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U.S. Navy Seeks $177.7 Million for At-Sea Rearming Demonstration on Montford Point Ship
The U.S. Navy's Fiscal Year 2027 budget request includes $177.7 million to fund a demonstration of at-sea reloading for vertical launch systems on the USNS Montford Point. This initiative aims to enhance rearming capabilities for cruisers and destroyers without returning to port. The effort builds on prior tests and addresses operational challenges in contested environments.
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U.S. 7 million in its Fiscal Year 2027 budget for shipboard crane and cargo systems, with part of the funding allocated to complete a demonstration of At-Sea Reload of Vertical Launch System capability on the USNS Montford Point, designated ESD-1. The budget, released last month, also supports ongoing investigations into shipboard crane and cargo improvements, including T-AKE Expeditionary Reload and MK 41 Strike Up/Strike Down System.
U.S. Navy budget documents cited by @TheWarZoneWire. The funding will initiate improvements for Naval Strike Missile and MK 48 torpedo reloading systems, as well as start a Mobile Supply Platform demonstration effort.
In the current fiscal year, the Navy plans to continue demonstrating vertical launch system rearming and transfer capabilities, including initiating design and fabrication for the ASRV demonstration on ESD-1. The ASRV capability is described as a cost-effective solution for rearming vertical launch systems at sea, fully compatible with all cruiser-destroyer vessels and allied or partner Mk41-equipped ships.
CRUDES refers to the Navy’s Ticonderoga class cruisers and Arleigh Burke class destroyers.
The Transferrable Reload At-sea Method has been tested with Lewis and Clark class ships, including a 2024 demonstration where Navy personnel aboard the Ticonderoga class cruiser USS Chosin loaded a missile canister into a Mk 41 Vertical Launch System cell.
The Lewis and Clark class cargo ship USNS Washington Chambers participated in that 2024 TRAM test, as reported by @TheWarZoneWire. The Montford Point class ships, acquired by the Navy between 2013 and 2014, feature 25,000 square feet of open main deck area and are derived from the Alaska class oil tanker design.
