Platform Systems News

As part of the OPV (Offshore Patrol Vessel) acquisition program of the Italian Navy (MM), Orizzonte Sistemi Navali (OSN), the joint venture owned by Fincantieri and Leonardo with stakes of 51% and 49% respectively, signed with the Directorate of Naval Armaments of the General Secretariat of Defence/DNA, the contract for the construction of three new generation patrol boats, with an option for three more.The value of the contract for the first three boats is $1B, including the related logistic support services. When completed the 2,300-ton vessels will measure 95m long and accommodate 97 crew.

GE’s Marine Solutions signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with RJE Global, Morphettville, South Australia, whereby RJE will assemble GE LM2500 gas turbine modules and manufacture a number of components for this engine in support of the Royal Australian Navy’s new SEA 5000 frigate program. The MOU was signed by both companies recently at RJE’s facility in Adelaide. The nine-ship SEA 5000 Future Frigate Program will replace the aging Anzac class frigates. GE’s LM2500 gas turbines are operational on two of the short-listed qualified ship designs -- Fincantieri’s FREMM and Navantia’s F100.

Many navy new building projects face a double challenge; the variety and complexity of operations are increasing, while at the same time, a reduction in manning is a prerequisite in order to lower building and operational costs. Therefore, it is important to identify the required number and type of crew and the supporting systems in the concept phase. For a long time the use of weapons and platform systems have relied on a high degree of integrated, multi-sensor data processing and decision support systems.

Today marks a significant milestone for the first Air Warfare Destroyer, Hobart, as the next phase of sea trials commence in Adelaide. Hobart will sail into waters off the coast of South Australia to undertake testing of combat, communications and additional platform systems. Minister for Defence Industry, The Hon Christopher Pyne said this set of trials, known as sea acceptance trials; represent the beginnings of the formal ship acceptance process in the lead up to delivery later this year. “These trials are conducted to prove that systems can perform the expected functions they were designed for, in the environment in which they’ll be required to function,” Minister Pyne said.

GE Marine reports that its LM2500 gas turbines now power the Royal Australian Navy’s HMAS Adelaide which was commissioned in late 2015. Alongside sister HMAS Canberra, these 230-meter-long Landing Helicopter Dock (LHD) ships are the largest vessels ever built for the RAN. According to the RAN, HMAS Adelaide was designed with the shallowest possible draft and can deploy an embarked force of more than 1,000 personnel and their equipment, landing ashore via landing craft or helicopters.

Thank you for being here on this very important day. Today, is a significant milestone for the Air Warfare Destroyer Project, marking a big step forward towards the delivery of three highly capable warships to the Royal Australian Navy. The launch of Hobart clears the way for progress on all three destroyers. The AWD Alliance can now focus on ship completion and system commissioning for Hobart, which will be followed by sea trials next year. And with Hobart in the water, the second destroyer, Brisbane, can soon take its place on the hardstand to undergo final block consolidation, and the keel for the third destroyer, Sydney, will be laid.

GE Marine announced it has signed a contract with Savunma Teknolojileri Mühendislik Ve Ticaret A.Ş. (STM), Ankara, Turkey, whereby GE will provide STM with LM2500 gas turbines. The engines will power the Turkish Navy’s third and fourth MILGEM multi-purpose corvettes, GE reported today during the IDEF ’15 industry trade show. STM is the program manager for these new two ships, and will provide platform systems, construction materials, design services and the main propulsion systems, as well as integration of the propulsion system.

GE has signed an in-service support contract with the Australian Defense Materiel Organization’s Maritime Cross-Platform Systems Program Office. Under the contract, GE will provide maintenance and logistic support services for the Royal Australian Navy’s (RAN) GE LM2500 aeroderivative marine gas turbines that power Adelaide- and ANZAC-class frigates. GE will be backed by GE Marine and Air New Zealand Gas Turbines for this multi-year contract. In addition to repair and overhaul of the RAN’s 16 LM2500s and associated accessories…

Nuship Canberra, the first of two Landing Helicopter Dock (LHD) ships being built for the Australian Defense Force, has sailed on her final contractor sea trials before delivery to the Australian Government. The ship departed Williamstown shipyard on August 12 as planned with the trials taking place in both Port Phillip Bay and off the southern coast of New South Wales before returning to Williamstown around the end of August. Final contractor trials involve testing of the combat and communication systems along with some platform systems trials.

