Sponsored by Hobson Industries
www.hobsonindustries.co.uk
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19 Feb 20. UAV Turbines, Inc. Launches a Compact Turbogenerator Redefining Portable Power Use. The turbogenerator platform brings a new class of micro gas-turbine generators to the market. UAV Turbines, Inc. (UAVT), a pioneer of microturbine technology, today announced the launch of its lightweight, military-grade microturbine generator platform for on-demand electrical power ranging from 3kW to 40kW. UAVT has extended the use of its micro propulsion technology family, the Monarch 1, by developing a portable Micro-Turbogenerator System (MTS) that fits in a small case that can be carried by two people. Following successful demonstrations, UAVT’s MTS 1.0 dynamic ground power system is being developed and tailored alongside potential launch customers to meet specific requirements for their ground power and auxiliary power applications. Watch the MTS 1.0 operating here.
“UAVT is applying its groundbreaking gas microturbine design and performance benefits, initially proven for propulsion applications, to help solve global commercial and military portable power source needs,” said Kirk Warshaw, CEO of UAV Turbines. “Our 38hp Monarch 5 propulsion engine can be adapted to produce 25kW of power within the requirements of our microturbine generator platform as a portable generator system. The MTS 1.0 fits in a Pelican type case and runs on safe, non-volatile, easy-to-source heavy fuels, like jet fuel or diesel. It can be used to power any device or system that requires electricity; lights, communication equipment, medical equipment, and it can be used to recharge batteries of all sizes.”
UAVT’s microturbine generators are more sophisticated than today’s conventional generators given that they operate with significantly less vibration and at dramatically lower noise levels due to how high-frequency turbine noise rapidly attenuates with distance. The MTS 1.0 as configured in this video has no noise reduction components. These reduced vibration and noise levels make it easier to integrate into a larger system while simultaneously reducing the wear and tear on structures, operators and total cost of ownership.
The MTS’s small size, fuel flexibility, ability to rapidly change configurations and ease of moving without the need for forklifts and flatbed trucks addresses the critically important needs of rescue teams and military units. These teams operate all too often in adverse weather, terrain and hostile environments, independently of large logistic support. There is a significant difference between powering a remote weather station in a cool location at sea level compared to serving as an alternative power unit for air conditioners and communications systems in a parked military vehicle in the blazing desert heat. No single system currently serves all needs optimally. The MTS is the solution to seamlessly adjust to these situational changes, providing users with peak performance and little to no downtime.
Fred Frigerio, UAVT’s Senior Vice President of Engineering, added, “Our turbine technology has significant advantages over reciprocating engine-based generators. For starters, they are very compact, quiet, have low vibration, and are extremely reliable. Just as important, they can operate on a variety of heavy fuels and at very different environmental conditions without requiring intrusive modifications.”
The microturbine generator platform enables UAVT to test application-specific designs and develop a family of systems that will balance the engineering trade-offs imposed by real-world conditions, such as maximum continuous power needs, target weight, desired footprint, permitted noise, and harsh operating conditions imposed by factors like altitude, temperature, and dust. (Source: BUSINESS WIRE)
19 Feb 20. Exostar Launches Aerospace and Defense Supply Chain Working Group, the leader in trusted, secure business collaboration in aerospace and defense (A&D), life sciences, and healthcare, today announced the formation of an A&D Supply Chain Working Group to define and develop the industry journey roadmap for a next-generation solution that benefits buyers, suppliers, and commercial and Government customers throughout the supply chain. The Working Group includes executives from industry leaders such as BAE Systems, Boeing, General Dynamics, Huntington Ingalls, L3Harris, Leidos, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, Raytheon, Rolls-Royce, and the UK Ministry of Defence.
“A&D companies share supply and customer bases, as well as challenges in supply chain security, quality, and operational efficiency,” said Sri Yellepeddi, Exostar’s Senior Director of Supply Chain. “It makes no sense for each of them to reinvent the wheel. Our vision was to bring them together to cooperatively find common ground, overcome these complex hurdles, and develop the process and functional plans for a next-gen supply chain platform that best serves the industry.”
