AHWCS

Question 1

What is the purpose of AHWCS?

Answer 1

The purpose of the advanced harpoon weapon control system (AHWCS) is to provide HMCS MONTREAL with a long-range, over-the-horizon, fire-and-forget weapon system capable of engaging surface threats.

Question 2

What is the HCP?

Answer 2

The Harpoon Control Processor cabinet, or HCP cabinet, is located in FCER 3 and houses the Anti-Condensation Heater/Storage (ACHS) Panel Assembly, the Power Control Panel (PCP), an HCP Laptop Computer, a Versa Module-Europa (VME) Assembly, and an uninterrupted power supply (UPS). In addition, the HCP generates the targeting and firing solution to control the missile flight path and launch. The HCP also provides an alternate operator interface for the AHWCS.

Question 3

What is the ACHS?

Answer 3

The Anti-Condensation Heater/Storage (ACHS) Panel Assembly drawer contains circuitry that provides status indication and control of the four anti-condensation heaters inside the HCP. It activates the heaters when the internal temperature is below 35 degrees Celsius. It also contains a storage space for extra cables.

Question 4

What is the Power Control Panel (PCP)?

Answer 4

The PCP contains a HPLEP and CMS AHWCS adapter. The adapter interfaces with both core switches. This panel is a remote access to the software running on the HCP from the SWC/ASWC MFW. Additionally, the PCP contains the interface with eCGF which contains the AHWCS server. Lastly, it contains a Master Heater unit controlled by the HCP master power switch.

Question 5

What is the HCP Laptop Computer?

Answer 5

There is a drawer-mounted laptop computer that provides a user with an alternate AHWCS HMI. An operator, using an engagement planning window, is able to input coordinates of the target as well as the ship’s coordinates, choose Harpoon settings, and fire the missile. The laptop is also used for maintenance purposes.

Question 6

What is the VME Assembly?

Answer 6

The Versa Module-Europa (VME) Assembly is a computer bus which interfaces between HCP and components connected to it. It has an RS-422 serial interface which converts data received by HCP into the digital data HCP can use for generating the fire control solution.

Question 7

What is the UPS?

Answer 7

The UPS output is used to operate the +28VDC power supply, laptop computer, VME card assembly, and fan motors. It can supply the HCP with 30 minutes of stable power to allow for the completion of any in-progress launch and allow for graceful shutdown.

Question 8

What is the HPLEP interface?

Answer 8

Harpoon power launch enable panels. There are 3 HPLEP interfaces. One in the HCP, and two in the Ops Room. One near the SWC’s console, and the other near the ASWC’s console. The HPLEP provides the operator with the capability to apply power to the AHWCS, provide launch enable control, and monitor system status. Each HPLEP has a crypto key receptacle for the purpose of loading crypto onto the missiles.

Question 9

What is the AHWCS/eCGF Server?

Answer 9

The CMS AHWCS Adapter works in parallel with the AHWCS/Export CGF Server to automatically update the AHWCS Panel and input mission-specific telemetry. Through the AHWCS Adapter and Export CGF Server, CMS feeds AHWCS information not only on the target but on friendly units as well. The RT Processor uses friendly unit information to route the missile around friendly units and to modify the search pattern IOT minimize the possibility of the missile inadvertently acquiring a friendly unit vice the intended target.

Question 10

What are the weapons interface units?

Answer 10

The WIU provides the means for the HCP to prepare and launch Harpoon missiles. When commanded by the HCP, the WIU applies and controls power to the Harpoon missiles. The WIU passes missile orders from the HCP to the harpoon missiles and routes missile status data from the harpoon missile to the HCP. There are two WIUs onboard HMCS Montreal. The WIU for the STBD launcher is located in FCER 2 on the forward bulkhead, and the WIU for the PORT launcher is on the aft bulkhead of the stores office.

Question 11

What is the Canister Missile Launcher Group?

Answer 11

The CML group contains all of the upper deck components. This includes the cable transition box (CTB), the launch support system (LSS), the canister clamp frame assemblies (CCFAs), and the canisters themselves.

Question 12

What is the Launch Support Structure (LSS)?

Answer 12

The LSS is essentially the structure that holds the missiles on the deck. It is a welded, tubular framed structure which is bolted by four mounting pads to the deck of the ship. They are designed to orient the missile 35 degrees in elevation relative to the horizontal inboard

Question 13

What is the Cable Transition Box (CTB)?

Answer 13

The CBTs are watertight, weather-sealed junction boxes mounted to the underside of the LSS. There are two CTBs onboard. Each one is located on their respective LSS. There are eight connectors for eight cables to the WIU, eight connectors on eight cables for canisters, one connection for control, and one for ignition.

Question 14

What are the CCFAs?

