Anduril Australia wins A$1.7 billion Ghost Shark XL-AUV contract
The vessels are expected to deliver a major boost to Australia’s undersea warfare capabilities, with production set to start immediately.
Leonardo DRS has received a contract worth $10.7 million from Eastern Shipbuilding to provide integrated hybrid electric drive systems for the US Coast Guard's (USCG's) new fleet of Offshore Patrol Cutters, the company announced on 13 April.
The contract covers the delivery of the first nine systems.
Leonardo DRS will provide its permanent magnet motor-based Auxiliary Propulsion System (APS). This hybrid electric drive system provides capability for the ship to operate efficiently at slower speeds, increases mission duration capability, reduces emissions and provides emergency take-home capability, in case of a failure of the main propulsion diesel engines. When coupled to the main propulsion gearbox, the system allows the ship to operate quietly during loitering operations while providing superior fuel economy for increased on-station operations and capability.
Built and designed by Leonardo DRS, the APS includes two permanent magnet motors. They have significant advantages with regards to size, weight, efficiency and performance over conventional electric induction motors and create more torque from the same amount of supplied current. Their smaller footprint enables maximum flexibility in engine room design and increased cargo space.
Using propulsion diesel engines at slow speeds causes wear and tear on the engines and increases the potential for coking/wet stacking. The electric APS will help the USCG reduce fuel and maintenance requirements.
The vessels are expected to deliver a major boost to Australia’s undersea warfare capabilities, with production set to start immediately.
Acquired under Canada’s Department of National Defence ISTAR UAS project, the drones will be deployed from the Halifax-class frigates.
The US Navy published a pre-solicitation notice of intent for the third phase of the F-35 Reprogramming Verification & Validation System. Meanwhile, with a five-year delay in its schedule, GAO foresees more postponements in the completion of the Block 4 effort.
Cutters Earl Cunningham and Storis have been monitoring five Beijing research vessels navigating in the North Pole.
The multi-award contract will support the scheduled repair and maintenance of nuclear-powered attack submarines at the US Navy’s primary public shipyards.
Hot on the heels of Norway selecting BAE Systems to build five Type 26 anti-submarine frigates, the UK government is reportedly in ‘advanced talks’ on new warship orders for two more Scandinavian countries.