US Navy

The roll-out marked Austal’s second use of an innovative self-propelled modular transporter system to transfer the ship from the yard’s final assembly bay onto a drydock for launch. This system was first used a few months ago, in September 2011, to successfully launch USNS “Spearhead” (JHSV 1). Austal and the US Navy collaborated in the design of a new set of keel stands to support the ship during construction and facilitate the transition from the assembly bay. Austal’s own self-propelled modular transporters (SPMTs) supplemented those of Berard Transportation of New Iberia, LA, to provide a total of 3,800 tons lift capacity, on some 104 axle lines.

In a three-step process, SPMTs lifted the entire ship and keel stands lifted the Coronado almost three feet and moved the Littoral Combat Ship into the moored dry dock. Supporting close to 2,000 tons, the SPMT operators; aided by tug captains; the dock master and the Austal launch master manoeuvred “Coronado” aboard the dry dock in an incident-free operation.

A major improvement in safety and efficiency, the new roll-out method has shaved hours off the transfer process, and serves as a capstone in Austal’s effort to reduce cost and time required in future LCS deliveries.

The LCS and dry dock were then transported down river by tug to BAE Systems Southeast Shipyard, Mobile, where the ship was ultimately floated free of the keel stands, and was manoeuvred from the drydock. The vessel was then towed back upriver to Austal’s facility, where it will undergo final outfitting and activation before sea trials and delivery to the US Navy.

The 127-metre Austal trimaran seaframe is the platform for the LCS’s mission and weapon systems. This seaframe provides superior seakeeping and aviation as a result of its long, slender central hull and smaller side hulls (“amahs”). The trimaran hullform provides a large internal mission deck with a high payload carrying capacity. Located above the mission bay is the enormous flight deck capable of conducting dual H-60 helicopter operations. The vertical location of the flight deck on the trimaran hull form provides the highest flight deck elevation on a combatant ship other than a major amphibious vessel or aircraft carrier.

The launch of “Coronado” (LCS 4) closely follows the christening of the 103-metre USNS “Spearhead” (JHSV 1) and the celebration of the keel laying ceremony for “Choctaw County” (JHSV 2). Modular construction has also begun on JHSV 3 and “Jackson” (LCS 6) – the first of the 10-ship US Navy contract awarded to Austal, as the prime contractor, a year ago - in Austal’s 65,000 square metre Module Manufacturing Facility (MMF). Austal also has “Montgomery” (LCS and JHSV 3 through JHSV 7 under contract.

For the LCS and JHSV programs, Austal is working in a partnership with General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems, a business unit of General Dynamics. As the ship systems integrator, General Dynamics is responsible for the design, integration and testing of the ship’s electronic systems including the combat system, networks, and seaframe control. General Dynamics’ proven open architecture approach provides affordable capabilities to the fleet quickly and efficiently.

Austal employs over 2,100 highly qualified shipbuilders, engineers and support staff in the United States and is steadily growing towards 4,000 employees.

TEWKSBURY, Mass., Jan. 11, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) has been awarded a $60.3 million U.S. Navy contract to develop and integrate the total ship electronics systems for LPD 26, the 10th ship of the Navy's LPD 17 class of expeditionary warfare ships.

Under the contract, Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems extends its role as the total ship electronics systems integrator for all LPD 17-class ships. Raytheon will provide the Shipboard Wide Area Network; engineering and ship control systems; navigation data distribution system; magnetic signature control system; wire-free portable and integrated voice communication systems; and the AN/SPS-73 navigation radar.

"Raytheon's advanced and reliable ship systems integrated onboard the LPD 17 class continue to demonstrate proven and predictable performance," said Kevin Peppe, Raytheon IDS' vice president of Seapower Capability Systems. "Leveraging the technology advancements, experience and success gained on the LPD 17, DDG 1000 and CVN 78 programs, we continue to deliver mature, common and affordable solutions for the U.S. Navy's family of ships."

This contract follows the successful U.S. Navy sea trial of the San Diego (LPD 22), during which Raytheon's integrated ship systems performed as designed, meeting all performance requirements.

Predictable Performance and Full Life-cycle Support
In addition to its total ship electronics systems integrator role, Raytheon is the prime contractor for life-cycle engineering and support of Raytheon-designed and developed equipment for the LPD 17 class. As the trusted partner for LCE&S since 2005, Raytheon manages the large-scale integration, maintenance, upgrades and service support for these critical ship systems.

Raytheon recently delivered the Ship Self-Defense System MK 2 open-architecture combat management system for LPD 26, which leverages technology and investment from the Total Ship Computing Environment Infrastructure developed for the DDG 1000 Zumwalt-class destroyer.

• Maverick is integrated on 25 aircraft and in the inventory of 33 nations.
  
• The AGM-65E2/L can use onboard, buddy and ground-based lasing to designate targets.