Answer 14

Canister Clamp Frame Assemblies. Six un-mounted clamp frame sections are furnished with each CML and two additional clamp frame assemblies are aligned and mounted to the LSS. The clamp frame assemblies are used to clamp the forward end of each missile/canister. This clamping holds the canister in rigid contact with the LSS. Clamp frames are made in half sections. Two lower half sections are permanently bolted to the LSS. Bolts on each side of the lower half sections clamp them together with the upper half sections. Clamping prevents whipping in rough seas and the canister distortion that whipping can cause.

Question 15

What are the canisters?

Answer 15

The canister body is a hollow metal cylinder approximately 5m long and 0.5m in diameter. Each Harpoon missile canister is equipped with an internal leak indicator. It looks like a plug and is located on the lower portion of each canister.

Question 16

What is the Harpoon Missile Simulator (HMS)?

Answer 16

The HMS has the capability to provide an electrical/electronic substitute for a Harpoon missile. The HMS provides the necessary Harpoon missile loads and signal sources which interface between a Harpoon missile and the AHWCS. The HMS also monitors the missile firing circuits for stray voltage prior to connecting the umbilical cable to the missile. The HMS receives missile orders through the launcher control panel and launcher/ship cabling. Some of these orders, such as data and discrete functions, initiate the automatic missile status responses from the HMS back to the HCP.

Question 17

What is the Harpoon Block 2 RGM-84L Missile?

Answer 17

The missile itself is split into 5 sections: Booster, Control, Sustainer, Warhead, and Guidance. The R designation means it is designed to be launched from a surface ship, the G that it is surface attack, and the M that it is guided missile. The 84L designation is simply the 84th missile design. It has a range of 80 nmi, and each missile is housed in its canister for a maximum capacity of 8 missiles.

Question 18

What is the Booster Section?

Answer 18

The booster section contains four fixed booster fins, and a solid-fuel rocket booster. It is armed by energizing a solenoid, which is done on receipt of the Intent to Fire (ITL) signal. Shear bolts inside the canister hold the missile in place until sufficient thrust is generated. The booster provides 12000 lbs of thrust for 2.9 seconds, at which point it burns out and separates from the missile at approx 2100 yds from the ship.

Question 19

What is the control section?

Answer 19

The control section consists of controllers and actuators for the four control fins which are used to maneuver the missile. Each fin is capable of moving +/- 30 degrees. The tail fins are in a cruciform arrangement (evenly at 90 deg apart).

Question 20

What is the sustainer section?

Answer 20

The sustainer is a Teledyne CAE-J402 Turbojet, which provides thrust to keep the missile in flight during midcourse and terminal phases. A lightweight turbojet engine is hard-started in flight with two solid propellant charges, and then supplied from a 58L, baffled JP10 fuel tank. The engine is designed to maintain the missile at about 550 knots for approximately 9 minutes for an approximate range of 83nmi.

The sustainer section also contains two batteries that provide electrical power for the missile in free flight. The batteries each produce 28 VDC and have a life of 10 minutes.

Question 21

What is the warhead section?

Answer 21

The warhead section contains the explosive and a safe-arm/contact fuse, which ensures that the warhead is in a safe condition until the missile has been intentionally launched and is at a safe distance from the ship. The warhead consists of 215 kg of Desensitized Tritonal Explosive (80% TNT and 20% aluminum powder). The addition of the aluminum increases the burn temperature, which increases detonation velocity. There are also anti-ricochet sabots on the forward end of the warhead. These serve to concentrate the force onto a smaller area should the warhead impact on an angle.

Question 22

What is the Guidance section?

Answer 22

The purpose of the guidance section is to form the harpoon missile nose and house the guidance and flight control systems. Cruise guidance is provided by the onboard INS which makes use of GPS positional updates. This effectively eliminates the cumulative error incurred by INS over time/distance. The guidance computer uses INS combined with GPS data, additionally combined with altitude determined by a continuous wave C-Band radar (900MHz). GPS data is provided by GPS satellites and is made available by loading crypto onto the HPLEP, and subsequently passing the crypto through the HCP and WIU. Terminal phase guidance is achieved with a J-band active monopulse radar. The missile has a search range of 0.2-13nmi

Question 23

What are the AHWCS modes of operation?

Answer 23

Tactical, Training, Test, and Maintenance

Question 24

What is the tactical mode of operation for AHWCS?

Answer 24

In tactical mode, AHWCS runs BITs, accepts track information, enables target designation, accepts engagement planning data, generates a fire control solution for each selected missile, applies missile power, initializes the missile after selection, and supplies the firing interlock inputs and ITL signals for firing live missiles.

Question 25

What is the training mode for AHWCS?