The A&D Supply Chain Working Group’s activities focus on technology modernization roadmap alignment by identifying business drivers, their impact on the industry, and how they translate into current and future supply chain solution and operations requirements. Today’s most pressing drivers include digital transformation, supply chain cybersecurity, network and application integration and interoperability, master data management, and supplier qualification, sourcing, and efficiency.
“Given the sensitivity of the information we handle, the critical customers we serve, and the lifecycles of our programs, our industry must move deliberately,” said Paul Kling, Vice President of Procurement at BAE Systems Inc. “As we do that, we’ve got to find ways to better leverage technology, upgrade our end-to-end supply chain processes and solutions, and improve the supplier experience. The Working Group allows us to exchange ideas, define best practices, and agree on a common journey map.”
Members of the A&D Supply Chain Working Group identify non-competitive areas of alignment to incorporate into a next-generation solution. These include standards and forms to capture and manage supply chain information, data security methods and protections for sharing controlled unclassified information and covered defense information, and a “network of networks” model that promotes master data management and integration initiatives while preserving and protecting privacy, sensitive information, and intellectual property.
Per these objectives, the A&D Supply Chain Working Group defined initial themes to progress the industry journey roadmap:
- Collaboration (including orders, supply planning, and documents)
- Onboarding user experience (including vendor qualification)
- E-sourcing (including RFx support)
- Interoperability (including network and application integration)
- Security (including the forthcoming Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification)
“Nations, states, and cyber criminals target companies belonging to the A&D supply chain, looking for vulnerabilities to exploit. We need to ensure we engage in commerce with suppliers who meet security standards like CMMC,” said M. David Wilkins, Vice President of Contracts and Supply Chain at Raytheon. “The efforts of the Working Group will complement the Government’s program and will result in a more resilient supply chain, protecting important information without sacrificing cost, schedule, or quality.” (Source: Google/https://www.aviationpros.com/)
19 Feb 20. Damen lays keel for Nigerian Navy’s LST 100 landing craft. Damen Shipyards Sharjah in the UAE has officially marked the start of construction on the Nigerian Navy’s LST 100 landing craft with a keel-laying ceremony. The ceremony was witnessed by Nigeria chief of naval staff, vice-admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas.
LST 100 is expected to be completed and scheduled for delivery by 2022.
The 100m-long LST has been designed to be able to perform a range of operations from the transportation of troops and equipment to humanitarian purposes.
The vessel will be used to provide assistance during evacuation operations and disaster relief.
Ibok-Ete Ibas said: “Today’s ceremony is a significant step towards actualising the dream of restoring the Nigerian Navy’s sealift capability.
“The selection of Damen was based on the track record of high-quality shipbuilding capacity, engineering, as well as the belief in the company’s ability to adhere to the timelines for the delivery of the ship. As we say in the Nigerian Navy, ‘onward together’.”
LST 100 has the capacity to house a crew of 32 people along with 16 Embarked Marine Forces (EMF) in the deckhouse.
The midship below the main deck has an additional arrangement to accommodate 234 pax EMF.
The roll-on-roll-off landing craft has a dedicated space allocated for a helicopter and unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) landing deck.
It also has significant cargo space and is equipped with 25t main crane.
With a deadweight of 1,300t, the vessel is capable of unmanned underwater vehicle / unmanned surface vehicle (UUV/USV) deployment. (Source: naval-technology.com)
18 Feb 20. Singapore expects first upgraded F-16 jets to fly next year. Singapore expects to have its first upgraded F-16 multi-role fighter jet roll off the line sometime next year, with its air force chief confirming that work will be carried out locally.
Addressing written questions put to him by Defense News prior to the Singapore Airshow, Major-General Kelvin Khong wrote that prototyping work in the United States, led by F-16 manufacturer Lockheed-Martin, is ongoing.
He also confirmed that serial production has commenced locally on the project, with ST Engineering Aerospace undertaking the effort with the first upgraded aircraft “expected to be rolled out around 2021.”
