Marine craft provider Textron Systems has unveiled a new, innovative solution called the surface effect cargo amphibious transport (SECAT), for US Navy’s expeditionary warfare logistics.
Designed as a survivable, low-profile, high-speed connector, SECAT can carry 500 tons of cargo at 50 knots for 500 nautical miles in high sea states. This platform, based on surface effect ship (SES) technology, can deliver the advanced logistic capabilities required for Expeditionary Advanced Base Operations (EABO) and Distributed Maritime Operations (DMO).
“As focus shifts from land-based competitions to large sea-based operations, there is an increased capability requirement for executing expeditionary logistics at sea and ashore… Textron Systems believes that Surface Effect Ship (SES) technology can be utilized to provide specialized performance capabilities that traditional monohulls can’t when it comes to logistical support operations,” the company noted.
As a surface craft, the SECAT concept has an aluminum catamaran hull with a flexible bow and stern seals to contain an air cushion between the ridge side hulls. This solution allows for reduced resistance for high-speed maneuvers and is inherently less susceptible to underwater shockwaves, sea mines, submarine targeting and torpedoes, increasing overall survivability for the craft.
This design is expected to enable performance capabilities such as survivability, at sea rolling stock cargo transfer, “feet dry” cargo offload/load ashore, high speed shallow and deepwater operations, and the versatility to carry a wide range of cargos.
This could greatly enhance the US Navy and the US Marine Corps’ ability to successfully execute EABO and DMO, according to Textron Systems.
In the past, Textron Systems has been awarded a contract for the construction of fifteen ship-to-shore connector craft.
Ship to shore connectors are the evolutionary replacement for the existing fleet of landing craft, air cushion (LCAC) vehicles, and will primarily transport weapon systems, equipment, cargo, and personnel of the assault elements through varied environmental conditions from amphibious ships over to the beach, according to the US Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA).