Global solutions provider for the wind and power grid industry AMSC has received a sole source solicitation notice from the US Navy for its high temperature superconductor (HTS) equipment.
Over the past several years AMSC has been collaborating with the US Navy on its advanced HTS degaussing system. HTS equipment is an enabling technology for advanced degaussing systems on platforms that have limitations of weight and power.
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The technology is also capable of decreasing the overall degaussing system weight by 50-70%.
AMSC said that it will continue to expanding the technology into the fleet through an array of applications for power, propulsion, and protection equipment.
The company will also develop HTS power cable hardware for ship board power applications.
The HTS ship protection systems, including degaussing systems, minimise the magnetic signature of a ship, which can limit the ability of undersea mines to detect and damage the ship.
AMSC president and CEO Daniel McGahn said: "AMSC has worked extensively with the US navy to develop prototypes of the HTS advanced degaussing systems on surface platforms. AMSC’s HTS systems have now travelled close to 75,000 miles and compiled over 20,000 hours of run time on US Navy vessels.
"Combined with the manufacturing advances gained through the ManTech programme, we believe AMSC is capable of delivering HTS systems to the US Navy."
The successful completion of an HTS degaussing programme may encourage the development of other applications, such as ship board power transmission using similar equipment.
In addition, AMSC has stated that it received a contract from the US Navy Office of Naval Research to develop power cable hardware in direct support of that effort.
