Magnetics Business & Technology - May/June 2023 - 6

FEATURE ARTICLE
Leonardo DRS Delivers Electric Propulsion for New Military Vessels
As navies aggressively electrify their fleets, defense contractor
Leonardo DRS is supplying a growing roster of permanent-magnet
systems for both hybrid-electric and full-electric propulsion.
In recent programs, the systems are coming aboard both new
underwater and surface vessels of the U.S. Navy and the U.S.
Coast Guard.
For the U.S. Navy's new Columbia class submarines, it has
successfully completed factory acceptance testing and shipment
of the first production unit of the main propulsion motor. It was
shipped to General Dynamics Electric Boat for integration into
the lead ship of the class. DRS was chosen by Electric Boat and
the U.S. Navy to design and manufacture the major electric drive
propulsion system components including the main propulsion
electric motor. In addition to the main propulsion motor, other lead
ship components are being manufactured and are also preparing
to ship to Electric Boat.
The Columbia class program goal is to design and build a class
of 12 new ballistic missile submarines to replace the U.S. Navy's
current force of Ohio class submarines. The Navy has identified
the Columbia class program as its top priority program. The
Columbia class submarines will be larger than the current class
in terms of submerged displacement and will become the largest
submarine ever built by the United States.
The DRS Naval Power Systems business was awarded contracts
for the electric propulsion system components which included
design, test, qualification, and production of the full-scale components
for both a land-based test facility and first two ships of the
class. Over the past several years, the Navy has completed successful
land-based tests of DRS' electric propulsion components.
With significant testing completed, the program is transitioning to
production with DRS presently manufacturing the components for
the first two ships of the Columbia Class.
" We are proud to play a key role in developing and providing this
capability for the U.S. Navy on this critical national defense asset, "
said Jon Miller, senior vice president and general manager
of the DRS Naval Power business. " Our long history of providing
6 Magnetics Business & Technology * May/June 2023
innovative technology to the U.S. Navy and continuing this work
for Electric Boat ensures our sailors will be defending this country
with the most advanced submarine in the world, " Miller said. Several
businesses in the DRS Naval Power business contributed
to this effort including. its facilities in Fitchburg, Massachusetts
Milwaukee, Wisconsin and Danbury, Connecticut.
For the Coast Guard, DRS is providing an advanced hybrid
electric drive system to provide auxiliary propulsion for the fourth
shipset in a new fleet of Offshore Patrol Cutters. The platform
is the first combined diesel electric or diesel propulsion system
Selected to provide hybrid electric drive propulsion for the U.S. Coast
Guard Offshore Patrol Cutter program, the power-dense, water-cooled
PA44 is only 395 lbs and rated up to 625 HP providing 1,100 ft-lbs. at
3000 rpm.
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Magnetics Business & Technology - May/June 2023

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