Answer 25

In Training Mode, the AHWCS supports stand-alone Harpoon training via HMS and Export CGF. AHWCS can accept simulated targeting and navigation scenarios and simulated platform systems data, as well as enable an operator to plan engagements and launch software-simulated missiles as if in a tactical situation.  This mode cannot be engaged if the Launch Enable Key is in the ON position.

Question 26

What is Test mode in AHWCS?

Answer 26

The AHWCS provides a test mode with the capability to perform Missile BITs, set and update missile inventory, and conduct End-to-End testing.

Question 27

What is the Maintenance Mode of operation for AHWCS?

Answer 27

This mode enables an operator or maintainer to conduct general AHWCS BITs and to access and print electronic technical manuals for operating and troubleshooting procedures. This mode is only accessible from the HCP drawer-mounted laptop

Question 28

What are the missile’s modes of operation?

Answer 28

Simultaneous Time on Target (STOT), Designated Time on Target (DTOT), Ripple Fire, and Waypoints

Question 29

What is the functional description for the launch sequence -> hitting the target?

Answer 29

An operator uploads the commands and coordinates into AHWCS HCI and confirms them. They also select which missiles will be fired at the target. When ready, the operator initiates the missile launch command, the HCP instructs the WIU to perform Intent-to-Launch and Bolt/Booster fire sequence actions. BITs are also performed at this stage. When the ITL signal is applied to the missile, the missile battery squib’s fire and the control actuator motors are brought up to speed. The ITL signal also causes the booster to arm and the ring device to drive to the armed position. A BOOSTER ARMED signal is generated and sent to the WIU. Conversely, the BOOSTER SAFE signal is removed. At this point, all of the missiles selected to fire are ready and the MISSILE LAUNCH ENABLE light on the HPLEP is lit. When the SWC is ready to fire, they will in-veto the missiles at the weapons veto panel and select FIRE. Once the fire command is sent to the missiles, the bolt fire voltage fires the missile restraint squibs. These squibs fire the explosive bolts and remove the missile restraints. The booster fire voltage is applied to the booster squibs which ignite the booster. The booster ignites, and the Harpoon missile clears the canister. The booster phase begins with the ignition of the solid rocket booster, and terminates when the booster separates. The launch phase brings the missile to a distance of 2100 yards away from the ship. The cruise phase begins with the booster separation and start of the turbojet engine. The missile performs a search flight, then target lock-on. The missile performs a pre-search skim, followed by a pop-up for target acquisition, which activates the missile’s active radar seeker. Upon acquisition, the missile returns to sea-skimming altitude. It then enters terminal phase. Just prior to target engagement, the missile does either low apogee over the target, or skims towards the target. If no selection was made prior to the missile launch, the low apogee attack pattern will be initiated by default. When the missile contacts the target, there is a delay imposed on the explosive train to ensure penetration prior to detonation. If the Harpoon missile missed the target, it will re-engage the target. However, this will only happen if the operator selected the re-attack option prior to the missile launch.

Question 30

How does AHWCS interface with CMS?

Answer 30

AHWCS interfaces with both CMS Fiber Edge Switched in CCER 1 and CCER 3 and is integrated in CMS. This integration allows firing Harpoon on a track passed from allied units by the Multilink system. CMS also integrates with AHWCS for training through the shipboard embedded training program (SETT). It also serves the purpose of uploading ship’s heading and altitude data into HCP to calculate the fire control solution and GPS data for in-flight use.

Question 31

How does AHWCS interface with NDDS?

Answer 31

The coarse and fine ship’s heading, roll, pitch and speed synchro data are routed from the Main A and B cabinets of the NDDS to the HCP through a Remote Isolation Cutoff Switch (RICS) in FCER 3. In the HCP, this synchro data is routed to the VME assembly and applied to the synchro converter circuit card. The synchro converter circuit card converts the synchro data to digital data for use in the fire control solution. This data is also used for tactical display information and missile initialization.

Question 32

How does AHWCS interface with the WVP?

Answer 32

Two VETO signals can be routed to the HCP. If either one of these two signals is applied, it will inhibit the Harpoon missile launch. Launch is inhibited until the signal is removed.

Question 33

How does AHWCS interface with GPS?

Answer 33

The GPS data from Trimble is routed from the ship’s Aux A cabinet in the CCER 3 directly to the HCP via LAN 1 and 2 switches. In the HCP, the GPS data is routed to the VME assembly and applied to the interface circuit card which converts the data and routes it to the real-time processor for use. The AHWCS stores and uses the latest GPS data elements it has received.

Question 34

How does AHWCS interface with crypto?

