JHSV joins exercise

GULF OF GUINEA – The Navy's first-in-class Joint High Speed Vessel, the Austal-built USNS Spearhead (JHSV 1), participated in exercise Obangame Express along with European, Atlantic and African partners April 16-21. The U.S. Africa Command-sponsored exercise is designed to improve cooperation, interdiction expertise and information sharing among West and Central African maritime forces. JHSV 1, built in Mobile, Ala., is scheduled to visit more than 22 nations while traveling more than 15,000 nautical miles. (Source: Navy News Service, 04/23/14) Previous: JHSV to test railgun; JHSV 1 on maiden deployment; Keel ceremony held for Trenton

Contract: Northrop, $25M

Northrop Grumman, Annapolis, Md., is being awarded a $25,000,000 modification to previously awarded contract (N61331-10-D-0009) for the continuation of depot level repair, maintenance, related engineering services, change kits and integrated logistics support documentation for the AN/AQS-14A Sonar Detecting Set, AQS-24 Mine Hunting System, ALQ-141 Acoustic Minehunting/Minesweeping System, USM-668 Intermediate Level Test Equipment (ILTE) and the Modified USM-668A ILTE and the Swivel Slip-Ring Assembly. Work will be performed in Annapolis, Md., and is expected to be completed by February 2015. No funding will be obligated at time of award and contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Surface Warfare Center Panama City Division, Panama City, Fla., is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD, 04/22/14)

Contract: General Dynamics, $28.7M

General Dynamics Bath Iron Works, Bath, Maine, is being awarded a $28,697,034 undefinitized contract action modification to previously awarded contract (N00024-09-C-2302) for Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) class design services. LCS class design services provide necessary engineering, program, and technical support for LCS class ships. This includes class baseline design services, class documentation services, class engineering studies and interim support services. Work will be performed in Bath, Maine (54 percent); Pittsfield, Mass. (45 percent); and Mobile, Ala. (1 percent), and work is expected to be complete by May 2015. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD, 04/22/14)

Contract: Alion, $25M

Alion Science and Technology Corp., Washington, D.C., is being awarded a $25,002,968 modification to previously awarded contract (N00024-12-C-4401) for additional professional support services in support of the Surface Warfare Directorate. This modification will continue professional support services in support of SEA21 Surface Warfare Fleet Support. Specific services include, but are not limited to: program management, engineering, logistics, technical, planning and readiness, fleet introduction training and financial management support services. Work will be performed in Washington, D.C. (56 percent), Norfolk, Va. (23 percent), San Diego, Calif. (6 percent), Pascagoula, Miss. (6 percent), Bath, Maine (3 percent), Mayport, Fla. (2 percent), Japan (2 percent), and other locations less than 1 percent (2 percent), and is expected to be completed by September 2014. Fiscal 2014 operations and maintenance, Navy contract funds in the amount of $24,762,968 will be obligated at time of award and will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington D.C., is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD, 04/14/14)

Avondale opportunities explored

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- Huntington Ingalls Industries said it will conduct a study with Kinder Morgan Energy Partners, LP to explore redeveloping Huntington Ingalls Industries' Avondale shipyard in Louisiana. Since the July 2010 announcement to close Avondale, HII has sought a way to redevelop the facility. The study will explore and evaluate best-use opportunities. Once the study is completed, HII and Kinder Morgan Energy Partners may pursue the formation of a joint venture for Avondale site. The site on the Mississippi River offers access to major markets by truck, rail and sea. (Source: Huntington Ingalls, 04/11/14)

Ingalls to deliver LHA 6

PASCAGOULA, Miss. -- Ingalls Shipbuilding will deliver the amphibious assault ship America (LHA 6) on Thursday. The ceremony begins with the ship's crew marching through the shipyard at 11 a.m., followed by a noon ceremony. America-class ships are 844 feet long and 106 feet wide. It will have a crew of 1,059 and 1,687 troops. The America class will be capable of carrying a Marine Expeditionary Unit, including Marine helicopters, MV‐22 Osprey tiltrotor aircraft and F‐35B Joint Strike Fighter aircraft. The ship has an increased aviation capacity to include an enlarged hangar deck, realignment and expansion of the aviation maintenance facilities, a significant increase in available stowage for parts and support equipment, and increased aviation fuel capacity. (Source: Ingalls, 04/09/14)

