Surface Systems 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…

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…

BMT Group subsidiary BMT Asset Performance has appointed Paul Haycock as Business Development Lead for Surface Systems. Haycock joins BMT after 35 years in the Royal Navy, serving on a variety of ships and in a diverse range of environments. A Warfare Officer and Lynx Helicopter Observer, Haycock’s sea time has ranged from Minesweepers on Fishery Protection duties to Frigates and Destroyers as a Bridge Watch Keeper, Ships Communications Officer, Flight Commander and Second in Command.

However reintegration of capabilities is presenting new challenges in the design, manufacture and integration of sub-sea and surface systems for maritime Special Forces. James Fisher Defencehas stated that navies around the world are now seriously addressing the need to re-develop their skills in the use of maritime warfare, specifically in relation to maritime Special Forces and strategies for operations and intelligence gathering. This is leading to new challenges in how sub-sea and surface systems are designed, manufactured and integrated.

ABS has issued a series of notations in support of critical well testing activities being undertaken by energy operators worldwide to determine the commercial nature of their reservoirs. The importance of well testing to determine the nature of reservoirs has become even more critical lately as ultra deepwater exploration with pre-salt fields now has operators exploring in water depths surpassing 10,000 feet. Not only is the depth a challenge but also the complexity of the reservoir structures. A vessel or mobile offshore drilling unit (MODU) with the equipment and capabilities to engage in well testing, either short-term or extended, is key in gathering onsite data to determine the size and quantity of the hydrocarbon potential.

Fred P. Moosally has taken office on February 8th, 2010 as President and Chief Executive Officer of Fincantieri Marine Group (FMG), a subsidiary of Fincantieri-Cantieri Navali Italiani S.p.A. Moosally, who will report directly to Alberto Maestrini, Fincantieri Executive Senior Vice President of Naval Vessels Business Unit, will be responsible for all Fincantieri Naval Vessels Business Unit activities in the United States. His headquarters will be located in the Washington, D.C. area.

Lockheed Martin celebrated completion and delivery of its 50th destroyer-bound Aegis Weapon System today with a "pull-the-plug" ceremony at the company's Moorestown facility. The ceremony marks the completion of testing and signifies that the system is ready for shipboard installation. The system, to be packed and loaded in 23 tractor trailers, will be delivered for installation in the destroyer Kidd (DDG 100). "We at the Navy truly appreciate the consistent quality you put forth on a daily basis," said Fernando Omega, PEO IWS Project Lead for Aegis Weapon System production. "Pulling Plug is the culmination of a team effort extending throughout the entire production process.

Lockheed Martin's advanced hullform ship Sea SLICE will participate as a littoral warfare ship in the Navy's Fleet Battle Experiment Juliet (FBE-J) this summer. Sea SLICE, designated as a High Speed Vessel (HSV) for the exercise, will demonstrate the flexibility achievable by "modularity" in a small, fast, highly maneuverable platform. Lockheed Martin Naval Electronics and Surveillance Systems (NE&SS)-Marine Systems has overall responsibility for developing Sea SLICE. Systems, NE&SS-Surface Systems, Missiles and Fire Control, Mission Systems and Information Systems, are contributing technologies that will be included in the ship. During FBE-J…

Newport News Shipbuilding said that it awarded Lockheed Martin Integrated Systems Inc., a subsidiary of Lockheed Martin Corp., a $446 million subcontract for the warfare system for the CVN 77, the U.S. Navy's next nuclear-powered aircraft carrier. Virginia-based Newport News said it worked with Lockheed Martin Naval Electronics and Surveillance-Surface Systems, under an advance planning contract. The warfare system will be delivered as part of Newport News Shipbuilding's $3.8 billion contract from the Navy for the CVN 77 signed in January. The award to Lockheed includes an additional $40 million option for exterior communications equipment, Newport News said. Newport News shares were down 18 cents, at $50.52, during mid-afternoon trading on the New York Stock Exchange. - (Reuters)

controllable, high-speed underwater transport. and evaluation program to establish the potential of a new technology. the water, thereby reducing drag and increasing vehicle speed. specialized military cargo at speeds up to 100 knots. vehicle. University's Applied Research Laboratory in State College, Pa. Mass. and Technology business unit. The contract comes with two 15-month options. scale and establish the detailed design of the demonstrator vehicle. would operate at 100 knots for durations of up to 10 minutes. potential value of all three phases is $45.8 million.

Lockheed Martin, Mitsubishi Electric Corporation, SAMPA Kogyo K.K. and Mitsubishi Corporation have formed a joint venture company that will serve the emerging combat system engineering and lifetime support requirements of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Forces (JMSDF). The joint venture company, MLS Corporation, represents a full service partnership arrangement between industry and government, and leverages Japanese and U.S. industry expertise in life cycle support and integration services to benefit the JMSDF. MLS Corporation products will include engineering support and testing of complex electronics equipment, logistics services, training, commercial-off- the-shelf (COTS) configuration management and application program maintenance and upgrades.

The multi-billion contract to build a new family of Navy ships took one giant step last month with the awarding of development contracts to three industry teams. The fight to win the contract to design and build the family of Littoral Combat Ships (LCS) is sure to be fierce, as the deal to build up to 60 of the vessels will help feed the corporate coffers of the successful team for decades to come. LCS is indicative of the Navy's transformation from a deepwater fleet leftover from the Cold War threat of only one other credible super power, to the reality of today's multi-faceted threat environment: small, hard to find and diverse groups around the globe.

Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman Ingalls Shipbuilding announced the creation of a joint venture partnership under which the two major corporations will submit a proposed "best value" solution for the U.S. Coast Guard's Deepwater Program. This newly formed joint venture - Integrated Coast Guard Systems - formalizes a partnership underway for more than three years. The team is hosting its Functional Design Review (FDR) for the Coast Guard this week at Lockheed Martin's facility in Moorestown. The U.S. Coast Guard's Deepwater Program was established to recapitalize the organization's ships, aircraft and system platforms to support deepwater missions. The missions include Maritime Law Enforcement, Maritime Safety, National Defense and Marine Environmental Protection.