To help the Navy in determining the survivability and operational reliability of the fleet, Alion Science and Technology, an employee-owned technology solutions company, will analyze the effects of underwater explosions (UNDEX) on U.S. Navy platforms under a $4.6 million SeaPort Enhanced award. Alion’s team of experts will examine submarines, surface ships and associated platforms for the Naval Surface Warfare Center Carderock Division’s Survivability and Weapons Effect Department.
Under the contract, Alion will provide engineering and technical support for UNDEX testing, shock qualification and ship survivability programs. Alion will develop and validate algorithms for predicting the response of test vehicles, scale models, and submarines and surface ships due to UNDEX events. Alion will also develop and validate novel approaches for increasing survivability of hull structure, systems and equipment in the UNDEX response environment.
“UNDEX incidents pose a different threat to Navy vessels than above-water explosions because of the pressure shock wave generated by a blast below the surface,” explained JJ Waickwicz , Alion Senior Vice President and Manager of the Design, Engineering & Technology Group. “ By providing the Navy with UNDEX engineering support, Alion is enabling leaders to conduct physical security assessments of the Naval fleet for survivability and long-term performance, helping to extend the fleet’s lifecycle.”
The period of performance runs Sept. 30, 2011 through Sept. 29, 2014.
The Naval Sea Systems Command’s SeaPort Enhanced Multiple Award Contract provides support for Navy systems that range from weapons systems to fleet readiness and homeland security to logistics. The contract supports the Navy Systems Commands (NAVSEA, NAVAIR, SPAWAR, NAVFAC, and NAVSUP), the Office of Naval Research, the United States Marine Corps, and the Defense Threat Reduction Agency.
[mappress] Naval Today Staff , December 06, 2011