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| Press Release July 2, 2000 |
BATH, MAINE (July 2, 2000) -- The Office of Naval Research awarded $9.2 million to General Dynamics Bath Iron Works to design and manufacture an advanced propulsion system for a technical demonstration vessel. The project, Advanced Hull Form Inshore Demonstrator (AHFID), directly supports the Navy’s announcement to incorporate electric drive in future naval combatants. BIW will lead a team that includes the University of Maine, General Dynamics Electric Boat of Groton, Connecticut, and Pacific Marine and Supply Company of Honolulu, Hawaii.
The AHFID award is a result of the Office of Naval Research technology symposium for Maine businesses and educational institutions held in Portland in June 1999.
In the AHFID program, the University of Maine will be advancing the state of the art of advanced materials engineering. The propulsion motor will be housed in a pod fabricated with advanced composite materials designed by the University. The pod will contain embedded sensors that can measure the performance of the propulsion motor and will be able to monitor the structural health of the composite materials.
A prototype of the composite pod will be tested at the University’s new Advanced Structures and Composites Laboratory. This will allow validation of the design and will allow researchers to evaluate the performance of the embedded sensors.
The Pacific Marine and Supply Company will be creating an advanced hull form for use as the test platform. The company has extensive experience in the design and construction of advanced hull forms for the Navy.
Electric drive propulsion eliminates the mechanical gearing normally found in the propulsion trains of conventional vessel and replaces it with an electric motor. By using an electric motor, the advantages of podded propulsion can be fully realized. Electric drive enables all the equipment on the ship to be powered by electricity such that power can be redirected and the ship can be reconfigured instantly in the event of a casualty.
Bath Iron Works Advanced Technology division is working with University of Maine and other Maine businesses to explore further research and development opportunities in the areas of advanced materials, power systems, wearable computers, fuel cells, and manufacturing technologies.
Bath Iron Works of Bath, Maine, a leader in surface combatant design and construction, employs 7,600 people. It is a subsidiary of General Dynamics (NYSE:GD), headquartered in Falls Church, Virginia. General Dynamics has leading market positions in shipbuilding and marine systems, land and amphibious combat systems, information systems, and business aviation. The company employs 43,000 people worldwide and has annualized sales of approximately $10 billion. More information about General Dynamics can be found on the worldwide web at www.generaldynamics.com.
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