Khong did not say when the upgrade project will be completed. Singapore’s defense minister had said in 2015 that the planned end date was 2022, although this now appears to be unlikely.
Singapore was cleared by the Stated Department to upgrade its fleet of 40 F-16C/D Block 52 and 40 F-16D Advanced Block 52 aircraft in January 2014. The U.S. $2.43bn upgrade package includes the Northrop Grumman AN/APG-83 active electronically scanned array radar, mission computers, helmet mounted sights and integration of new weapons such as the GBU-38 Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM), GBU-49/50 Enhanced Paveway II dual-mode guided bombs, and CBU-105 Sensor-Fuzed Weapon.
The request also included the integration of the AIM-9X Sidewinder agile dogfight missile and Joint Helmet Mounted-Cueing System (JHMCS). The latter will replace the Israeli Elbit DASH (Display and Sight Helmet) currently in use by the RSAF’s Vipers, and like the AIM-9X, will allow for compatibility with the RSAF’s 40 Boeing F-15SG Eagles.
A follow-on FMS request worth $130m (A$179m) was issued to in supplement the earlier request; this time for advanced datalinks and integration of the low-collateral damage Small Diameter Bomb.
Lockheed-Martin was awarded a US$914 m DoD contract in December 2015 to perform the Singaporean F-16 upgrade and a further $27m supplemental contract was issued in November 2016 for Lockheed-Martin to exercise “four options” in support of Singapore’s F-16 upgrade program, along with another $67.6m fixed price modification to the original contract that was awarded on 11th of February.
Singapore’s 60 F-16s were delivered between 1998 and 2003 and are split among three locally based squadrons and a training detachment based at Luke Air Force Base in Phoenix, Arizona. The fleet has undergone a number of incremental upgrades over their service lives, which included integration with the Lockheed-Martin Sniper targeting pod around 2008.
They are also reportedly equipped with an Israeli electronic warfare suite, although this has never been officially acknowledged. Singapore was the second export customer after Israel to have the dorsal “spine” fitted to its F-16Ds, and its 20 Advanced Block 52 aircraft, which are also known as the F-16D+, are externally almost identical to Israel’s F-16I aircraft.
Singapore is one of three Asian nations currently upgrading its F-16 fleet to a roughly similar standard, with Taiwan and South Korea the other two. Taiwan has had issues upgrading its fleet of approximately 144 F-16A/B Block 20 aircraft, with delays caused by avionics integration issues and labour shortages in Taiwan, although it insists that the program will conclude as planned in 2022 despite the delays. (Source: Defense News)
18 Feb 20. China completes hangar construction at Aksu. Key Points:
- Eight hangars were constructed at the dual-use Aksu airport in western China.
- The new hangars appear able to support UAVs, suggesting deployments to Aksu may resume in the future.
Commercial satellite imagery captured on 11 February shows that China recently completed the construction of eight new hangars at Aksu airport, which is a dual-use facility in the country’s northwestern Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.
