April 20, 2020 | International, Naval

Navy Awards Big Contract for LCAC Replacement Ship-to-Shore Connectors

17 Apr 2020

Military.com | By Gina Harkins

The Navy has awarded a new contract for the long-awaited replacement connector that will ferry Marines, weapons and other equipment ashore.

Textron Systems was awarded $386 million to build 15 new ship-to-shore connectors, Naval Sea Systems Command announced on Thursday. The connectors will replace the aging fleet of Landing Craft, Air Cushion vehicles, known as LCACs, which have been in operation since the 1980s and are nearing the end of their service lives.

The new 92-footlong connectors will have further range and lift capabilities than the legacy LCACs. They can carry 74 tons and will be compatible with amphibious ships that have well decks, along with expeditionary transfer dock and sea bases.

"As the program continues to move forward with delivering these important capabilities to the fleet, the procurement of these additional craft is critical," Tom Rivers, program manager of the Amphibious Warfare Program Office for the Program Executive Office Ships, said in a statement.

The contract award is an important milestone for a program that plays a big part in the Marine Corps' future missions. That service is focusing its sights on the Asia-Pacific region, where Commandant Gen. David Berger said Marines and sailors will likely be called on to respond to China's growing influence.

China has militarized tiny man-made islands in the South China Sea. The islands have airstrips, hangars, barracks and lookout points.

As the country's military invests in new weapons systems that can target ships further away from the shore, the Navy and Marine Corps will need next-generation landing craft to get people and equipment from amphibious ships onto nearby beaches.

The new connectors can be loaded with an enclosed personnel transport module that can carry up to 145 Marines in full combat gear, according to Textron. The craft can also carry vehicles and other heavy equipment.

Textron will do most of its work on the 15 new vessels in New Orleans. The Navy already accepted delivery of the first next-gen landing craft, called the Ship to Shore Connector Craft 100, in February.

The sea services will continue testing it and training on that platform in Panama City, Florida.

The Navy plans to buy 73 of the new ship-to-shore connectors, according to its program summary.

https://www.military.com/daily-news/2020/04/17/navy-awards-big-contract-lcac-replacement-ship-shore-connectors.html

On the same subject

May 4, 2020 | International, Aerospace

Airbus just beat Boeing to be the first to complete a wholly automated air-to-air refueling operation
Airbus just bested Boeing, achieving a massive milestone in an area that's recently been haunting the American manufacturer: air-to-air refueling. In the latest match-up in the cross-ocean rivalry between the American and European manufacturers, an Airbus A310 MRTT tanker test aircraft successfully completed an automatic refueling operation with a Portuguese Air Force fighter jet. Boeing has not yet been able to achieve the feat, even with its newest aerial tanker. Airbus has been leading the charge in autonomous flight operations, with the newly-automated refueling process the latest step in reducing manual control in aerial procedures. In December, an Airbus A350 XWB successfully took off without pilot input, using software integrated to onboard cameras. The system has plans to be implemented on Airbus' newest tanker, the A330 MRTT, with the certification phase scheduled to begin next year. The Airbus A330 MRTT is the European competitor to Boeing's KC-46 Pegasus. Currently in use with the US Air Force, the KC-46 Pegasus is Boeing's newest jet but is also proving to be one of its most problematic. Boeing's Pegasus is nowhere near autonomous refueling, with the company needing to fix a key system before autonomy can be discussed, an Air Force official told DefenseNews. Take a look at how Airbus is making history with its flying gas station. https://www.businessinsider.com/airbus-a330-achieves-first-aerial-refueling-beats-boeing-2020-4
March 10, 2024 | International, Aerospace

Safran Aircraft Engines and Qatar Armed Forces sign support agreement for M88 engines
This Services Agreement provides the Qatar Armed Forces with a wide range of services, from spares, repairs and overhauls to detailed technical on-site support, optimizing maintenance operations with the customer.
January 16, 2019 | International, Naval, C4ISR

BAE signs $79.8M contract with Navy for Pacific comms support
Jan. 15 (UPI) -- BAE Systems has signed a five-year, $79.8 million contract to assist the U.S. Navy in maintaining and operating electronic, communication and computing platforms across the Pacific and Indian Oceans. The program, which supports the Pacific's Naval Computer and Telecommunications Area Master, will continue to provide continuous operations and maintenance support for afloat and ashore operations, the company said in a press release Tuesday. Full artcile: https://www.upi.com/Defense-News/2019/01/15/BAE-signs-798M-contract-with-Navy-for-Pacific-comms-support/1401547573414/

All news

Navy Awards Big Contract for LCAC Replacement Ship-to-Shore Connectors

On the same subject

Safran Aircraft Engines and Qatar Armed Forces sign support agreement for M88 engines This Services Agreement provides the Qatar Armed Forces with a wide range of services, from spares, repairs and overhauls to detailed technical on-site support, optimizing maintenance operations with the customer.

Safran Aircraft Engines and Qatar Armed Forces sign support agreement for M88 engines
This Services Agreement provides the Qatar Armed Forces with a wide range of services, from spares, repairs and overhauls to detailed technical on-site support, optimizing maintenance operations with the customer.