Advanced Combatant Craft for Increased Affordability and Mission Performance

The Phase I Contract started 19 June 2009. The effort was to select a representative platform and develop the innovative design concept we proposed. The 7M USN RHIB was selected. The effort resulted in the development of three preliminary designs that we propose for detailed design, construction and evaluation in Phase II. All designs feature a membrane structure comprised of Prisma framed SharkSkin coated laminates. The first design is a low cost, low risk design. It will result in approximately a 40% weight savings in hull and deck laminate structure. The second design has greater weight savings and higher cost then the first design. The weight savings are due to the use of a membrane laminate comprised of low density Innegra fibers with an E-Glass core. The third design features Innegra fibers with a Carbon fiber core and high performance epoxy resin. In Phase II and Phase II option we propose designing, building and evaluating two design concepts. Each of the concepts has potential applications in the government boat market.