Energy solutions provider AMSC announced it has been contracted to deliver a high temperature superconductor (HTS) based ship protection system (SPS) for the San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock Fort Lauderdale (LPD 28).
This contract follows a long lead order from the US Navy for a ship protection system for LPD 28 that was announced on September 6, 2017.
AMSC said its system would provide mine protection while reducing the weight of the degaussing system by 90% and reducing energy consumption by more than half that of legacy degaussing systems. The system is designed to reduce the magnetic signature of a ship, which can interfere with undersea mines’ ability to detect and damage the ship.
US Navy’s future USS Fort Lauderdale (LPD 28) officially started construction in a keel authentication ceremony at Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII), on Oct. 13, 2017.
LPD-28 is named in honor of the Florida city and will be the first Navy vessel to bear the name and will be the Navy’s 12th San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock ship.
San Antonio-class ships are designed to support embarking, transporting, and landing elements of over 800 Marines by landing craft, air cushion vehicles, helicopters, or MV-22 Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft.
The future USS Fort Lauderdale is planned for delivery in 2021.