General Atomics wins development contract from NSWCCD

General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems (GA-EMS) has won a development contract from the Naval Surface Warfare Center Carderock Division (NSWCCD) to provide naval propulsor hardware.

As per the contract, GA-EMS will provide manufacturing design drawings, engineering, fabrication, inspection, and assembly of prototype propulsor.

The company will also provide shafting and bearing components, along with the equipment required to aid the propulsor research and development, testing and evaluation.

GA-EMS will collaborate with the NSWCCD on the development of surface ships and submarines.

Design and analytical work will be performed primarily at GA-EMS’s San Diego, California facility in the US.

The company will carry out manufacturing engineering and fabrication works at its Tupelo, Missouri facility.

This work supports the requirements of the NSWCCD Advanced Propulsor Management Office for the design and development of prototype propulsors, shafting and bearing components, mechanical design specification, and manufacturing plans.

These will aid the COLUMBIA Class Submarine Program Office, the VIRGINIA Class Submarine Program Office, and R&D activities relating to the propulsor and shafting systems.

GA-EMS president Scott Forney said: “This is another exciting opportunity for GA-EMS to demonstrate our capability to support significant naval engineering and developmental programmes.

“Because of our proven track record in technical design, manufacturing expertise, and superb facilities, we are becoming the principal source for taking new technologies from concept, to prototype, and through to full production.

“We are proud to continue to support critical navy programmes that deliver the most advanced, safe, and reliable technologies to our warfighters.”

In March last year, GA-EMS demonstrated its Aluminum Power System (ALPS) for underwater remotely operated vehicles (ROVs).