Raytheon Satcom for Virginia Submarine
(Source: Raytheon Company; issued July 28, 2004)
MCKINNEY, Texas — Under a $29.4 million contract from Electric Boat Corporation, Raytheon Company will produce new Submarine High Data Rate (Sub HDR) multi-band satellite communication (SATCOM) systems for the new Virginia Class submarine. Work will begin immediately.
Sub HDR is a communication system that connects submariners to the above sea world by giving them for the first time high data rate, multi-band SATCOM capability. Sailors deploy Sub HDR by raising a mast-mounted antenna above the ocean’s surface, while the boat remains submerged-and stealthy-at periscope depth.
The system connects to the Global Broadcast Service, the Milstar satellite constellation, and the Defense Satellite Communication System to send and receive mission-critical information such as secure wideband multi-media, voice and data traffic, imagery and video teleconferencing. Sub HDR enables underwater forces to be full participants in coordinated fleet battle group and FORCEnet operations.
To date, Raytheon has developed and delivered more than 50 Sub HDRs under contracts worth more than $160 million. Its customers include: Newport News Shipyard, for the first build of Virginia Class submarines; Electric Boat Corporation, for the second build of Virginia Class submarines; and the U.S. Navy Program Executive Office for Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence and Space, for existing classes of United States and United Kingdom submarines.
The Virginia Class is the next-generation U.S. attack submarine and the first class designed for a broad spectrum of missions including regional, littoral, and open-ocean or “blue water” combat. Virginia Class submarines have two Sub HDR masts that allow simultaneous communication at Super High Frequency (SHF) and Extremely High Frequency (EHF). This capability increases naval warfighters’ connectivity which results in increased lethality.
By: GDL - 4th August 2004 at 01:07
Check your eyes/numbers again 🙂
Right you are Victor, sorry. I was comparing the picture to a mental image of the LA class from memory and I got the impression it [SSN-774] was smaller. They are comparable in size, and I think the Virginia class is a few feet longer.
😉
Improved LA class: SSN-770 USS Tucson
And yes these Virginia class pics are GREAT!! 🙂
By: US Agent - 4th August 2004 at 00:17
Awesome pics…thanks Hyperwarp. 😎
By: Hyperwarp - 3rd August 2004 at 19:51
775:
040731-N-5258M-005 Newport News, Va. (July 31, 2005) – The official party for the christening of PCU Texas (SSN 775) stand in front of the audience at Northrop Grumman Newport News Shipyard. PCU Texas is the second Virginia-Class Submarine to be christened and will be delivered to the U.S. Navy in 2005. U.S. Navy photo by Lt. Cmdr. Jamie Morrison (RELEASED)
040731-N-5258M-003 Newport News, Va. (July 31, 2004) – First Lady Laura Bush christens PCU Texas (SSN 775) with a bottle of champagne as Northrop Grumman Newport News Shipyard President Tom Shievelbein stands by, during the ceremony at Northrop Grumman Newport News shipyard. PCU Texas is the second Virginia-Class Submarine to be christened and will be delivered to the U.S. Navy in 2005. U.S. Navy photo by Lt. Cmdr. Jamie Morrison (RELEASED)
By: Hyperwarp - 3rd August 2004 at 19:45
More:
By: Victor - 3rd August 2004 at 19:39
Looks a LOT smaller than I expected. Compared to the LA class the Virginia is the much smaller cousin.
yeah it is smaller.
Check your eyes/numbers again 🙂
By: bring_it_on - 3rd August 2004 at 19:09
yeah it is smaller.
By: GDL - 3rd August 2004 at 15:30
Looks a LOT smaller than I expected. Compared to the LA class the Virginia is the much smaller cousin.
By: Hyperwarp - 3rd August 2004 at 10:17
040730-N-0247F-003 Groton, Conn. (July 30, 2004) – Tugboats assigned to Thames Towing in New London, Conn., ease PCU Virginia (SSN 774) into its berth at General Dynamics Electric Boat Shipyard in Groton, Conn. Virginia returned to Electric Boat following three days of sea trials. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer’s Mate 3rd Class Steven Feller (RELEASED)
By: US Agent - 3rd August 2004 at 01:12
USS Virginia Begins Sea Trials
(Source: General Dynamics; issued July 30, 2004)
GROTON, Conn. — Virginia (SSN-774), the nation’s newest and most advanced nuclear-powered attack submarine, returned to the Electric Boat shipyard here today following the successful completion of its first voyage in open seas, called “alpha sea trials.” Virginia is the lead ship of the most capable class of attack submarines ever built; it will be delivered to the U.S. Navy this fall. Electric Boat is a wholly owned subsidiary of General Dynamics
Virginia’s alpha sea trials included a range of submarine and propulsion plant operations, submerging for the first time, and high-speed runs on the surface and submerged, to demonstrate that the ship’s propulsion plant is fully mission capable.
Virginia-class submarines have been designed from the ground up to operate as a key element of a fully networked naval force. Unobtrusive, non-provocative and connected with land, air, sea and space-based assets, Virginia-class ships are uniquely equipped to wage multi-dimensional warfare in the farthest reaches of the globe, providing the U.S. Navy with continued dominance in coastal waters or the open ocean. These submarines will transit submerged at high speeds, undetected, independent of sea state or logistic support and arrive on station ready for action.
“Nuclear submarines provide a unique contribution to our nation’s security and will be increasingly important in the decades ahead,” said Electric Boat President John Casey. “The Virginia and the rest of the ships of its class are designed specifically to incorporate emergent technologies that will provide new capabilities to meet new threats.”
Virginia-class missions will include conducting intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions, ensuring that U.S. commanders understand the scope and capability of an enemy’s forces. Submarines of the class also will be able to engage enemy submarines, surface ships and critical targets ashore, both through precision strike and the covert insertion of special operations forces. With their stealth and unlimited endurance, they will be flexible assets for Joint Force Commanders, able to maneuver with impunity, even in the most contested forward areas.
Virginia is the Navy’s only major fleet-ready combatant ship that was designed with the post-Cold War security environment in mind. Approved nearly four years after the fall of the Berlin Wall, Virginia embodies warfighting and operational capabilities required to dominate the littorals while maintaining undersea dominance in the open ocean.
Electric Boat and Northrop Grumman Newport News are under contract to build the first 10 submarines of a planned 30-ship Virginia class under a teaming agreement that splits the construction workload between the two shipyards. A revolutionary approach to design and construction processes was employed for the Virginia class.
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July 30, 2004 at 1:00 am