MK 36 Gun Fire Control System (GFCS
The MK 34 Gun Fire Control System (GFCS) is an integral part of the Aegis combat weapon system on DDG-51 class ships. It is used to engage surface, air and shore targets. MK 34 GFCS can maintain a track file on up to four Surface Direct Fire (SDF) or Antiair (AA) targets assigned by Command and Decision (C&D), and a maximum of 10 NGFS
targets entered at the Gun Console (GC).
When a specific assigned target is designated for engagement,
the Gun Computer System (GCS) MK 160 Mod 4 computes
two fire control solutions (primary and secondary) depending on
the type of projectile to be fired. Gun orders based on the
selected projectile's solution are sent to the gun mount. (Only
one target can be engaged at a time.)
The Gun Computer System (GCS) MK 160 Mod 4 accepts
target data from the Aegis combat weapon system target sensors
(i.e., AN/SPY-1D and AN/SPS-67 radars), and/or
operator-entered data for indirect targets. Based on this target
data, together with the ship's attitude and clock data, the GCS
computes ballistic solutions and gun orders for the mount.
The Naval Gunfire Support [NGFS] mode is used to engage indirect
targets that cannot be tracked directly by own-ship sensors.
The Surface Direct Fire [SDF] mode is used to engage surface targets
being tracked by the SPY-1D, SPS-67 or Optical Sight (OS) MK 46.
Targets are assigned by C&D and control of the gun engagement under
normal conditions is at the Gun Console (GC). Casualty configurations allow
control of the gun mount from GMP in the SDC/GMP OS mode or from
either the GMCP or EP2 if the OS is not operational. The gun console
operator monitors the target position and the ballistic solution processing,
presses the firing key to commence fire, and evaluates the target engagement.
Sources and Resources
http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/ship/weaps/mk-36-gfcs.htm
Maintained by Robert Sherman
Originally created by John Pike
Updated Saturday, December 12, 1998 7:17:49 AM