The construction of the hangars at Aksu, which had previously hosted the deployment of up to eight CH-5 strike-capable, medium-altitude, long-endurance (MALE) unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), suggests that the facility will remain a UAV deployment site in the future. (Source: Jane’s)
18 Feb 20. Malaysia to send its F/A-18D Hornets to Australia for maintenance work. The Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) will send its eight Boeing F/A-18D Hornet multirole fighters to Australia where they will undergo depot-level maintenance work aimed at allowing the aircraft to operate until 2035. The maintenance work will be conducted on two aircraft at a time at the Royal Australian Air Force’s (RAAF’s) Williamtown airbase where Boeing Australia has also maintained the RAAF’s F/A-18F Super Hornet fleet. A pair of RMAF Hornets is expected to be flown aboard RMAF A400M airlifters later this year to start the fighters’ 10-year maintenance programme. Jane’s understands that the maintenance work in Australia, which is expected to be completed in four years, will mainly involve work being done on the Hornets’ airframe and engines, although the aircraft are also expected to be fitted with new cockpit displays, a tactical datalink and associated hardware. (Source: Jane’s)
17 Feb 20. US Naval Supply Signs $2.3bn UH-60 Renewal Contract. Naval Supply Systems Command Weapon Systems Support (NAVSUP WSS) renewed a $2.3bn H-60 Seahawk Performance Based Logistics (PBL) contract with Lockheed Martin Rotary and Mission System (LMRMS) located in Owego, N.Y., Feb. 1. The H-60 Seahawk PBL renewal is NAVSUP WSS’ fourth PBL contract with LMRMS since 2004, and runs from Feb. 2020 to Jan. 2027 (a five-year period of performance and an option to extend for two years). This contract will continue to provide value to the fleet and demonstrate the benefits of long-term contractual arrangements, allowing the government to roll out best practices into follow-on contracts. This PBL contract, based on Federal Acquisition Regulation Part 15 (Contracting by Negotiation), provides supply support for the MH-60R/S helicopter platform. It will cover almost a thousand individual items comprised of Weapon Replaceable Assemblies (WRAs) and Shop Replaceable Assemblies (SRAs) and includes the main rotor blade, main gearbox and the Airborne Low Frequency Sonar (ALFS). ALFS is a new system add that was not previously supported under the original Seahawk PBL. The ALFS allows for rapid search rate, longer detection range over a wider area and is high performing in both deep and shallow water. The Seahawk PBL is organically sourced with three Fleet Readiness Centers: Southeast, East and Southwest, along with Naval Undersea Warfare Center Division Keyport and Tobyhanna Army Depot. The renewal will continue to include demand bands, which are a pricing adjustment mechanism utilized to mitigate the risk associated with demand fluctuation in a long term, firm-fixed price contract.
According to Stephen Van Note, NAVSUP WSS contracting officer, “The demand band structure is utilized to incentivize the contractor to implement product and process improvements to increase time-on-wing and reliability, reduce failures, and improve supply chain processes.”
The objective of the PBL contract is to increase reliability and availability of H-60 components, as well as the potential to improve Mean Time Between Depot Demand (MTBDD). By decreasing the MTBDD, parts will be available sooner and reduce the number of backorders to the fleet.
Contracting officer Tara Hartung explains that this contract is integral to the NAVSUP WSS mission of keeping the H-60 platform performing at optimal levels as well as improving material availability for fleet readiness.
“This innovative $2.3bn contract will ensure the H-60 platform is always mission ready,” said Hartung.
Keeping in line with Secretary Geurts’ initiatives to be more agile and innovative in our contracting approach and the Naval Aviation Enterprise’s push to improve fleet readiness, the Seahawk PBL continues to set the standard for exceptional support to the H-60 fleet, which includes US Navy, nine Foreign Military Sales partners and the US Coast Guard.
In addition, the NAVSUP WSS H-60 Integrated Weapon Systems Team was awarded the 2019 Secretary of Defense PBL award for innovative sustainment solutions that yield improved lethality. This award will be presented at Joint Base Andrews, Md. in Apr. 2020.
NAVSUP WSS is one of eleven commands under Commander, NAVSUP. Headquartered in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, and employing a diverse, worldwide workforce of more than 22,500 military and civilian personnel, NAVSUP’s mission is to provide supplies, services, and quality-of-life support to the Navy and joint warfighter. (Source: ASD Network)
14 Feb 20. Singapore Airshow 2020: Malaysia reveals future plans for A400M airlifters. The Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) has laid out plans to further unlock the tactical capabilities of its A400M heavy airlifters, including equipping the aircraft with full paradropping capabilities.
The plans were revealed by Major Lo Chee Sing, an RMAF A400M pilot from the service’s 22 Squadron, during a briefing organised by Airbus us as part of Singapore Airshow 2020. The RMAF operates a fleet of four A400Ms.
“The Royal Malaysian Air Force is very keen to conduct, and get more involved in, the tactical capabilities of this aircraft,” said Maj Lo.
According to the pilot, the RMAF began unlocking these capabilities in early 2018 when it successfully conducted the first two-point tanking operations with the A400M.
