere near the conflict but how about a F-22? Nice and stealthy, load it up with fuel and some Sidewinders for self defense and it calls in missile fire from elsewhere.
Well, the fact that it's LCS is relevant because LCS has been a gong show. If they can make this viable, and keep the past propulsion problems under control, then suddenly you've got 30 odd so extra hulls you can deploy to help tide you over until FFG 62s start rolling out.
The idea of it being inside a container is interesting too, given how ubiquitous they are. You could have one on a transport ship or just sitting at a dock somewhere, undetectable until it's needed.
and it has this insane workshop where the different parts of a missile are assembled below deck and then slid out through some bombproof doors to the launcher.
Today a missile ship doesn’t have all that drama and so many sailors messing with missiles, they just push a button and a door opens and the missile comes out.
That missile is very long range and versatile even if it is an expensive option against ships and ground targets. Getting it on more ships is a quick way to get more punch out to the “edge.”