The ninth edition of the international HME Marine Propulsion training series starts in September. It will be a new experience for Peter de Vos, Assistant Professor of Marine Engineering at Delft Technical University (TU Delft). As the latest addition to the team, De Vos will work closely with Professor Douwe Stapersma in modules 1, 3 and 5. Peter De Vos graduated cum laude in 2008 on the modeling of a fuel processing plant for the application of fuel cells onboard vessels in the Ship Design, Production and Operation section of the Marine Engineering department at TU Delft.

Imtech Marine signed a contract to be involved in the execution of the capability upkeep program Walrus-class submarines (IP-W) of the Royal Netherlands Navy. The Dutch Defense Materiel Organization granted Imtech Marine Netherlands the assignment to carry out the mechanical, engineering and electrical upgrade works on board the submarines. The assignment will be carried out at the Naval base in Den Helder and will run from 2013 until 2020. IP-W includes a large number of modifications, such as disassembly, assembly and installation of a variety of equipment and systems.

General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems was awarded a contract by Austal USA to be the Platform Systems Engineering Agent (PSEA) of Littoral Combat Ships (LCS) 14 and 16. These are the fifth and sixth ships of the Independence-variant LCS to be ordered by the U.S. Navy under a 10-ship block buy contract awarded in December 2010 to Austal USA. General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems is a business unit of General Dynamics. As part of the Austal USA LCS Industry team General Dynamics is responsible for the design, integration and testing of the ships’ electronic systems including the combat system, networks and seaframe control. The technology backbone for the core mission system is General Dynamics’ open architecture computing infrastructure (OPEN CI).

Organised by the Institute of Marine Engineering, Science & Technology (IMarEST) the programme for the 5th Symposium is published. The symposium programme for the fifth 'Engine As A Weapon Symposium (EAAW V)', with its theme ‘Delivering Military Effect: A holistic approach to combat and platform system integration’, and featuring presentations by experts in combat and platform system design from home and overseas has now been published. Dr Mark Townley, Combat Systems Director, BAE Systems Maritime – Naval Ships will deliver the keynote address on the opening morning of the symposium.

IMAREST Symposium – 'Delivering Military Effect: a holistic approach to combat & platform system integration' at University of Bristol, UK, July 2013. The 'Engine As A Weapon' symposium series provides a unique opportunity for experts in combat and platform system design to expose and explore the integration challenges faced, from energy management to open systems. EAAW V ‘Delivering Military Effect: A holistic approach to combat and platform systems integration’ will build upon the success of four previous events and provides a forum for information exchange and much needed analysis and debate. The advent of Integrated Full Electric…

Contract announcements by U.S. Department of Defense (DofD) updated to 26, November 2012. BAE Systems Mayport, Jacksonville, Fla., is being awarded a $6,880,388 contract to perform maintenance and repair work including hull, machinery, electrical, electronics and piping repairs as required during selected restricted availability onboard the USS Taylor (FFG 50). Work will be performed in Jacksonville, Fla., and is expected to be completed by April 2013. Raytheon Co., Sudbury, Mass., is being awarded a five-year $75,700,000 firm-fixed-price performance based logistics requirements contract to support the AEGIS MK 99 fire control systems and the SPY-1 transmitter items. Contract funds in the amount of $16,143,340 will be obligated at the time of award. Work will be performed in Norfolk, Va.

Raytheon awarded US Navy contract to extend open architecture combat system deployment and fleet support. Raytheon Company has been awarded a $22.5 million U.S. Navy contract for the Ship Self-Defense System. With this award, Raytheon will continue system development, test and integration, as well as Platform Systems Engineering Agent (PSEA) services and support for fleet-deployed systems. SSDS is an open, distributed combat management system in service on carriers and amphibious ships, including CVN, LSD dock landing ship, LPD, LHA and LHD classes. The LHA variant is nearing initial deployment, a technical refresh of the LSD-class is almost complete, and system development is underway for the new CVN 78-class of aircraft carriers.

