The US Navy’s combat support ship USNS Arctic has reached its top speed for the first time in three years, after completing a refurbishment with Northrop Grumman.

During the refit programme, Northrop remanufactured the high-speed gear elements, which were damaged due to high bearing temperatures and an unreliable instrumentation system.

Northrop built new high-speed gear elements for greater ship propulsion, robust and advanced bearings, and a new temperature monitoring system performed above the set standards during the sea trials.

USNS Arctic is specifically designed for rapid logistics support of navy combat vessels and can transport heavy supply loads efficiently.

In January 2008, the US Military Sealift Command contracted Northrop Grumman to supply a new set of reduction gear elements.