Knifefish UUV Completes Sea Acceptance Tests
General Dynamics Mission Systems announced its team has completed all stages of formal Sea Acceptance Testing (SAT) of Knifefish, the U.S. Navy's Surface Mine Countermeasure (MCM) Unmanned Undersea Vehicle (UUV) system.Knifefish is a medium-class MCM UUV intended for deployment from the Navy's Littoral Combat Ship and other Navy vessels. The vehicle is designed to reduce risk to personnel by operating in the minefield as an off-board sensor while the host ship stays outside the minefield boundaries.The recent tests were conducted off the coast of Boston using Navy mine test targets and included
Bluefin SandShark AUV is Ready to Order
Small enough to fit in a backpack, Bluefin SandShark dives to 200 meters and multiple vehicles can work in parallel for large area, underwater missions. General Dynamics Mission Systems announced its new Bluefin SandShark autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) can now be ordered on the company’s website by defense, commercial and scientific customers worldwide. Weighing less than 11 pounds before adding a mission payload, the ‘micro’ AUV fits in a backpack, can swim up to five knots and dive down to 200 meters (656 feet). The tail section of the Bluefin SandShark
Canada's Halifax-Class Frigates Get a Sonar Upgrade
Nautel, together with General Dynamics, will upgrade and maintain underwater sensors on the Halifax-class frigates for the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) as part of the Underwater Warfare Suite Upgrade (UWSU) contract awarded to General Dynamics Mission Systems–Canada.The upgraded sensors will offer the RCN an improved ability to detect and track underwater threats utilizing advanced Sonar amplifiers and transducers designed and manufactured by Nautel.As part of the hull-mounted sonar upgrade program, Nautel will supply NS72-36 sonar amplifiers and Mk II broadband transducers. According to Nautel
Newport News Awarded $197 Mln for Submarine Work
U.S. shipbuilder Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) announced Tuesday that its Newport News Shipbuilding division has been awarded a $197 million modification to a previously awarded contract from General Dynamics Electric Boat to provide long-lead-time material and advance construction activities for the first Columbia-class ballistic missile submarine.The advance procurement funds will be used to purchase major components and commodity material and to begin advance construction on Columbia (SSBN 826). Newport News is a major subcontractor for the construction of the new class of ballistic-missile
USCG Awards Polar Icebreaker Contracts
The U.S. Coast Guard awarded five firm fixed-price contracts for heavy polar icebreaker design studies and analysis Wednesday. The contracts were awarded to the following recipients: Bollinger Shipyards, LLC, Lockport, Louisiana; Fincantieri Marine Group, LLC, Washington, District of Columbia; General Dynamics/National Steel and Shipbuilding Company, San Diego, California; Huntington Ingalls, Inc., Pascagoula, Mississippi; and VT Halter Marine, Inc., Pascagoula, Mississippi. The combined total value of the awards is approximately $20 million. The objective of the studies are to identify
US Navy Tests UUV for Mine-hunting Operations
The General Dynamics Mission Systems Knifefish team completed a comprehensive evaluation of Knifefish, an autonomous surface mine countermeasure (SMCM) unmanned undersea vehicle (UUV). In coordination with the U.S. Navy, the test events took place off the coast of Boston using submerged Navy mine test targets. The evaluation represents a significant milestone in the Knifefish program and demonstrates the UUV’s capability to detect and classify potential mines, at a variety of depths, each posing a unique threat to naval vessels operating in a mission area. “The information and
OPTECH South 2017: Littoral Challenges in Colombia
; said retired British Army Lt. Col. David Leigh, now of Kareem Service Ltd. “All the pieces are here--from ships to intelligence to the environment--for Columbia’s Navy to build upon their ability to be dominant in their sovereign waters,” said Dave Forster of General Dynamics Mission Systems, who delivered a presentation on underwater sensor networks. “From the point of view of the LOC, we have always thought the experience of other nations was important because you have reason to focus on your own coastlines and nearby seas while the US Navy
Electric Boat Bags US Submarine Contract
The U.S Navy has awarded General Dynamics Electric Boat a $95.5 million contract modification to continue development of the Common Missile Compartment for the U.S. Navy’s Columbia-class submarine and the Royal Navy’s Dreadnought-class ballistic-missile submarine. The contract modification will enable procurement of 17 missile tubes which will support the manufacture of the Common Missile Compartment. The five-year, $1.85 billion contract initially awarded in December 2012 calls for Electric Boat to perform research and development work for the Navy’s next-generation
US Navy to Christen Submarine Indiana
