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Last updated on Monday, August 28, 2017
(CRANE) - The Radar Systems Division at Naval Surface Warfare Center, Crane Division (NSWC Crane) recently led an effort that resulted in a projected Navy-wide cost savings of $27.65 million, while also ensuring critical products were delivered on time.
Due to Department of Energy (DoE) conservation standards, the U.S. Navy faced a potential challenge in providing electric motors to support production of the AN/SPQ-9B radar system. The Navy did not have a viable path forward to meet their contractual obligations, and failure to meet installations schedules with the shipyards would result in additional fees and fines.
"Non-Department of Defense (DoD) Departments can have major impacts on critical DoD and Department of the Navy systems needed to support the warfighter," said John Schofield, Chief Engineer in NSWC Crane's Radar Systems Division.
The cost to move forward with a new design to Program Executive Office Integrated Warfare Systems (PEO-IWS) was projected to be over $26 million for the AN/SPQ-9B system, one of many rotating radar systems using electric motors in PEO-IWS's portfolio. The motor manufacturer estimated a redesign would also cost approximately $1 million in engineering effort, and would take nearly six months to complete.
"The enforcement of standards and rules on DoD systems impacts the fielding and sustainment of systems," Schofield said. "Engagement and persistence with organizations enforcing the standards and rules can lead to a solution and a way forward."
Schofield analyzed the potential problem the Navy was facing, and an NSWC Crane team presented the case to the DoE. The DoE concurred with the approach of pursuing a Navy-wide waiver, and NSWC Crane drafted a petition letter that was eventually granted.
NSWC Crane's efforts saved a significant amount of money for the AN/SPQ-9B system, but it could create a ripple effect that carries over to other systems across the Navy and beyond.
"Crane has potentially saved the Navy millions of dollars for redesigning systems to accommodate motors that meet the new standards," said Gary Mason, PEO-IWS' Principal/Assistant Project Manager for Rotating Radars. "This is the kind of persistence we need everyone to exhibit. Crane should be held up as an example for everyone to follow."
NSWC Crane is a naval laboratory and a field activity of Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA). The warfare center is responsible for multi-domain, multi- spectral, full life cycle support of technologies and systems enhancing capability to today's warfighter.
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