Diamondcutters

The VS-30 Diamondcutters returned to their home base at NAS Jacksonville, Florida in December after completing a sixmonth Mediterranean/Arabian Gulf deployment with CVW-17 aboard USS Eisenhower. During the cruise, VS-30 focused tactical efforts on several weapon systems relatively new to the Sea Control community. These included the AGM-65F Maverick missile and the AWW-13 Data Link Pod. The Pod can be used to control data link weapons such as the AGM-84E Standoff Land Attack Missile (SLAM) and the AGM-62 Walleye.

The Maverick is a rocket assisted, air-to-ground, infrared missile, normally deployed from medium ranges, high altitudes, and high speeds. The F/A-1 8s have traditionally carried Maverick, but due to some disparity between the capabilities of the S-3B and the Hornet, new tactics needed to be developed. After several months of testing, the Diamondcutters produced several sound methods of employing Maverick with emphasis on remaining outside the target's defensive capabilities.

One of the most effective is "Radarto-FLIR-to-Maverick handoff." The Viking can acquire a surface vessel at long ranges with its powerful ISAR radar. At medium ranges, the S-3B uses its FLIR, which displays video of the target and provides positive identification. Finally, as the aircraft approaches the acquisition range of the missile, the crew performs the FLIRto-Maverick handoff which then slues the missile's seeker head onto the target for "lock-on." Once lock-on is achieved, the pilot ensures the aircraft remains in the missile launch envelope until weapon release. This technique requires considerable coordination but S-3 crews have acquired considerable coordination experience through their years of USW and ASUW operations.

Although SLAM and Walleye are not carried by the Viking, the aircraft is now capable of targeting and guiding both of them through the AWW-13 Data Link Pod. The Pod is carried on a wing station and uses the same avionics package included in the Maverick upgrade, providing a twoway link between the S-3B and the missile, normally carried by an F/A18. This link enables the controller to guide the weapon from target acquisition to impact from a location well outside the threat envelope. With the S-3B assuming the guidance and control responsibilities, strike aircraft are now free to carry larger payloads and, more importantly, can remain head-up out of the cockpit while in the threat envelope. Additionally, the Viking's multi-person crew enables it to use all of its sensors to enhance the overall tactical picture for the strike package.

During the cruise, VS-30 honed its skills with these new weapon systems. The Diamondcutters achieved their primary objective of developing and implementing a training syllabus on Maverick and attained a 100% qualification rate among crewmembers. Combat checklists were created to accompany the tactics that were perfected for Maverick. In order to complete tests on the Walleye, VS-30 was assisted by F/A-1 8s from the VFA-81 Sunliners. Along with VFA81, VS-30 completed several successful cooperative control exercises. These missions were the first entailing control of a Walleye by an S-3B and demonstrated yet another option for the S-3B to contribute to both the War-at-Sea and overland strike capabilities of today's carrier battlegroup.

In the ever evolving world of Naval Aviation, the S-3B Viking continues to adapt to a changing enemy threat by incorporating new weapons and technology. The Viking has been a premier USW platform and, for the last 10 years, an even more effective ASUW asset.

VS-30 has been awarded its third COMSIXFLT "Hook-Em" award and has been selected for its third CAPT Arnold J. Isbell award for Undersea Warfare excellence.

Copyright Association of Naval Aviation Spring 1999
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