NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Textron Systems New Orleans is marking the start of production of the Navy's newest hovercraft — a landing craft designed to haul vehicles, heavy equipment, and supplies over water and beaches.
The company says in a news release that the "Ship to Shore Connector" in early construction will be a test and training craft. It's expected to be completed in 2017.
Work on production models is expected to start early next year, company spokesman Tom Williams said in an email Monday.
The contract, worth $212 million to $570 million, was announced in July 2012.
Parent company Textron Inc. of New Orleans has subcontractors in at least five other states and the United Kingdom, according to a Navy website about the new landing craft. U.S. subcontractors include Rolls-Royce Naval Marine of Indianapolis, Indiana. GE Avionics' Dowty Propellers, based in Gloucester, England, made the propellers in the current landing hovercraft.
The Navy's chief for the landing craft program, Capt. Chris Mercer, and Textron Systems Marine & Land Systems senior vice president and general manager Tom Walmsley were speaking at Monday's ceremony.
Textron has been making the current amphibious landing craft for 20 years. Those are being fitted with new equipment to extend their lifespans, a process expected to continue into 2016. The new craft are expected to be used for 30 years.
They will have bigger, more efficient engines; use composites rather than metal for many components and have much better command and control capability, Textron said in a news release. Better communication and computer systems, allowing a smaller crew, the company said.
Textron's major subcontractors also include L-3 Communications of Camden, New Jersey; GKN Aerospace of St Louis, Missouri; and Innovative Power Solutions of Eatontown, New Jersey, with others including Alcoa Defense of Farmington Hills, Michigan and Moog of East Aurora, New York, according to the Navy.
