Rolls Royce to Supply Azipull Propulsion System for Electric Catamaran-ZeroCat

Rolls-Royce has signed a contract for the delivery of its highly efficient Azipull propulsion and control system for the 'ferry of the future', a new vessel which will operate on battery power alone. The vessel is being built at the Fjellstrand yard in Norway, and once in service will be operated by Norwegian transport company Norled between Lavik and Oppedal. The 80-meter electric car ferry called ZeroCat has been jointly developed by electronic manufacturer Siemens, the Norwegian shipyard Fjellstrand, and shipping company Norled as part of a competition organized by Norway’s Ministry of Transport. The electric ferry expected to begin operations from 2015 onwards. Rather than a diesel engine, ZeroCat is equipped with electric motors to drive the ship’s two screws. These motors are powered by a battery weighing 10 metric tons. In 2010, the Norwegian Ministry of Transport announced a tender to develop a new ferry that was 15 to 20 per cent more energy efficient than existing vessels. The Rolls-Royce Azipull propulsion system, which utilizes pulling propellers as opposed to conventional azimuth thrusters will help the battery powered, aluminium catamaran meet these standards. The ferry will have a capacity of 120 cars and 360 passengers, and will operate at a speed of about 10 knots, taking 20 minutes to cross between Lavik and Oppedal. The ferry will charge its lithium-ion batteries while loading or unloading cars, and overnight when moored along the quay. The Azipull combines the advantages of the pulling propeller with the flexibility of mechanical drive.The propeller rotates 360 degrees around the vertical axis so that the thruster can perform both the propulsion and steering duties. It is designed to offer efficient propulsion and manoeuvring on higher speed vessels (Typically 20-25 knots). The streamlined leg and skeg recover swirl energy from the slipstream, raising overall propulsive efficiency. As a catamaran with two slim hulls, it offers less resistance in the water than a conventional vessel. The hulls are also made of aluminium instead of heavier steel. Overall, the ferry weighs half as much as a conventional design. It is powered by two 10-tonne (11-ton) electric motors, each one driving a separate propeller. Those motors have a combined maximum output of 800 kilowatts, although for the ferry’s usual cruising speed of 10 knots, an output of 400 kW should suffice.” The ZeroCat™ will be able to recharge in 10 minutes when docked during the load/unload process.

U.S Navy Lays Keel for 12th Virginia Class Submarine-John Warner

U.S Navy celebrated the keel laying of Pre-Commissioning Unit (PCU) John Warner (SSN 785) at Huntington Ingalls Industries - Newport News Shipbuilding (HII -NNS) in Newport News, Valencia, on March 16.

The submarine is named for former five-term U.S. Senator from Virginia and Secretary of the Navy John Warner.
John Warner's keel laying is the submarine's first major event since it began construction in March 2010. The submarine is on track to continue the Virginia-class program's trend of delivering submarines early to their contract delivery dates and meeting the incredibly stringent standards expected of U.S. submarines.

John Warner is the 12th submarine of the Virginia class and the second of the block III construction contract. Virginia-class submarines are built under a unique construction contract between HII-NNS and General Dynamics Electric Boat.

Warner's keel laying is the first of several major shipbuilding milestones for the Virginia-class program in 2013. PCU Minnesota's (SSN 783) commissioning is scheduled for Sept. 7 and PCU North Dakota's (SSN 784) christening is expected this fall. PCU Delaware (SSN 791) will begin construction Sept. 2.

Virginia Class submarines are designed to dominate the world's littoral and deep waters while conducting anti-submarine warfare; anti-surface ship warfare; strike warfare; special operation forces support; intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance; irregular warfare; and mine warfare missions. Their inherent stealth, endurance, mobility, and firepower directly enable them to support five of the six Maritime Strategy Core Capabilities - sea control, power projection, forward presence, maritime security, and deterrence.
 

Austal awarded additional Littoral Combat Ship work

The United States Department of Defense has announced that Austal USA has been awarded a US$19.987 million modification to a previously awarded Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) contract. The modification exercises options for class service efforts and special studies, analyses and reviews for the LCS program.

