The Defense Innovation Unit is soliciting an innovative technology for the power and propulsion design of the U.S. Navy’s next-generation surface destroyers.
The required power generation system must be capable of supporting the vessels’ operational and technical demands and its components that require high electrical loads, such as advanced sensors, directed energy weapons and propulsion systems, DIU said.
What the Navy Destroyers Need
The Navy needs an architecture that features power distribution capabilities to support various mission requirements. The whole package should include power quality management, dark ship mitigation, casualty power and electric start for proposed engine types. The government also expects the potential contractor to deliver a software-based integrated power and propulsion, or IPS, architecture model and ship IPS test assets to the Navy’s land-based testing facility.
Specifically, the Navy seeks a diesel fuel marine-powered system that employs different motor and drive technologies to achieve an ideal IPS architecture. It should include enhanced operational availability, survivability and flexibility for future upgrades. Interested bidders must also ensure that the technology is supported by a secure supply chain for all components.
The successful vendors will be required to deliver a software-based system model compatible with the Navy’s preferred modeling and simulation software. The systems will then go through land-based testing at Navy partner facilities. Interested parties should submit their proposals no later than May 27.
