Curtiss-Wright to provide VDS winch system
Curtiss-Wright has been selected by Raytheon to provide its winch system technology to deploy the new Variable Depth Sonar (VDS) being developed for the US Navy's Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) class, the company announced on 21 September.
Raytheon has been contracted by the US Navy to develop the VDS that will be deployed from the LCS to locate and track submarines.
The ship-deployed sonar system design is identical for both LCS variants. It features reduced weight to minimise ship impact and increase manoeuvrability. The new design also provides the opportunity for increased payloads.
Lynn Bamford, SVP and GM, Curtiss-Wright Defense Solutions, said: ‘Curtiss-Wright’s INDAL business unit will contribute its decades of towed sonar winch and handling system expertise to Raytheon’s VDS team to develop an innovative and lightweight winch solution for LCS.
‘The reliable and cost-effective VDS technology will enable the navy to rapidly introduce this new anti-submarine capability to meet the LCS mission.’
Under this agreement, Curtiss-Wright joins Raytheon's team that will advance the VDS design to a full Pre-Production Test Article by late 2018.
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