Autonomous-capable EPF was accepted by Navy at a signing ceremony at Austal USA.
Following supply by Austal USA yesterday, Expeditionary Fast Transport USNS Apalachicola (EPF 13) is now the biggest floor ship within the U.S. Navy fleet with autonomous functionality.
“The delivery of EPF 13 comes after several successful at-sea periods for the vessel, including Unmanned Logistics Prototype Trials to assess autonomous capabilities integrated into the shipboard configuration,” stated Tim Roberts, Strategic and Theater Sealift Program Manager, on the Navy’s Program Executive Office (PEO), Ships. “The Navy and our shipbuilding partner, Austal USA, are proud of the work accomplished and look forward to EPF 13 providing capability and capacity to Military Sealift Command, the fleet, and the U.S. Marine Corps.”
Austal USA says that the vessel went to sea 5 instances over a several-month period permitting it and its trade companions, L3Harris and General Dynamics Mission Systems, to check and analyze not solely typical ship techniques however these ensuing from autonomous design and building contract modifications required by the Navy to ascertain the ship as an autonomous prototype.
EPFs can transport 600 brief tons so far as 1,200 nautical miles at a mean pace of 35 knots. Each vessel features a flight deck to assist day and night time plane launch and restoration operations. The ships are able to interfacing with roll-on/roll-off discharge amenities and on/off-loading autos akin to a totally combat-loaded Abrams Main Battle Tank.
“Austal USA is proud to deliver this ship to our Navy – it’s innovative and is going to be a critical asset as unmanned capabilities continue to push boundaries and redefine how missions are achieved,” commented Austal USA President Rusty Murdaugh. “Apalachicola will also be the first EPF with the ability to conduct V-22 flight operations, and launch and recover 11 meter Rigid Hull Inflatable Boats (RHIBs). A lot of capability is being delivered to our warfighters with this ship and I’m incredibly proud of our team of shipbuilders.”
With a shallow draft and high-speed, the EPF’s agility gives a positional benefit within the littorals and makes it a really perfect candidate to prototype giant vessel autonomous operations, together with logistics, tendering and adjunct journal mission profiles.
Fundamental to the autonomy effort was Austal USA’s extremely automated in-house designed equipment management system (MCS), which permits the ship to be minimally manned by centralizing equipment operations to the bridge. All Spearhead-class EPFs constructed thus far incorporate the Austal USA MCS design which is safe, scalable, distributive and reconfigurable for a number of propulsion configurations.
Combined with the already extremely automated hull, mechanical & electrical techniques put in on EPF class ships, Austal USA added automated upkeep, well being monitoring, and mission readiness to supply EPF 13 with the potential to conduct as much as 30 days of operation with out human intervention.
As effectively as being autonomous-capable, EPF 13 can also be the primary Expeditionary Fast Transport vessel to be delivered to the Navy with enhanced capabilities to assist V-22 Osprey flight operations and launch and get better 11 meter RHIBs. These upgrades together with the EPF’s pace, maneuverability and shallow water entry are key enablers for assist of future Expeditionary Advanced Base Operations world wide.
