Technology Insertion News

There is little question that world militaries see the value of unmanned systems to complement their manned counterparts. The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan accelerated the development of unmanned aerial systems and unmanned ground systems to meet urgent operational needs. Now, there is increasing interest in unmanned surface systems, resulting in their placement on an accelerated development path.Like their air and ground counterparts, these unmanned surface systems are valued because of their ability to reduce the risk to human life in high threat areas…

Moises DelToro at GE Vernova’s Power Conversion business, discusses how deploying a Ship’s Electric Grid is a flexible way to accommodate growing energy demands for naval and coast guard vessels.A new age of electrificationWe’re in a new naval era and it is reshaping views about fleet mixes and capabilities. Modern fleets need to be mission-configurable, highly capable for military advantage, adaptable for technology insertion, but still affordable. The growing demand for vessel power is increasingly an enabler for mission systems, not just for platform propulsion.

There is little question that world militaries see the value of unmanned systems to complement their manned counterparts. The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan accelerated the development of unmanned aerial systems and unmanned ground systems to meet urgent operational needs. Now, there is increasing interest in unmanned surface systems, resulting in their placement on an accelerated development path.Like their air and ground counterparts, these unmanned surface systems are valued because of their ability to reduce the risk to human life in high threat areas…

“DDG-51 hull form is maxed out in nearly every mission area. Meanwhile, the threat marches on.”Rear Adm. Paul Schlise, director for surface warfareThe U.S. Navy’s highly successful USS Arleigh Burke (DDG 51) surface combatant program is still going strong and growing in capability. Nearly 40 years later, new ships are still being built. But, the navy said, the ship cannot support the systems of tomorrow needed to meet the future threat.“DDG 51 has been in production for over 40 years with basically the same hull we started with in 1985…

Vigor Marine has been awarded a $133,406,869 firm-fixed-price contract to prepare for and accomplish repair and alteration requirements for USS McCampbell (DDG 85) chief of naval operations scheduled depot maintenance availability. The contract includes options which, if exercised, will bring the cumulative value of this contract to $155,621,173.The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer departed Fleet Activities Yokosuka, Japan on July 2, and is currently is en route to Vigor's Portland, Ore. shipyard, where she will undergo her midlife modernization.

After a two-day delay due to tropical storm conditions, the Navy's fourth Mobile User Objective System (MUOS) satellite launched at 6:18 a.m. EDT from Space Launch Complex 41. MUOS-4, whose signal was acquired approximately three hours after launch, completes the initial operational constellation and provides near global network coverage for warfighters and combatant commanders. This array allows mobile forces, including submarines, surface ships and aircraft, to communicate around the world via the narrowband spectrum. User communities that will primarily benefit include ground forces at the individual soldier level but also include members of all services and special forces.

General Dynamics received a $20 million contract modification from the U.S. Navy to continue modernizing the AN/BYG-1 Weapons Control System (WCS) Technology Insertion and Advanced Processing Build software for U. S. Navy and Royal Australian Navy submarines. The AN/BYG-1 software analyzes and tracks submarine and surface-ship contact information, providing tactical, situational awareness for submarine crews including the capability to target and employ torpedoes and missiles. “The AN/BYG-1 software program is an exceptionally cost-effective way for the Navy to quickly update and add capabilities to submarine weapon systems,” said Carlo Zaffanella, vice president and general manager of Maritime and Strategic Systems for General Dynamics Mission Systems.

General Dynamics Electric Boat has been awarded a $117.8 million contract modification from the U.S. Navy to develop advanced submarine technologies for current and future undersea platforms. Electric Boat is a wholly owned subsidiary of General Dynamics. Under the terms of the modification, Electric Boat will perform advanced submarine research and development studies in support of a wide range of technology areas including manufacturability, maintainability, survivability, hydrodynamics, acoustics and materials. Electric Boat also will conduct research and development work in additional areas including manning, hull integrity, performance, ship control, logistics, weapons handling and safety.

