Welcome to MSW’s Scuttlebutt! Here’s the news for the day.
Feature - USS Eisenhower CVN-69
Join Kostas Katseas (angeleyes) as he comes into port with his build of the USS Eisenhower CVN-69. Enjoy.
Rolls-Royce Delivers Motion Control Equipment for Queen Elizabeth Class Aircraft Carrier Programme
Source: Rolls-Royce
Rolls-Royce, the global power systems company, today delivered the first part of its £96 million contract to supply a range of equipment to the Royal Navy’s Queen Elizabeth Class Aircraft Carriers.
The first pair of Neptune stabilising fins, designed, manufactured and tested at the Rolls-Royce facility in Dunfermline, Scotland, were transported to the BVT Surface Fleet shipyard in Govan, where they will be incorporated into the hull section currently under construction.
Rolls-Royce Director Programmes - Europe and International, Richard Dingley said: “This delivery is a key milestone in the QE Class programme and marks not only the first delivery of Rolls-Royce equipment, but also the first part of the power and propulsion element.
“We are extremely proud to be involved in the development of these vessels, working alongside our many partners in the Aircraft Carrier Alliance to supply mission-critical technology and systems.”
Aircraft Carrier Alliance Programme Director Geoff Searle added: “The delivery of the stabilisers to Govan is a great achievement to add to the list of successes and milestones already reached on the QE Class programme. Right across the country, British industry is showing its commitment to this programme by working together to deliver these fantastic ships for the UK Armed Forces.”
The stabilising fins are retractable and can be extended from their housing in the ship’s hull to stabilise the vessel when sailing through rough seas. Once deployed, stabilisers pivot to counteract the roll of the sea and lift the vessel in a concept similar to that of an aircraft’s wing. Stabilisers perform an essential role in steadying a ship during various operations such as the use of weaponry, refuelling or during the take-off and landing of aircraft.
Rolls-Royce is also supplying MT30 gas turbines, the most powerful available in the marine market today, as part of an integrated system which includes the giant carriers’ propellers and propeller shafts as well as rudders, bearings and low-voltage electrical systems. The company is part of a ‘sub-alliance’ team that has overall responsibility for delivery of the entire power and propulsion system. The contract has been awarded by the carrier main alliance partner, Thales UK.
Northrop Grumman Melts 35 Tons of Steel for Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) Propeller Shafts
Source: Northrop Grumman Corp
NEWPORT NEWS, Va. --- Northrop Grumman Corporation used its foundry at the company's Shipbuilding sector in Newport News, Va. to melt 35 tons of steel to cast strut arms needed to support the propeller shafts of the nuclear aircraft carrier Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78). The pour took place on Oct. 9.
"We've completed about five percent of the ship's construction contract," said Mike Shawcross, vice president for Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding's aircraft carrier construction programs. "The keel laying ceremony is Nov. 14, a first step toward bringing this ship to life."
The foundry was established in 1856 and was purchased in 1902 by the Newport News shipyard. Since then, it has produced quality castings for hundreds of commercial and U.S. Navy ships and has also supported hydro-electric projects like the Hoover Dam. The foundry is capable of producing eight million pounds of castings annually, weighing from one pound to 70,000 pounds.
The Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) class will continue the legacy of highly capable U.S. Navy aircraft carrier ship platforms. Enhancements incorporated into the design include flight deck changes, improved weapons handling systems, and a redesigned island, all resulting in increased aircraft sortie rates. It will also include new nuclear power plants; increased electrical power generation capacity; allowance for future technologies; and reduced workload for the sailors, translating to a smaller crew size and lower operating costs for the Navy. Delivery to the Navy is scheduled for 2015.
NAVAIR and Augusta Systems Successfully Demonstrate Autonomous Operations of Multiple Swarms of Unmanned Vehicles and Sensors
Source: Augusta Systems, Inc.
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. --- The U.S. Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) recently demonstrated autonomous operations by multiple "swarms" of unmanned air and ground vehicles, unattended ground sensors, video cameras and other devices linked together in an intelligent network powered by EdgeFrontier platform technologies from Augusta Systems, Inc. The demonstrations were held at a National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) facility on Wallops Island, Va.
"This capability of managing multiple swarms of unmanned vehicles and sensors is a significant achievement," said Patrick Esposito, president and chief executive officer of Augusta Systems. "Working with Augusta Systems and its partner, Vector Research Center, NAVAIR demonstrated autonomous operations of multiple, cooperative swarms, including options for dynamic redirection of assets between the swarms."
The U.S. Department of Defense Unmanned Systems Roadmap 2009-2034 requires advances in autonomous operations, intelligent field-level processing, multi-vehicle common operational control and net-centric connectivity between unmanned systems and other surveillance assets, similar to the functionality demonstrated through the NAVAIR program relying on Augusta Systems EdgeFrontier.
"Since EdgeFrontier powers the intelligent convergence of data, events, and control functions from diverse sources, the software provided an ideal platform to meet NAVAIR's objectives," Esposito said. "During the demonstration, EdgeFrontier enhanced real-time information sharing and response by enabling intelligent connectivity among the various unmanned vehicles and other surveillance devices. This integration was more robust than basic networking as EdgeFrontier supported processing and sharing of data in the field and enabled the unmanned vehicles and other devices to respond to events based upon rules and policies configured within the software."
EdgeFrontier products enable integration and normalization of data, events and control functions from diverse systems, as well as event processing and event and policy-based actions through a policy engine. For the demonstration, these capabilities resulted in a diverse, distributed, interoperable, intelligent network. Specifically, EdgeFrontier was used to create:
A payload system utilized for data processing and control of sensors and cameras, placed on-board Aerosonde Mk 3 vice III small unmanned aircraft systems from AAI Corporation, an operating unit of Textron Systems, a Textron Inc. company; placed inside unmanned ground vehicles; and co-located in the field with video cameras and unattended ground sensors from Crane Wireless Monitoring Solutions, a Crane Co. business unit.
The EdgeFrontier-created payload system also served as a platform for hosting of the swarming algorithms developed by Vector Research Center, a division of TechTeam Government Solutions, Inc., a TechTeam Global subsidiary, which are required to support the collaborative control capabilities.
An operator system interface, featuring a map-based display, relying on third-party geospatial software, for the real-time viewing of unmanned vehicle location and status and sensor and camera data.
"For military intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance operations like the NAVAIR demonstration, as well as for public and private-sector safety and security efforts, EdgeFrontier creates open, interoperable, monitoring and automation solutions," Esposito said. "Intelligent convergence, achieved through our integration and policy engine software, is the key to more robust and dynamic defense, security and safety deployments."
Nihon Kaigun
AToday’s website is the Nihon Kaigun. Enjoy.
This Day in U.S. Naval History
1943 - In Battle in Empress Augusta Bay, U.S. cruisers and destroyers turn back Japanese forces trying to attack transports off Bougainville, Solomons.
1968 - Operation Search Turn began in Mekong Delta.
Photo of the Day
Aircraft of the USAAF 3rd Bomb Group attack Japanese ships in Simpson Harbor, 2 November 1943.
The heavy cruiser Haguro is in the foreground.
Gator
