Feature 2 | ADVANCED HULLFORMS
Three contracts awarded for JHSV
preliminary design
Three contracts have been awarded for preliminary design of the joint
US Navy/US Army Joint High Speed Vessel (JHSV). The contracts were
awarded to industry teams led by Austal, Bollinger Shipyards, and General
Dynamics.
T
he JHSV is a US Navy-led acquisition port access. This will, the US Navy and At the conclusion of the six-month JHSV
of a platform intended to support US Army anticipate, make the JHSV an preliminary design, Austal and the other
users both in the Department of the extremely flexible asset for support of a wide industry teams will submit a proposal for
Navy and Department of the Army. The aim range of operations. detailed design and construction, a contract
is to develop a high-speed, shallow draught Initially, the Department of the Army that will include the award of a construction
vessel intended for rapid intra-theatre and the Department of the Navy pursued contract for the first ship and options for
transport of medium-sized payloads. separate programmes to meet their a further seven ships set to be awarded
JHSV will be able to reach speeds of requirements for ‘intra-theatre connectors’, between US FY09 and FY12.
35knots-45knots and allow for the rapid however, a decision was made to combine Austal noted that the JHSV requirement
transit and deployment of conventional or efforts, because it was recognised that and concept of operations are similar to
Special Forces as well as equipment and collaboration would offer increased cost those of the Austal-built WestPac Express,
supplies. The JHSV will also be capable of savings for both armed services. The JHSV which has been successfully serving the III
transporting personnel, equipment, and programme thus combines the US Army’s Marine Expeditionary Force in Okinawa,
supplies over operational distances, carrying Theatre Support Vessel (TSV) programme Japan, for more than six years.
company-sized units with their vehicles, with the Navy and Marine Corps High Executive chairman, John Rothwell,
or of reconfiguring to become a troop Speed Connector (HSC). said of the contract award: ‘As one of
transport for an infantry battalion. This will The US Navy’s Program Executive Office three companies down-selected for the
enable units to transit operational distances will be responsible for the acquisition preliminary design contract, Austal has a
while maintaining unit integrity, reducing programme for the US Army and US Navy strong chance of advancing to final selection
the need for conducting RSO&I operations should the programme proceed to the given its large skilled workforce and world
following offload. acquisition phase, but each service will fund class facilities in Mobile, Alabama.’
The JHSV will also include a flight deck its own ships. After delivery, each service will Austal noted that, if successful, its JHSV
for helicopter operations and an offloading be responsible for manning, maintaining, effort will be supported by the existing
ramp that will allow vehicles to quickly and providing full lifecycle support for their Austal labour force and facilities, and with
disembark from the ship. The ramp will be respective vessels. The JHSV programme the current facility expansion underway
suitable for the types of austere piers and received Milestone A approval in May 2006, at Austal, will allow the construction of a
quays common in developing countries, and and the US Navy plans to award a contract combination of JHSV and LCS platforms
the JHSV’s shallow draught (less than 4.5m) for detailed design and construction in the concurrently.
will further enhance littoral operations and fourth quarter of FY08. Austal USA CEO, Bob Browning said:
‘The JHSV design is right in the middle of
the Austal breadth of experience. We are
the only shipyard in the US to have built
a high-speed aluminium ship larger than
100m in length, and therefore feel justifiably
confident that Austal is best placed to deliver
a low risk JHSV platform to the US Army
and Navy.’
As highlighted above, Bollinger Shipyards
has also been awarded a preliminary design
Computer-generated concept showing
Incat’s JHSV proposal.
Warship Technology March 2008 13
WT Mar - p13+14.indd 13 03/03/2008 15:55:10
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