surveillance of land areas, littoral waters or other sea-based forces. Other missions include anti-submarine and anti-ship warfare; mine delivery and minefield mapping; and special forces delivery and support. Virginia-class submarines, built under a unique teaming arrangement between General Dynamics Electric Boat and Huntington Ingalls Industries-Newport News, are 7,800 tons and 377 feet in length, have a beam of 34 feet, and can operate at more than 25 knots submerged. They are built with a reactor plant that will not require refueling during the planned life of the ship-reducing lifecycle
US Navy Christens Submarine Indiana
. “While the size of the submarine alone is stunning, the complexity inside sets it apart from any other machine ever built. These ships are second to none, made in America by truly remarkable Americans.” Virginia-class submarines, built under a unique teaming arrangement between General Dynamics Electric Boat and Huntington Ingalls Industries-Newport News, are 7,800 tons and 377 feet in length, have a beam of 34 feet, and can operate at more than 25 knots submerged. They are built with a reactor plant that will not require refueling during the planned life of the ship-reducing lifecycle
US Navy Partners with ALFA International
supplier. ALFA International Inc. manufactures and markets specialty adhesives for electronics, medical, aerospace, telecommunications, automotive and civil engineering industrial applications. ALFA International’s clients include ITW, Raytheon, General Electric, Ford Motor Company, General Dynamics, Johns Manville, Reckitt Benckiser Teradyne, Amphenol and Clorox
Navy Awards Contract for Columbia Class Submarine Development
The Navy awarded a $5.1 billion contract to General Dynamics Electric Boat for Integrated Product and Process Development (IPPD) of the Columbia Class submarine Sept. 21. The IPPD contract award is for the design, completion, component and technology development and prototyping efforts for the Columbia Class Fleet Ballistic Missile Submarines (SSBNs). This work will also include United Kingdom unique efforts related to the common missile compartment. "The Columbia class submarine is the most important acquisition program the Navy has today," said Secretary of the Navy
General Dynamics Delivers Submarine Colorado
General Dynamics Electric Boat delivered the nuclear-powered attack submarine Colorado (SSN 788) to the U.S. Navy. The 15th ship of the Virginia Class, Colorado is the fifth of the eight-ship group known as Block III. According to the builder, these ships embody a Navy and industry commitment to reduce costs while increasing capabilities through an initiative comprising a multi-year procurement strategy, improvements in construction practices and the Design For Affordability (DFA) program. “This delivery demonstrates the skill and commitment of everyone involved in the Virginia-c
Knifefish UUV Completes Contractor Trials
A specialist team from General Dynamics Mission Systems recently demonstrated the unique capabilities of the Knifefish, a medium-class mine countermeasure (MCM) unmanned undersea vehicle (UUV), during contractor trials for the U.S. Navy. The trials were conducted off the coast of Boston and were managed by General Dynamics Mission Systems, the prime contractor for the Knifefish program. The Knifefish UUV operated in multiple mine test target fields at-sea using buried, bottom and volume type mine-test targets, and demonstrated its ability to detect, classify and identify potential mines at a
Newport News Wins Columbia-Class Submarine Contract
Huntington Ingalls Industries’ (HII) Newport News Shipbuilding division was awarded a contract from General Dynamics Electric Boat worth up to $468 million to begin work on integrated product and process development for the U.S. Navy’s new Columbia-class submarines. The U.S. Navy awarded a $5 billion detailed design contract to General Dynamics Electric Boat on September 21. Newport News Shipbuilding is the subcontractor for the new class of ballistic-missile submarines that are being designed to replace the Ohio-class submarines. The contract work, which began on October
GD Mission Systems: Full-throttle Charge toward Autonomy
Carlo Zaffanella is vice president and general manager of Maritime and Strategic Systems (M&SS) for General Dynamics Mission Systems. The M&SS business includes submarine and surface ship electronic systems integration as well as the design, build and support of a broad array of subsurface, surface, air, airport and strategic subsystems, meaning he is perfectly positioned to lead MTR’s ‘vehicles’ edition, as in 2018 our attention turns from a specific products and systems, to the holistic web of connectivity between subsea, surface, land-, air- and space-based assets.
General Dynamics wins Columbia-Class Submarine Deal
The U.S Navy has awarded General Dynamics Electric Boat a $126.1 million contract modification to continue development of the Common Missile Compartment for the U.S. Navy’s Columbia-class submarine and the Royal Navy’s Successor-class ballistic-missile submarine. Electric Boat is a wholly owned subsidiary of General Dynamics. The contract modification includes funding for procurement of long-lead time material for missile tubes which will be integrated into both the Navy’s new SSBN and the Royal Navy’s Dreadnought-class strategic missile submarine. Initially awarded in