Answer 34

The cryptographic key is loaded into AHWCS from a Cryptographic Fill Device (CFD), via DS102 port on any of the HPLEPs. In the HPLEP, the data is routed through a Cryptographic Key Interface Unit (CKIU).  The CKIU converts the cryptographic key data to a format acceptable by HCP and routes the data to the HCP. In the HCP, the data is routed to the VME assembly and applied to the serial interface card. Both the CKIU and the serial port will buffer only 8-bit segments of the key.  The entire cryptographic key data is stored in Dynamic Random-Access Memory (DRAM) on the real-time processor circuit card.  When an RGM-84L missile is powered up, the cryptographic key data is transferred from the DRAM to the missile via the WIU as part of the serial data stream.

Question 35

How does AHWCS interface with EPG&D?

Answer 35

1. The 115VAC, 60 Hz, 1 phase power is supplied to the Harpoon Central Processor (HCP), where is gets routed to the UPS then back to the HCP and all other components of HCP cabinet 2. The 115VAC, 400 Hz, 3 phase Wye power provided to each WIU provides the Harpoon missile with the primary external source of power for the selected Harpoon missile(s) for the restraint release and booster ignition power; and, 3. The 115VAC, 400 Hz, 3 phase Delta power provided to each WIU provides the primary source power for the Harpoon Midcourse Guidance Unit (MGU)/Seeker heaters and batteries.

Question 36

What are the redundant factors for AHWCS?

Answer 36

- Multiple sources of navigational data being supplied to HCP via RICS and CMS - AHWCS is connected to both fiber switches for CMS - There are multiple MFWs and three HPLEPs, which provide a capability to assign targets at any HMI in the Ops room with the appropriate credentials and fire from any single HPLEP

Question 37

What are some survivability factors for AHWCS?

Answer 37

- Geospatial separation of WIUs, HPLEPs, and SFCs - WIU and HCP cabinet are shock mounted and ruggedized.

Question 38

When is AHWCS considered electrically safe?

Answer 38

IAW NAVORD 4995-0 Safety Firing Orders, the ORO selects HARPOON VETO at the Ops Room Veto Panel

Question 39

When is AHWCS considered mechanically safe?

Answer 39

IAW NAVORD 4995-0 Safety Firing Orders, the WIU is powered OFF with Launch Enable Keys controlled IAW NAVORD 3136-4. The WIU can be powered off at the WIU or at the breakers themselves.

Question 40

What are the keys for AHWCS?

Answer 40

SWC-LE, ASWC-LE, HCP_LE (HPLEP, Firing Keys), HCP Enclosure Key (Maintenance)

Question 41

What are the HAZMAT considerations for AHWCS?

Answer 41

The sustainer uses JP10, which is a highly flammable liquid fuel. In the event of a spill, proper HAZMAT procedures are to be followed in accordance with JP10 MSDS.

Question 42

What is a hangfire?

Answer 42

A hangfire is the spontaneous ignition of a misfire missile. In a hangfire, there is an undesired delay in the firing of the booster after the firing key has been closed. A misfire is the same as a dud- it’s the result of an ignition failure after the missile has received the ITL signal. The minimum waiting time to rule out a hangfire after a misfire is 60 mins, and SS are to remain clear of the CML area for a minimum of 150 mins to allow the batteries to decay.

Question 43

What is a restrained fire?

Answer 43

A restrained fire can occur if the boost phase begins, but there is a missile restraint squib or explosive bolt failure. This results in a very hazardous situation, where the booster ignites, but the missile is still restrained in the canister. This can cause massive damage to the deck and can potentially cause a fire on a lower deck.

Question 44

What is the initial arming criteria? (Safe and arming device)?

Answer 44

- Pilot tube senses airflow (225+ knots) - Inlet airflow sensor sense airflow - Continuous and sustained acceleration - ITL signal received

Question 45

What is the final arming criteria (detonation of the warhead)?

Answer 45

- Continuous and sustained deceleration - 2/3 crush sensors are crushed - Sensor head experiences on target criteria

Question 46

What are the tests?

Answer 46

- BITs: While in Test mode, BITs can be conducted via HCP once missiles are secured to the CML. They are conducted to ensure the missile is functional - HMS: Harpoon Missile Simulator. Allows for the simulation of Harpoon missile launches. When used with SETT, allows for a full missile simulation.

Question 47

What are the trials?

Answer 47

Physical Inspections - The purpose of this trial is to assess the physical condition of the AHWCS by a visual inspection of its electrical, electronic, and mechanical systems as well as publication verification Functional Trial - The purpose of this trial is to identify the condition of AHWCS through functional testing of the subsystems. It consists of start-up procedures, HMS BIT, System Operability Test at CML using HMS, Own Ship Navigation Data test, Crypto Load Verification tests, AHWCS BIT, and system shut-down. Operation Trial - The purpose of this trial is to assess the overall operation of AHWCS when under CMS control. It consists of a simulated AHWCS firing with CMS, and checks the HPLEP, HCI, WVP, CTS capability, and crypto loading.