DCNS unveil Shortfin Barraacuda Submarine for Australia

French DCNS will propose the world’s most advanced conventionally powered submarine – named the Shortfin Barracuda Block 1A – as its pre-concept design for Australia’s future submarine Competitive Evaluation Process (CEP).

The submarine takes its name from the Shortfin Barracuda, an indigenous species of the Barracuda found in Australia’s Great Barrier Reef.

DCNS has developed the Shortfin Barracuda with state-of-the-art technology from its larger cousin, the French Navy’s Barracuda nuclear-powered attack submarine, to meet the CEP requirements.

While exact details remain confidential, DCNS confirmed the Shortfin Barracuda is over 90 metres in length and displaces more than 4,000 tons when dived,” said Sean Costello, CEO DCNS Australia.

 “If selected the Shortfin Barracuda will remain in service until the 2060s and the Block 1A platform will be updated and upgraded with new technology developed in France and Australia,” Mr Costello said.

DCNS is the only submarine design company in the world to have design competencies in nuclear and conventional submarines, safely delivering submarines ranging from 2,000 tons to 14,300 tons to navies all around the world.

BAE Systems to upgrade Royal Navy's Spearfish torpedo

The UK’s Ministry of Defence (MOD) has awarded BAE Systems a £270 million contract to upgrade the Spearfish Heavyweight Torpedo for the Royal Navy’s submarines.

Following the completion of the design phase, existing torpedoes will be upgraded by BAE Systems at its Broad Oak facility in Portsmouth to the new design with initial deliveries in 2020 continuing until 2024.

The upgrade, known as Spearfish Mod 1 extends the life of the torpedo, improves safety through the introduction of an Insensitive Munitions warhead and by utilising a single fuel system and provides more capable data links between the weapon system and the launching vessel. This results in capability improvements for the Royal Navy as well as significant reduction in through-life operating costs.

The anti-submarine and anti-surface Spearfish torpedoes are currently deployed the BAE Systems designed and built Trafalgar and Vanguard submarines, as well as the Astute Class submarines. Spearfish can be used in defensive and offensive situations and its advanced design delivers maximum warhead effectiveness at high speed with outstanding manoeuvrability, low radiated noise, advanced homing and sophisticated tactical intelligence.

The torpedo can operate autonomously from the time of launch and is capable of variable speeds across the entire performance envelope. Its high power density bespoke engine allows it to attain exceptional sprint speed in the terminal stage of an attack. 

Rolls Royce completes power and propulsion system delivery for USS Zumwalt Destroyer

Rolls-Royce has delivered the twin fixed pitch propellers to Bath Iron Works for installation on the US Navy’s most modern surface combatant, the future USS Zumwalt, the first ship of the DDG 1000 multi-mission destroyer class.

The provision of the twin fixed pitch propellers marks the completion of the power and propulsion system delivery from Rolls-Royce, following the MT30 main turbine generator sets and the RR4500 auxiliary turbine generator sets, which have already been installed and tested.

The five-bladed nickel aluminium bronze propellers measure over 18 feet in diameter and weigh nearly 60,000 pounds apiece. The propellers were cast and machined at the Rolls-Royce facility in Pascagoula, Mississippi.

The production of the unique pattern, designed by NAVSEA, began over six years ago, with the first set of finished propellers being delivered by Rolls-Royce from Pascagoula to Bath Iron Works in Bath, Maine in May 2015.

“The delivery and installation of these highly engineered propellers is a real milestone in the build of this amazing ship, as the Navy will now be able to commence further systems testing, followed by sea trials in the near future,” remarked Don Roussinos, President - Naval, Rolls-Royce.

In addition to the twin fixed pitch propellers onboard the Zumwalt are two Rolls-Royce MT30 Main Turbine Generator Sets (MTGs) and two RR4500 Auxiliary Turbine Generator Sets (ATGs) that will provide a total of 78 MW for total ship power - the MTGs provide 35.4 MW each and the ATGs 3.9 MW each.

The MT30 MTGs are produced in England, and the RR4500 ATGs are produced in Indianapolis, Indiana.

The MT30 is the most power dense marine gas turbine in the world, selected to power the most modern and advanced vessels in the US Navy, including the Freedom Class Littoral Combat Ship, as well as with the Royal Navy’s Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft carriers and innovative Type 26 Global Combat Ship, and the Republic of Korea Navy’s FFX Batch II frigate.