NEW ORLEANS — Textron Systems announced in a Dec. 17 release the successful completion by its first next-generation landing craft, Ship-to-Shore Connector (SSC), Craft 100 of the U.S. Navy’s acceptance trials after completing a series of in-port and underway demonstrations on Dec. 6.
“Our customers depend on our products to take them ashore and sustain the landing forces until the job is done,” said Henry Finneral, senior vice president and general manager of Textron Systems.
“We are proud to support the United States Marine Corps and United States Navy in producing this next generation of landing vehicles, designed to cover a broad spectrum of missions with rapid transport of material and personnel into combat zones or assisting with critical humanitarian aid missions.”
During the trials, Craft 100 underwent integrated testing to demonstrate the capability of the fly-by-wire steering, electrical and propulsion systems to successfully meet its basic requirements as a test asset for Program Executive Office-Ships.
As the replacement for the existing fleet of Landing Craft, Air Cushion (LCAC) vehicles, follow-on SSCs will primarily transport weapon systems, equipment, cargo, and personnel of the assault elements through tough environmental conditions from the amphibious ships to the beach.
The craft can travel at a sustained 35 knots, transport Marines and shares less than 1% of legacy LCAC original parts, representing a true upgrade for the LCAC forces at Assault Craft Units 4 and 5 and Naval Beach Unit 7. The SSC also has an increased service life of 30 years.
The SSC is constructed at Textron Systems Marine and Land Systems operating unit in New Orleans and are built with similar configurations, dimensions and clearances to existing LCAC, ensuring the compatibility of this next-generation air cushion vehicle with existing well deck equipped amphibious ships, as well as Expeditionary Transfer Dock and Expeditionary Sea Bases.
Textron Systems expects to deliver SSC Craft 100 in January 2020. There are several SSCs in various states of production.
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