Austal USA will assess engineering and production challenges, and evaluate the cost and schedule risks, from affordability efforts to reduce LCS acquisition and lifecycle costs. Work is expected to be completed by March 2014.

Babcock Contracted to Provide British Astute 6 & 7 Submarine's Weapon Handling and Launch systems

U.K MoD has awarded Babcock, a contract to supply its state of the art weapon handling and launch system (WHLS) for British Navy's sixth and seventh Astute class submarines, This full system contract follows one awarded last year for long-lead items, amounting to a total value of circa £55m. The Astute class WHLS is the first on a UK Royal Navy submarine to use Babcock’s advanced air turbine pump (ATP) and programmable firing valve (PFV) technology, which offers a number of valuable advantages. The ATP is an air driven rotary pump that displaces a volume of water to launch a weapon from a torpedo tube. The programmable firing valve (PFV) is usedto control the ATP firing air profile, allowing the system to match the launch requirements precisely to a range of variables including weapon type, boat speed and depth. The system is more compact than previous systems (with space saving benefits), more efficient (using substantially less firing air), and quieter with a lower noise signature, as well as having lower maintenance requirements and reduced through-life costs. Two ATP/PFV systems are installed per boat, giving independent port and starboard operation providing operational and reliability benefits. Further, the Astute class WHLS from Babcock is capable of carrying more torpedoes and tube-launched missiles than any previous class of RN submarine, and comprises equipment toembark, store, reposition and load weapons into the torpedo tubes. Configuration of the weapons within the Weapon Stowage Compartment (WSC) has been developed to provide the highest weapon packing density, and the weapons are protected in the WSC using a unique method of shock mounting, providing adaptable protection according to the number of weapons stored on each stowage tier. This improves crew safety and maximises potential for the system to continue to function following a shock event. Responding to the MoD challenge, Babcock has generated significant savings as a result of the combined twoboat contract and the efficiencies and economies of scale this allows the project team to realise, both internally and with the ability to place two-boat orders with subcontractors. Babcock has designed and supplied the WHLS for the first five Astute class boats Astute, Ambush, Artful, Audacious and Anson under previous contracts. The first of the equipment for boat 6 under this latest contract is scheduled for delivery in spring 2014.

Austal Completes U.S Navy JHSV-2 Choctaw County Ship Sea Trials

JHSV Choctaw County,U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Damian Berg

Joint High Speed Vessel (JHSV) 2, the future U.S Navy Choctaw County, successfully completed builder's sea trials from March 7-8, in Mobile, Alabama. The ship, now under construction at Austal USA, is the second ship of the JHSV class. Builder's trials are a significant step in the construction and delivery of a ship to the fleet and are the first opportunity to operate the ship underway and test overall system performance prior to demonstration to the U.S Navy's Board of Inspection and Survey (INSURV). Trials included operating the ship's propulsion plant for many hours at different power levels, up to full power; testing and calibration of communication and navigational systems; ride control systems testing; and pollution control systems tests. Maneuverability trials tested the ship's four steerable water jets while a series of high-speed turns demonstrated the stability and agility of JHSV's catamaran hull form. The ship reached speeds of more than 41 knots. Choctaw County is expected to deliver to the U.S Navy this summer. JHSVs are versatile, non-combatant, transport ships used for fast intra-theater transportation of troops, military vehicles, and equipment. JHSV is designed to commercial standards, with limited modifications for military use. The vessel is capable of transporting 600 short tons 1,200 nautical miles at an average speed of 35 knots and can operate in shallow-draft ports and waterways, interfacing with roll-on/roll-off discharge facilities, and on/off-loading a combat-loaded Abrams Main Battle Tank (M1A2). Other joint requirements include an aviation flight deck to support day and night aircraft launch and recovery operations. JHSV 2 will have airline style seating for 312 embarked forces with fixed berthing for 104.

