Raytheon team broaches BUBL

Sea Power, May 2003

An advanced submarine payload launcher has been successfully tested in water, according to the Raytheon Company, leader of the four-member Forward Payloads and Sensors for Submarines (Forward PASS) consortium.

The Broaching Universal Buoyant Launcher (BUBL) has recently demonstrated "hydrodynamic stability and hydrostatic robustness," according to Steve Brecken of Raytheon's Media Relations.

The BUBL concept envisions a universal weapon encapsulation capability that would permit any payload-including present and future missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles-to be deployed from any submarine under any operating conditions. The BUBL program-which encompasses the construction of prototype capsule structures, electronics, sensor, and power subsystems-is expected to culminate in the launch of an Army missile airframe. If the program is successful, initial operational capability of the BUBL could be achieved by 2007, depending on the payloads selected.

"The successful BUBL demonstration and test is a true testament to the value of focus and collaboration," said Richard Buchanan, vice president of submarine and undersea systems for Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems. "The Forward PASS consortium is a model partnership with the cooperative teaming on government and industry talents working together to bring the best possible products to the fleet."

Teamed with Raytheon in the Forward PASS consortium are Electric Boat Corporation-a General Dynamics company-and TPI Composites. The Naval Undersea Warfare Center's Newport Division in Newport, R.I., is providing support for the program.

Defense Industry Notes

[lower half block] Lockheed Martin Naval Electronics & Surveillance Systems has been awarded a $164.2 million Naval Sea Systems Command contract for engineering the Aegis Weapon System for a Kongo-class guided-missile destroyer of the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force under the Foreign Military Sales program.

[lower half block] Mississippi Gov. Ronnie Musgrove has signed legislation authorizing proceeds from the sale of $48 million in bonds to help Northrop Grumman Ship Systems (NGSS) expand and modernize the company's Ingalls Operations in Pascagoula, Miss. NGSS also is allocating $96 million of its own capital to the expansion of Ingalls and its Gulfport Operations in Gulfport, Miss. Among the planned improvements at Ingalls are the addition of new blasting and painting halls, a state-of-the-art automated steel processing panel line, additional technology design and procurement space, and an increase, of more than 400,000 square feet, in the ship construction area available for the Navy DD(X) and Coast Guard Deepwater programs. Gulfport Operations is scheduled for a three-year conversion into the first primary composite combatant-ship manufacturing facility.

[lower half block] Vision Systems International-a joint venture between EFW Inc. and Rockwell Collins-has been awarded a $60.1 million contract from Boeing for a third low-rate initial production batch of more than 300 Joint Helmet-Mounted Cueing Systems (JHMCSs). The JHMCS provides the pilots of Navy and Marine Corps F/A-18 strike fighters and Air Force F-15 and F-16 fighters with accurate weapon and flight symbology (projected on the helmet's visor) to enable head-up, eyes-out operation during air-to-air and air-to-ground strike missions.

[lower half block] Isotta Fraschini-an Italian company with a North American subsidiary, Isotta-FDGM in Chesapeake, Va.-provided engineering support for U.S. Navy mine warfare ships staged in the Persian Gulf during the war in Iraq. The Navy's minehunters and minesweepers are powered by Isotta Fraschini non-magnetic diesel engines. The company has established full-service support facilities for the Navy's mine warfare ships in Ingleside, Texas; Sasebo, Japan; and Bahrain.

[lower half block] Electric Boat Corporation-a General Dynamics company-has been awarded a $59.3 million Naval Sea Systems Command contract for lead yard services in support of the construction of Virginia-class nuclear-powered attack submarines.

[lower half block] Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems has teamed with Advanced Acoustic Concepts to pursue the Navy procurement contract for the Surface Ship Torpedo Defense program. The team's concept includes acoustic sensors to detect incoming torpedoes; decision aids to classify, identify, and localize targets; and command-and-control technology to engage countermeasures and/or launch an anti-torpedo torpedo.

[lower half block] DRS Technologies has been awarded Naval Sea Systems Command contracts worth a total of $66.4 million to provide power electronics and control equipment for several classes of Navy combatant ships, advanced design work for the next-generation DD(X) destroyer and CVN 21 aircraft carrier programs, and engineering and technical services for surface combat system computer networks.

[lower half block] Northrop Grumman Ship Systems has delivered the 39th Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer to the Navy two months ahead of schedule. The Mustin (DDG 89)-the 18th ship of the class built at NGSS Ingalls Operations in Pascagoula, Miss.-is scheduled for commissioning on 26 July 2003 in San Diego, Calif.