KILLER FISH: Lockheed-Martin's CHARC

Prepared to defend itself against anti-ship missiles and torpedoes, the USS Cole fell victim to a civilian craft filled with explosives. The October 2000 terrorist attack on the Cole proved one thing: Navy vessels are susceptible to small boat attacks. Now the question is: How do we remedy the situation? Lockheed-Martin's CHARC proposal may just be what the doctor ordered.





On October 12, 2000 an explosive-laden craft approached the destroyer USS Cole (DDG 67), while the Cole was docked in Yemen and taking on fuel, and detonated. The resulting explosion tore a hole in the destroyer's hull, killing 17 crewmembers and injuring 39 more, and laid up the Cole until April 19, 2002. It was a tragedy that the Navy understandably wants to avoid in the future -- and Lockheed-Martin is doing its part to insure it.

Lockheed-Martin's proposal for a deterrent to the threat of small-boat, shallow-water threats is an innovative cross between an attack helicopter and a stealth boat. The proposal has been dubbed the Covert High-speed Attack and Reconnaissance Craft (CHARC).

Once a threat is identified, however, the CHARC reveals it's hard side. Armed with a turret mounting either a 20mm rapid fire cannon or a 40mm automatic grenade launcher and four AGM-114 Hellfire missiles, the CHARC is more than a match for any small craft likely to threaten nearby naval vessels. In addition to being heavily armed, the CHARC is also very fast once a threat is detected. The CHARC rises up out of the water on high performance hydroplanes, giving it the ability to run down just about anything else on the water.


While the Navy remains undecided about the CHARC (none have been purchased, nor is the Navy contributing to its development), L-M is so confident in its capabilities that it is currently funding the entire program out of its own pocket.


[edit on 7-9-2004 by elevatedone]

Cool boat!!

Im sceptical that it will be as useful for ship defence as they think it will be though.