General Dynamics Electric Boat recently was awarded two U.S. Navy contracts worth $56.7 million to perform submarine modernization and maintenance work and develop advanced technologies for current and future undersea platforms. Electric Boat is a wholly owned subsidiary of General Dynamics. Under the first award, worth $41.6 million, Electric Boat will continue operating the New England Maintenance Manpower Initiative at the Naval Submarine Base in Groton. The company provides a wide range of overhaul, repair and modernization services in support of submarines, floating dry docks, support and service craft and other equipment at the base. About 270 Electric Boat employees will be engaged in the work.

AMSEC, L.L.C., Virginia Beach, Va. (N65540-11-D-0022); Delphinus Engineering, Eddystone, Pa. (N65540-11-D-0020); General Dynamics Information Technology, Fairfax, Va. (N65540-11-D-0019); and NDI Engineering, Thorofare, N.J. (N65540-11-D-0021), are each being awarded indefinite-delivery/indefinite quantity, cost-plus-fixed-fee, multiple award contracts in the amount of $91,474,687 for services to support hull, mechanical, and electrical machinery and systems on Navy vessels, other federal agency vessels, federally contracted vessels and platforms, selected maritime agency vessels, and select land based sites. This contract will include prototype engineering…

Electric Boat Corp., Groton, Conn., is being awarded a $174,486,588 cost-plus-fixed-fee option under existing contract (N00024-10-C-2118) for additional lead-yard services, development studies, and design efforts related to Virginia-class submarines. The contract provides lead, lead-yard services for Virginia-class submarines that will maintain, update, and support the Virginia-class design and related drawings and data for each Virginia-class submarine, including technology insertion, throughout its construction and post-shakedown availability period. The contractor will also provide all engineering and related lead-yard services necessary for direct maintenance and support of Virginia-class ship specifications.

General Dynamics Electric Boat has been awarded a $12.5 million contract modification by the U.S. Navy to develop advanced submarine technologies for current and future undersea platforms. Electric Boat is a wholly owned subsidiary of General Dynamics. Under the terms of the modification, General Dynamics Electric Boat will perform advanced submarine research and development studies in support of a wide range of technology areas including manufacturability, maintainability, survivability, hydrodynamics, acoustics and materials. General Dynamics will conduct research and development work in additional areas including hull integrity, performance, ship control, logistics, weapons handling and safety.

General Dynamics Electric Boat has been awarded a $33.5 million contract modification by the U.S. Navy to develop advanced submarine technologies for current and future undersea platforms. Electric Boat is a wholly owned subsidiary of General Dynamics (NYSE: GD). Under the terms of the modification, Electric Boat will perform advanced submarine research and development studies in support of a wide range of technology areas including manufacturability, maintainability, survivability, hydrodynamics, acoustics and materials.

General Dynamics Electric Boat has been awarded a $7.4m contract modification by the U.S. Navy to develop advanced submarine technologies for current and future undersea platforms. Electric Boat is a wholly owned subsidiary of General Dynamics (NYSE: GD). Under this award Electric Boat will perform advanced submarine research and development studies in support of a wide range of technology areas including manufacturing, maintenance, survivability, hydrodynamics, acoustics and materials. Electric Boat also will conduct research and development work in areas such as manning, hull integrity, performance, ship control, logistics, weapons handling and safety.

DRS C3 System, Inc., Stevensville, Md., is being awarded a $7,935,427 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for research and development activities associated with integrated power system (IPS) advanced modules and IPS ship design tools. This effort supports the research and development of various alternative technologies associated with advanced power systems and development of ship design tools that support the design development of advanced IPS ship concepts and that quantifies technical risks associated with the integrated technology. DRS C3 System, Inc will develop an advanced hydrodynamics simulation tool and related ship design software and an advanced design, modeling & simulation tool for capability-based ship design that includes IPS technology.

Program Executive Office (PEO) Submarines received the 2009 Defense Enterprise Architecture Achievement Award(DEAA) June 4 during the Department of Defense's (DoD) Enterprise Architecture Conference in St. Louis, Mo. PEO Submarines was recognized for its submarine warfare federated tactical systems (SWFTS) efforts. First awarded in 2008, the DEAA is given annually by the DoD in conjunction with the Association for Enterprise Information (AFEI) to one government and one industry individual and organization for excellence and innovation in developing and deploying enterprise architecture. The award also recognizes achievements which have profound effects on the improvement of operational performance and advancing information sharing capabilities in significant ways.

