UTC Aerospace Systems has successfully delivered its latest sonar dome rubber window to the US Navy, bringing the total to more than 150.
The acoustically transparent sonar dome surrounds the sonar transducer array, which forms the sonar’s sensor system.
The company’s engineered polymer products (EPP) team earlier delivered the sonar domes for the US Navy’s Oliver Hazard Perry-class guided missile vessels, Ticonderoga-class Aegis guided missile ships and Arleigh Burke-class Aegis warships, as well as for allied navies.
Aerostructures president Marc Duvall said: "We have a long history of innovation in building quality components that support anti-submarine warfare capabilities for the US Navy’s powerful surface fleet."
The Arleigh Burke-class vessels have been designed to provide multi-mission offensive and defensive capabilities and can support anti-air warfare (AAW), anti-submarine warfare (ASW) and anti-surface warfare (ASUW) missions.
Capable of operating independently or as part of carrier strike groups, surface action groups, amphibious ready groups and underway replenishment groups, the ships are armed with a MK-41 vertical launch system (VLS).
The Ticonderoga-class vessels are fitted with two mk 41 vertical launch systems (VLS), each armed with eight Boeing / Raytheon Tomahawk cruise missiles as well as a 324mm-tube torpedo launcher, capable of launching the mk46 mod 5 torpedo and mk50 torpedo.
Jointly manufactured by Ingalls Shipbuilding and Bath Iron Works, the 172.8m-long Ticonderoga-class ships have a displacement capacity of 3,500t and can cruise at a maximum speed of 30k using four LM 2500 gas turbine engines.
Capable of accommodating a crew of 17 officers and 198 enlisted, the Bath Iron Works and Todd Shipyards-built Oliver Hazard Perry-class ships have a full load displacement of 4,100t and cruise at a maximum speed 30k.
The sonar dome rubber window has been manufactured at the company’s facility in Jacksonville, Florida, US to the US Navy. EPP also provides field services for the installation, inspection, and repair of its sonar domes In support of customers.
Image: US Navy’s Oliver Hazard Perry-class vessel, USS Kauffman (FFG 59) at sea. Photo: image courtesy of US Navy.