The operation was conducted with two Sukhoi Su-30MKM fighter aircraft. “We are among the first in the world to conduct it [two-point taking operations with the A400M],” Maj Lo added.
Since then, the RMAF has conducted aerial refuelling exercises from the A400M for the two other fighter aircraft types in service: the Boeing F/A-18 Hornet and the BAE Hawk 208.
The RMAF will soon move on to conduct take-off and landing operations at unpaved and austere airstrips, and the service will eventually explore the possibility of taking on high- altitude low opening (HALO) and high-altitude high opening (HAHO) jumps, and paradropping cargo via the container delivery system (CDS).
Major Lo did not provide further details on when each of these operations are expected to be carried out but did say that the squadron’s immediate focus is to support planned maintenance for a single F/A-18D airframe at Williamstown, Australia. The airframe will be transported from Malaysia to Australia with one A400M later this year. (Source: Jane’s)
14 Feb 20. Kellstrom Defense and Lynden to install DFQMS on L-100. Kellstrom Defense Aerospace (KDA) has announced a partnership with Lynden Air Cargo to install the first Digital Fuel Quantity Measurement Solution (DFQMS) on 382G (L-100) aircraft. DFQMS is KDA’s latest aircraft life extension product (LEP) and a modern active capacitance system.
Under the partnership, Lynden will also complete the supplemental type certificate (STC) for the L-100 aircraft type. The modernisation solution will support legacy C-130 and L-100 aircraft.
Kellstrom Defense said in a statement: “The engineered product operating segment has invested to bring in a full-scale development programme for this technology, supported by our partners at the AMETEK SFMS and PDS divisions and the system engineering team at Cascade Aerospace, a Lockheed Martin service and engineering centre.”
The DFQMS system improves system reliability, lowers material cost and increases mission readiness by replacing legacy fuel quantity measurement systems and aircraft wiring harnesses.
The Lynden installation is expected to clear the way for global fleet retrofit of this technology.
Kellstrom Defense Aerospace LEP vice-president Michael Farmer said: “We are excited to work closely with Lynden on their fleet of 382G (L-100) aircraft to complete STC development and ensure that this critical technology reaches maturity. (Source: airforce-technology.com)
14 Feb 20. Singapore Airshow 2020: ST Engineering positions Endurance 170 for potential overseas customer. Key Points:
- ST Engineering Marine has developed the Endurance 170 is response to a potential contest overseas
- The company downplays apparent links that have been made between the product, and Singapore’s impending Joint Multi Mission Ship (JMMS) programme
ST Engineering Marine has given further insights into why the company developed a 170m variant of the Endurance-class landing platform dock (LPD).
Speaking to Jane’s at Singapore Airshow 2020, a senior representative of the company, who prefers not to be named, clarified that the product was conceived in response to a potential contest overseas.
“The Endurance 170 was developed out of our existing Endurance 160 product, and it was done to meet specifications that were mandated by the prospective customer”, said the representative, who declined to reveal any details on the potential buyer.
The representative has also downplayed apparent connections that have been made between the Endurance 170, and Singapore’s impending Joint Multi Mission Ship (JMMS) programme.
“There have been no discussions between DSTA [Defence Science and Technology Agency] and ST Engineering on the JMSS project at this point of time, and I am not aware of any plans to do so at the moment”, he confirmed.
The Singapore government first announced in 2014 that it would be replacing the Republic of Singapore Navy’s (RSN’s) fleet of four Endurance-class LPDs with an unspecified number of JMMS platforms.
Further announcements in 2019 and early-2020, which confirm Singapore’s plan to acquire the short take-off and vertical-landing (STOVL)-capable F-35B fighter aircraft, further heightened expectations that the JMMS would be a through-deck platform.