General Dynamics, Electric Boat Corp., Groton, Conn., is being awarded a $267m modification to previously awarded contract N00024-05-C-2103 to exercise options for continuation of engineering efforts associated with lead construction yard for Virginia-class submarines. The contract provides Lead (Construction) Yard engineering support that will maintain, update and support the Virginia-class design and related drawings and data for each Virginia-class submarine, including technology insertion, throughout its construction and Post Shakedown Availability (PSA) period. In addition, the contract provides Virginia-class development studies and design efforts.

The Program Executive Officer for Integrated Warfare Systems (PEO IWS), Rear Adm. Tom Bush, hosted an industry day on August 7 to brief interested manufacturers and invite industry feedback on a recently released draft Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) solicitation to manufacture Navy Display Systems as well as develop and produce the Navy's next generation of displays, the Future Common Display System. The Navy's Future Common Display System will be the follow-on to the AN/UYQ-70, Advanced Display System. More than 3,200 AN/UYQ-70, Advanced Display Systems have been produced and integrated into ship, submarine, and aircraft combat systems.

GE Transportation's marine gas turbine business has launched a program to obtain American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) certification, to the Steel Vessel and the new Naval Vessel Rules, for its LM6000 aeroderivative gas turbine. GE plans to certify the LM6000 at a power level greater than 36 megawatts based on United States Navy standard day conditions (100oF). "The LM6000 has been operating for more than 10 years in diverse marine environments. In fact, LM6000s have accumulated more than 290,000 hours on floating, production, storage and off-loading vessels, and aboard commercial power barges and offshore platforms," said Karl Matson, general manager of GE Transportation's marine business, Evendale, Ohio.

Wärtsilä has decided to cooperate with MTS within the marine e-business market and has through the MTS infrastructure integrated its Spares Online service. Spares Online gives ship owners/operators full control of their parts ordering and delivery process directly in their existing purchasing system. Spares Online keeps track of all ship owners / operators installations and provides an updated view of the equipment installed in their plant. GE Transportation's marine gas turbine business has launched a program to obtain American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) certification, to the Steel Vessel and the new Naval Vessel Rules, for its LM6000 aeroderivative gas turbine. GE plans to certify the LM6000 at a power level greater than 36 MW based on U.S. Navy standard day conditions (100oF).

The U. S. Navy has awarded General Dynamics Electric Boat, a business unit of General Dynamics, a $52.5 million modification to an existing contract for Virginia- class submarine lead-yard services. Under the terms of the contract, Electric Boat will maintain, update and support the Virginia-class design and related drawings and data for each submarine, including technology insertion, throughout its construction and post-delivery maintenance period. Electric Boat will also provide all engineering and related services for maintenance and support of Virginia-class ship specifications. With the original contract awarded in September 2000, work is expected to be completed by April 2003.

DRS Technologies, Inc. has been awarded a contract to continue to design advanced propulsion steam turbines for the U.S. Navy's next-generation CVN-78 class of aircraft carriers. The $5.6 million award was received by DRS from Dresser-Rand Company in Wellsville, New York, a unit of Ingersoll-Rand Company Limited (NYSE:IR). The design effort for this contract will be performed by the company's DRS Power Technology unit in Fitchburg, Massachusetts. The main propulsion turbines to be manufactured by Dresser-Rand will be delivered to Northrop Grumman Newport News, in Newport, Virginia, by 2008. "DRS is a key supplier of power systems to the U.S.

Northrop Grumman reached its first construction milestone in the life of the new-generation aircraft carrier, CVN 21. The company cut one of the first pieces of steel, a 15-ton plate for a side shell unit of CVN 78, the first ship of the CVN 21 program. Design work on the CVN 21 is underway at Northrop Grumman's Newport News sector, with the full construction contract anticipated in 2007. Advance construction began in 2005 to allow shipbuilders to test the design-build strategy before overall construction begins in 2007. Each ship of the class is valued at approximately $8 billion. The ceremony also served as the grand opening for the shipyard's new heavy-plate bay facility, one of several new facilities built for CVN 21 construction.