Ingalls to hire 2,500 this year

Brian Cuccias, Ingalls Shipbuilding's new president, said the Pascagoula, Miss., shipyard is looking to hire 2,500 craft workers this year. He made the comment during a Huntington Ingalls Industries overview at the Navy League Sea Air Space 2014 Expo in Washington. "We're well on our way to that," said Cuccias, noting that Mississippi's largest employer now has 12,000 workers. "We have a real push to pull veterans into the yard." The shipyard has a $10 billion backlog of work into 2018, including a $3.3 billion contract to build five DDG 51 class ships. (Source: Mississippi Press, Defense News, 04/08/14)

JHSV to test railgun

Electromagnetic railgun. Navy photo

The Navy plans to test a prototype electromagnetic railgun aboard a joint high speed vessel in fiscal year 2016, the service said today. It will mark the first time an EM railgun is demonstrated at sea. Railguns use an electromagnetic force, known as the Lorenz Force, to rapidly accelerate and launch a projectile between two conductive rails. The launch is at such high velocities that it can achieve greater ranges than conventional guns and maintains enough kinetic energy that it doesn't require any kind of high explosive payload. High-energy EM railguns are expected to be lethal and effective against multiple threats, including enemy warships, small boats, aircraft, missiles and land-based targets. The final system will be able to launch guided, multi-mission projectiles to a range of 110 nautical miles. The Navy is using a JHSV because of its available cargo and topside space and schedule flexibility. A final decision has not been made on which ship classes will receive a fully operational railgun."Energetic weapons, such as EM railguns, are the future of naval combat," said Rear Adm. Matt Klunder, the chief of naval research. "The U.S. Navy is at the forefront of this game-changing technology." (Source: NNS, 04/07/14) Gulf Coast note: JHSVs are built by Austal USA in Mobile, Ala.

Both LCS variants praised

The Austal and Lockheed Martin versions of Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) performed well in a major war game last week and surprised some "enemies" with their capabilities. Rear Admiral Thomas Rowden, director of surface warfare for the Navy, said on Tuesday that the war game held at the Navy War College in Rhode Island underscored the effectiveness of the new smaller warships in potential future conflicts, even in deeper waters. "This is going to be a force to be reckoned with," Rowden said, noting that U.S. Navy officials went home after the weeklong exercises with a new appreciation for the Navy's newest class of warships. (Source: Reuters, 04/01/14) Gulf Coast note: One version of the LCS is built by Austal USA in Mobile, Ala. Previous

LCS Coronado set for commissioning

LCS 4 in San Diego. Navy photo

The Navy will commission its newest littoral combat ship, the future USS Coronado (LCS 4) during an April 5 ceremony at Naval Air Station, North Island in Coronado, Calif. Vice Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Mark Ferguson will deliver the ceremony's principal address. The ship is the fourth littoral combat ship and the second of the Independence variant. Coronado will be outfitted with reconfigurable mission packages and focus on a variety of mission areas including mine countermeasures, surface warfare and anti-submarine warfare. The ship was built by Austal, USA, in Mobile, Ala. (Source: NNS, 04/02/14) Previous

Contract: Austal USA, $6.7M

Austal USA, Mobile, Ala., is being awarded a $6,726,406 modification to previously awarded contract (N00024-11-C-2301) for fabrication and assembly of a live fire test module in support of the Navy's Independence variant littoral combat ship survivability testing program which is critical to class qualifications and ships eventual deployment. Work will be performed in Mobile and is expected to be completed by March 2015. Fiscal 2013 research, development, test and evaluation funding in the amount of $6,726,406 will be obligated at the time of award and will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Supervisor of Shipbuilding Gulf Coast, Pascagoula, Miss., is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD, 04/02/14)

New commander at SUPSHIP

OCEAN SPRINGS, Miss. – Capt. Joseph M. Tuite relieved Capt. Stephen W. Mitchell as Supervisor of Shipbuilding (SUPSHIP) Gulf Coast in a ceremony at the Ocean Springs Civic Center March 28. Tuite previously served at Supervisor of Shipbuilding Gulf Coast (SSGC) in Pascagoula, Miss., as LHD 8 production officer from June 2003 to February 2006, and then returned to work with SSGC in March 2010 as program manager’s representative for the LPD program. He assumed the position of SSGC executive officer in July 2012. Mitchell is retiring after a 30-year career in the Navy. (Source: Seapower magazine, 03/31/14)