Russia to Field Stealthy Fifth Generation Submarines

Russian Amur

Russia is developing its newest fifth-generation stealthy nuclear-powered and diesel submarines at Russia's Rubin Central Design Bureau, Rubin head Igor Vilnit said on Monday, Ria Novosti reported. The Russian Navy currently relies on third-generation submarines with fourth-generation subs of the Yury Dolgoruky (Project 955 Borey) and St. Petersburg (Project 677 Lada) class just beginning to be adopted for service. In addition to Rubin, Defense Ministry research centers and the Navy Institute, as well as Rubin’s partners and contractors, are currently working to develop a basic design of the fifth-generation submarine. The new submarine will have a service life of about 50 years, he said. The fifth generation will be distinguished by its lowered noise, automated control systems, reactor safety, and long-range weapons. The Defense Ministry previously said Russia is planning to develop its fifth-generation submarine by 2020 under a 2011-2020 arms procurement program, to be armed with both ballistic and cruise missiles. The distinguishing feature of Russia’s newest, fifth-generation submarines will be stealth rather than higher speed or greater depth capabilities, Vladimir Dorofeyev, head of the Malakhit Design Bureau, said on Tuesday. The fifth-generation submarine will acquire new capabilities through close interaction with other components of the Armed Forces,including surface warships, warplanes, spacecraft, satellites, as well as other submarines, based on an integrated information space, he said. Russia also plans to build eight fourth-generation strategic nuclear subs by 2020 and arm them with Bulava submarine -launched ballistic missiles.

BAe Completes Bridge Integration On HMS Queen Elizabeth Aircraft Carrier

Babcock Marine completed the integration of the bridge section, onto the Royal Navy's new aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth The island is a crucial component of the ship, containing the main bridge and around 100 vital mission systems compartments. The event was witnessed by the Secretary of State for Defence, Phillip Hammond, MP. The circa 600 tonne forward island – which arrived at Babcock’s Rosyth facility (where the carriers are being assembled) from BAE Systems in Portsmouth on 11 February – was lifted into position on HMS Queen Elizabeth’s flight deck by the massive Goliath crane,which had a special 78 tonne lifting frame attached for the purpose. The lift process began with the attachment of the crane to the lifting frame, and application of a percentage of the island weight to the crane to confirm the predicted centre of gravity. After some minor adjustments the crane took the full weight of the Island, lifted it over the aircraft carrier flight deck and located it in its final position. Although not the heaviest lift of the project, the island’s geometry and shape presented significant challenges. Also demanding was the alignment of the 2.4 metre diameter gas turbine exhausts which were pre-fitted in the island and below in the ship superstructure. The 22 metre high by 13 metre wide and 27 metre long Upper Block 07, as the forward island is known, already has all consoles installed, as well as 43km of cables and 3,101 pipes. The floor-to-ceiling windows of the main bridge are up to two metres high, providing an exceptional level of visibility. With the island in place, the Long Range Radar (LRR) will now be installed on top. This will be closely followed by a period of consolidation when the island will be welded to the superstructure and mechanical and electrical systems installed. The later phase of the project will see the LRR set to work and fully integrated with the ship systems. Uniquely, the QEC carriers will feature two islands. The second ‘aft island’ is due to arrive and be installed by the end of July 2013 and will operate as an airport control tower to co-ordinate aircraft movements. Both islands are designed with the ability to carry out each other’s role in an emergency. Nearly two thirds of the ship has now been built and the structure is due to be completed by the end of this year. The Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft carriers will be the biggest and most powerful surface warships ever constructed for the Royal Navy. The carrier is then expected to leave the dockyard in 2014 before beginning sea trials with the Royal Navy. The forward island, houses the bridge where the captain and navigation crew will operate. The enormous steel section was built in Portsmouth and transported by barge to Fife, where the carriers are being assembled. Both HMS Queen Elizabeth and her sister ship, HMS Prince of Wales, will have 2 island sections which will provide independent control of navigation and air traffic control operations. The two Queen Elizabeth Class will be utilised by all three sectors of the UK Armed Forces and will provide eight acres of sovereign territory which can be deployed around the world. The HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales will have increased survivability as a result of the separation and distribution of power generation machinery through out each ship. The class has been designed with twin islands, which separates the running of the ship from the flying operations resulting in greater visibility of flying operations. The vessels will displace about 65,000 tonnes(64,000 long tons ), be 280 metres (920 ft) long.The projected cost of the programme is £5.9 billion. It will carry a mix of 40 helicopters and fighter jets.Initially the ships will carry only helicopters, until the F-35C stealth fighter arrives in 2020. It will use an 110MW electric propulsion system that enables the prime movers to operate more efficiently.It has an 10000 nautical mile range, with a 25+knots speed. Both ships are expected to serve for up to 50 years.