The U.S. Navy has exercised contract options funding the construction sixth and seventh Joint High Speed Vessel (JHSV), as part of a ten-ship program potentially worth over $1.6b.The construction contract for both vessels is valued at approximately $313m. Austal USA’s President and Chief Operating Officer Joe Rella cited the Mobile shipyard’s continuing growth as a key factor. With options remaining for a further three vessels, the JHSV program is set deliver a predictable revenue stream of US$347.3 million (AUD$330 million) per year from 2012 to 2015. As prime contractor, Austal was awarded the construction contract for the first 103-meter JHSV in November 2008, with options for nine additional vessels between FY09 and FY13.

Austal received word to move forward with the construction contract for the fourth and fifth vessels of the U.S. Department of Defense’s next generation multi-use platform, the Joint High Speed Vessel (JHSV), as part of a program potentially worth over $1.6b. Austal received funding previously from the Navy, valued at $99,557,548, to acquire long lead-time material, to include diesel engines, water jets and reduction gears, for these two vessels in June 2010. The additional work is valued at approximately $204.6m. As Prime contractor, Austal was awarded the construction contract for the first 103-meter JHSV in November 2008, with options for nine additional vessels expected to be exercised between FY09 and FY13.

Less than one year after beginning fabrication of Spearhead (JHSV 1), Austal has commenced construction on Vigilant (JHSV 2), the second of up to ten 103-m Joint High Speed Vessels (JHSV). Austal was selected as prime contractor in November 2008 to design and build the first JHSV, with options for nine additional vessels expected to be exercised between FY09 and FY13. Since then, Austal has received construction contracts for JHSV 1, JHSV 2, and JHSV 3 and Long Lead Time Material contracts for JHSV 4 and JHSV 5.

On April 28, 2009, Austal completed the Initial Critical Design Review (ICDR) in its contract with the U.S. Navy for the Joint High Speed Vessel (JHSV). During the ICDR, the Austal team provided a comprehensive summary of the critical areas of the JHSV design for Navy approval to proceed to Final Critical Design Review, the next critical milestone. In November 2008, Austal was awarded the contract to design and build the US Department of Defense’s next generation multi-use platform, the Joint High Speed Vessel (JHSV). As prime contractor, Austal will design and construct the lead 103-meter JHSV, with options for nine additional vessels expected to be exercised between FY09 and FY13.

Northstar Network Ltd. (Northstar) announced that it has been awarded an add-on to the $2.6m contract awarded by L-3 Communications MAPPS Inc. (L-3 MAPPS) to build consoles for land-based trainers for the Halifax Class of ships. The original contract, awarded in March, 2009, was to manufacture 66 Standard Marine Consoles and 60 Local Operating Panels as part of its Integrated Platform Management System (IPMS). These simulators will form part of the land based training equipment…

Austal has received authorization from the U.S. Navy to commence construction on the first of up to ten 338-ft Joint High Speed Vessels (JHSV). After Austal successfully completed the Production Readiness Review (PRR) and necessary DoD approvals were obtained, the Navy authorized Austal’s Mobile, Ala. facility to immediately begin construction of Fortitude (JHSV 1). As the US Department of Defense’s next generation multi-use platform, the JHSV will provide rapid intra-theater deployment/transportation of personnel, equipment and supplies.

Northstar Network Ltd. announced that it has been awarded another add-on to the multi million contract awarded by L-3 MAPPS Inc. in March 2009 to build consoles for land-based trainers for the Halifax Class of ships. The original contract to manufacture 66 Standard Marine Consoles and 60 Local Operating Panels as part of its Integrated Platform Management System (IPMS) was broadened in August 2009 to include the design and manufacture of the land-based training simulators for the East Coast Navies. Now the contract is once again being expanded to add the Canadian Navy’s west coast training simulators, engineering support for the program and additional components for both domestic and foreign naval upgrade programs.