The Endurance 170 has an overall beam of 30.8m, a draft of 6.6m, and displaces 19,000 tonnes. The vessel has a top speed of 20kt, and a range of 7,000n miles at 15kt. (Source: Jane’s)
06 Feb 20. US Navy Awards 1st PBL Contract to Supply H1, Other Helos. Naval Supply Systems Command Weapon Systems Support (NAVSUP WSS) recently awarded the first Performance Based Logistics contract in support of the H-1 helicopter platform. The five-year, firm fixed-price contract, valued at just over $815m, was awarded to Bell Textron Inc., based in Fort Worth, Texas. The PBL contract, based on Federal Acquisition Regulation Part 15 (Commercial Item), provides supply support for the UH-1Y, also known as the Super Huey, and the AH-1Z Viper. It will cover 35 individual items including tail rotor blades, gearboxes, and yokes. This contract is dual sourced with Fleet Readiness Center-East slated to perform repairs.
According to Capt. Christopher Kovack, NAVSUP WSS director of contracts, this PBL will ensure Bell produces and delivers parts on a regular schedule for the duration of the contract assuring the fleet has the materials it needs to stay mission ready.
“We are always seeking new PBLs that enhance the effectiveness of our sustainment strategy and compress the supply chain to improve material availability and fleet readiness,” said Kovack. Properly structured and managed PBLs increase value and reduce costs. Kovack said this new H-1 PBL achieves both these goals and should generate delivery schedules that are even more reliable and timely than before.
The H-1 PBL contract will include Supply Response Time metrics that will provide time-definite delivery schedules for both high- and low-priority documents that are far superior to schedules under transactional support. With the award of this PBL, Bell and FRC-E will fill backorders in a more timely fashion and keep the H-1 platform mission ready.
One of the ways Bell and FRC-E will measure performance of the H-1 PBL is through material availability. The increased replenishment of stock positions will lead to a faster fill rate when the fleet orders material through requisitions. This will decrease wait times for parts and therefore decrease repair wait time.
This contract will also include a performance incentive to increase or maintain the Mean Time Between Failure on six main components. Bell achieving better maintenance practices on repair and overhauls will enable the helicopters to fly longer between repair times.
Contracting officer Jennifer McCaffrey explained, “The Mean Time Between Failure on various components can greatly impact fleet readiness, and by reducing this we can keep the fleet performing at a higher rate and fill their requirements faster.”
NAVSUP WSS is one of eleven commands under Commander, NAVSUP. Headquartered in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, and employing a diverse, worldwide workforce of more than 22,500 military and civilian personnel, NAVSUP’s mission is to provide supplies, services, and quality-of-life support to the Navy and joint warfighter. (Source: ASD Network/US Navy)
17 Feb 20. Singapore Airshow 2020: HOPE Technik debuts CLAW tactical aircraft munitions loader. Singapore’s HOPE Technik, a technology developer specialising in bespoke research and manufacturing for the commercial, defence, and government sectors, has taken the opportunity at the Singapore Airshow 2020 to unveil its new tactical aircraft munitions handling and loading system called the Compact Loader for Aircraft Weapons (CLAW).
CLAW is designed to transfer munitions or stores directly from storage to a tactical aircraft and is operated by a single operator, who can control the loader’s lift arm, load table motion, and vehicle movement from the rear-mounted digital instrument panel.
According to company specifications, the electrically powered and self-propelled CLAW measures 4,020mm long, 1,440mm wide, and 1,240mm tall with its handling table retracted, and offers a run time of up to 8 hours on each battery charge. (Source: Jane’s)
12 Feb 20. Leopard 2 MBT Upgrade. Intracom Defense (IDE) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Krauss Maffei Wegmann (KMW) to cooperate on the deployment of a hybrid auxiliary power solution for Leopard 2 main battle tank (MBT) variants, based on IDE’s Hybrid Genaircon system and KMW’s OEM platform integration expertise. Genaircon is an integrated Hybrid Power Supply and Management system for vehicles.
The agreement coincides with the on-going activities of IDE – in cooperation with the Hellenic Ministry of Defence – on the integration of Genaircon into the Greek Leopard 2A4. This integration will enhance the MBT’s auxiliary power resilience, mission sustainment, survivability through True Silent Watch capability and lead to lifecycle cost savings. Work will be completed within the first half of 2020. (Source: ESD Spotlight)
17 Feb 20. Singapore Airshow 2020: Airbus mulls upgrade options for existing C295 operators. Existing operators of the Airbus C295 multirole aircraft will soon be presented with options into how existing airframes can be upgraded to the latest standards.