Raytheon's 5th generation hull mounted sonar to enable anti-submarine, undersea warfare

Raytheon was awarded a sub-contract from Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) to deliver its first 5th generation medium frequency hull mounted sonar system as part of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) Anti-Submarine Warfare Continuous Trail Unmanned Vessel (ACTUV) program.
According to the U.S. Navy, 43 nations operate more than 600 submarines; the steady increase in undersea vessels makes tracking a challenge.
Raytheon's Modular Scalable Sonar System (MS³) will integrate into SAIC's prototype trimaran vessel as the primary search and detection sonar. The system is designed to provide search, detection, passive-threat filtering, localization and tracking capabilities without requiring human operation.
MS³ enables anti-submarine warfare (ASW) and undersea warfare with capabilities such as active and passive search, torpedo detection and alertness, and small object avoidance.
Data from multiple sonars may be fed to a central command and control node, providing a common operating picture as part of the ASW mission. By integrating a host of capabilities in a single sonar system, Raytheon delivers an affordable solution that addresses critical naval challenges. 
"Historically, manned sonars were central to anti-submarine warfare missions. However, the growing number of submarines traversing the world's oceans makes this model unsustainable," said Joe Biondi, vice president of Advanced Technology for Raytheon's Integrated Defense Systems business. "By leveraging Raytheon's heritage in developing undersea sensors, MS³ can be configured to provide the capabilities required for ASW in an autonomous environment."
The Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) Continuous Trail Unmanned Vessel (ACTUV) is developing an unmanned vessel optimized to robustly track quiet diesel electric submarines. The program is structured around three primary goals:

• Explore the performance potential of a surface platform conceived from concept to field demonstration under the premise that a human is never intended to step aboard at any point in its operating cycle.  As a result, a new design paradigm emerges with reduced constraints on conventional naval architecture elements such as layout, accessibility, crew support systems, reserve buoyancy and dynamic stability.  The objective is to generate a vessel design that exceeds state-of-the art platform performance to provide complete propulsive overmatch against diesel electric submarines at a fraction of their size and cost.
   
• Advance unmanned maritime system autonomy to enable independently deploying systems capable of missions spanning thousands of kilometers of range and months of endurance under a sparse remote supervisory control model.  This includes autonomous compliance with maritime laws and conventions for safe navigation, autonomous system management for operational reliability, and autonomous interactions with an intelligent adversary.
   
• Demonstrate the capability of the ACTUV system to use its unique characteristics to employ non-conventional sensor technologies that achieve robust continuous track of the quietest submarine targets over their entire operating envelope.

While the ACTUV program is focused on demonstrating the ASW tracking capability in this configuration, the core platform and autonomy technologies are broadly extendable to underpin a wide range of missions and configurations for future unmanned naval vessels.
The program has four phases. During phase 1, the program refined and validated the system concept and associated performance metrics, completing risk reduction testing to inform program risks associated with submarine tracking sensors and maritime autonomy. In August 2012, DARPA awarded a contract for phases 2-4.  The program plans the following in upcoming phases: Design a vessel (Phase 2); Build a vessel (Phase 3) and test the vessel (Phase 4). Operational prototype at-sea testing is expected in mid-2015.