As Textron [TXT] works toward production of the next generation of Navy and Marine Corps amphibious landing craft, the firm is also exploring the possibility of international sales, according to a company executive.
About half-a-dozen countries in multiple regions have expressed interest in the Ship-to-Shore Connectors (SSC) program since Textron Marine & Land Systems prevailed in the Navy’s competition last summer, said Ray Pilcher, the vice president for company operations in Washington.
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Normal false EN-US MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 Digital rendering of Textron’s Ship-to-Shore Connector landing ashore. Image: Textron
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Pilcher would not disclose the interested countries because of the sensitivity of the discussions that are still in the early stages. But he said potential suitors would need to start budget planning for possible purchases soon to time any production with the Navy’s, when economies of scale will help maximize cost benefits.
Textron plans to start building the first SSC around May of 2014 with produced schedule to ramp up toward the end of the decade, Pilcher said. Since winning the contract award in July, Textron has been working through the detail design in coordination with the Navy to identify and resolve technical issues.
The Navy awarded Textron a $212.7-million contract for the detailed design and construction of the first SSC, with options for eight more that could bring the total value to $570.5 million. The Navy plans to build more than 70 SSCs under the estimated $4 billion program.
Pilcher said Textron has been focused on finding ways to reduce total lifetime cost for SSC largely based on guidance provided by the Navy based on the experience with the current fleet of Land Craft Air Cushioned (LCAC) vehicles that were also built by Textron.
The SSCs will be powered by a Rolls-Royce MT7 engine that will receive minor changes to adapt it for a maritime environment, and those modifications have been going smoothly, Pilcher said.
“There are not any major changes to the engine, so it’s a very low risk modification,” Pilcher said.
Textron’s team also includes L-3 Communications [LLL] and Alcoa [AA]. The partnership beat out a team consisting of Marinette Marine, Lockheed Martin [LMT], GE Marine [GE], Oceaneering and Griffon Hoverwork for the contract.