General Atomics Works on Next-Generation Navy Power

General Atomics, San Diego, Calif., is being awarded a $12,288,073 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for research and development activities associated with integrated power systems power load modules design and pulsed power loads for future surface combatants. General Atomics will provide the research and development of an advanced integrated power systems power load module that may be used for pulse forming networks that could power future lasers, railguns, or radars. The initial effort will include further refinement of their unique approach to the concept, documenting how the approach could be eventually implemented in a shipboard configuration to meet projected pulsed loads powering needs. The concept will also be used to implement energy storage on the future design that may be used in a multi-purpose manner, allowing the energy to be used for the weapon system and for shipboard powering.General Atomics will apply their unique concept approach to a set of notional performance expectations developed by General Atomics in conjunction with the Navy.  Work will be performed in San Diego, Calif., and is expected to be completed by October 2016. Contract funds in the amount of $200,000 will be provided at time of contract award and will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured via a broad agency announcement with seven proposals received.The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity (N00024-12-C-4222).