The company is currently studying various upgrade and retrofit possibilities, given how several operators have already indicated interest in upgrade of their existing fleets, said the company during a briefing at Singapore Airshow 2020.
The Airbus C295 is a twin turboprop aircraft with a 25m wingspan, and it can be configured for a variety of roles, including maritime patrol, anti-submarine warfare, airborne early warning, signals intelligence, close-air support, and military transport operations. (Source: Jane’s)
17 Feb 20. ABS, the Royal Canadian Navy, and Defence Research & Development Canada Launch Digital Asset Framework Pilot. Pioneering Digital Technology Project Begins on HMCS Saskatoon.
ABS today announced it is engaged in a pilot program with the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) and Defence Research and Development Canada (DRDC) to deliver the ABS Digital Asset Framework for the RCN’s Maritime Coastal Defence Vessels.
The ABS Digital Asset Framework forms the foundation of a broader Conditioned-Based Class program that transforms ship classification from a calendar-based schedule to a condition-based model.
The project, which will start with HMCS Saskatoon, will support the RCN’s larger Digital Navy Initiative.
“ABS is a leader in delivering condition-based maintenance data services in maritime and offshore applications, and we are proud that the RCN have chosen to work with us on this landmark project,” said Christopher J. Wiernicki, ABS Chairman, President and CEO. “Through our digital programs for commercial and government clients, we are seeing first-hand the power of these technologies to drive improved asset performance and operational safety.”
In the pilot program, a network of data models will be generated from a suite of ABS digital solutions which include advanced condition analysis tools. This network of data models will support the execution of an integrity management program developed specifically for the RCN.
The multi-year pilot program will enable the RCN to monitor the condition of the vessel throughout its remaining service life using digital twin technology and advanced ABS analytics to identify anomalies, guiding inspection and maintenance planning.
ABS digital solutions that will be applied during this pilot program include:
- A vessel-specific structural sensor plan designed for measurement of global hull response
- Hull sensor pre-processing and data quality checks
- Hull and operational data dashboard visualizations
- Full structural digital twin creation and analytics
- RAM Analysis
Together, the digital solutions offer greater access to vessel-wide intelligence providing a more holistic view of structural health and the condition of on-board equipment. This allows the RCN to plan future maintenance actions based on the actual condition of the vessel. (Source: BUSINESS WIRE)
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About Hobson Industries
Hobson Industries is a private company established in 1987 by Peter Hobson, after serving as a Charge Chief Weapons Engineering Artificer in the Royal Navy. Hobson Industries is an innovative and highly technical engineering business operating to the requirements of ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management System which is complimented with our ISO 14001:2015 Environmental Management System.
Across the markets we serve in, the UK and globally, we establish close relationships with the people that trust and depend on us. We specialise in the through life support management and development of Land Rover heritage military and civilian platforms – in effect, the Land Rover need never die!
Hobson Industries offer four core services that we specialise in:
Vehicles:
We offer Land Rover vehicle builds to original specification or complete with modifications and upgrades at the customers request. All work is done in house using our bountiful facilities. In addition to vehicle refurbishment, reconditioning and homologation across all Land Rover models.
Powertrain and Transmission Units:
We offer new and reconditioned units, perfect for your Land Rover. All built using Land Rover tolerances and specifications. All for sale on our website. Additionally, we offer reconditioning services to your own units.
Parts Supply:
With over 16,000 part lines in stock, and the Asset Management programme pioneered by the company, we are able to provide a cost effective range of parts which may no longer be available. Additionally, we are offering Hobson Original branded parts to drawings for obsolete parts to help provide Land Rover owners the parts to keep them on the road. Our parts strategy ensures that all re-cycled, asset managed and reconditioned parts and units meet original equipment standards and specifications to ensure your safety while driving on or off road.
Amour – Design and Fabrication and Blast Protection
We offer armouring in steel, composite and ceramic of new and refurbished vehicles and fleets.
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