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www.sea-technology.com February 2016 / st 55 First SIGMA Frigate Launched for Indonesian Navy PT PAL has launched the frst of two SIGMA 10514 Peru- sak Kawal Rudal (PKR) guided-missile frigates for the Indo- nesian Navy (TNI AL). PT PAL built these ships in collabo- ration with Damen Schelde Naval Shipbuilding. The vessel will be operated for anti-air warfare, anti-surface warfare and anti-submarine warfare. It is also compatible with maritime security, search and rescue, patrol, and humanitarian sup- port tasks. The propulsion system of the PKR vessel utilizes a combination of two 10,000-kW maximum continuous rating diesel engines, two 1,300-kW electric motors, two double in- put gearboxes, and two 3.65-m controllable pitch propellers. The SIGMA is equipped with 3D surveillance radar and a hull-mounted sonar. Raytheon BBN Advances In ONR STEM Grand Challenge Raytheon BBN Technologies will advance to the second phase in the U.S. Offce of Naval Research (ONR) Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Grand Challenge, a competition to develop adaptive, intelligent tu- tors. Four teams competed in the frst phase, each developing an intelligent tutoring system for a specifc purpose. Raytheon BBN's entry, the BBN Learning Platform, uses artifcial intel- ligence and self-paced problem solving to teach high-school advanced placement (AP) physics. The Web-based system evaluates student skills and knowledge in real time, providing immediate feedback and guidance to keep learners engaged, and is accessible on a wide variety of devices. For the second phase of the STEM Grand Challenge, ONR asked BBN to de- velop an intelligent tutoring system to assist surgeons learning to use robots for laparoscopic surgeries performed with a fex- ible, fber-optic instrument passed through a small incision. US Navy, MDA Certifes New Aegis Combat System The U.S. Navy and Missile Defense Agency (MDA) certi- fed the latest evolution of the Aegis Combat System—Base- line 9.C1—for the U.S. destroyer feet. Baseline 9.C1 includes the most current generation of bal- listic missile defense programming, known as BMD 5.0 Ca- pability Upgrade, which offers the proven capability to shoot down ballistic missiles in both the exoatmosphere (upper at- mosphere) and endoatmosphere (lower atmosphere). General Dynamics Gets SEWIP Block 1B3 Contract The U.S. Navy awarded a production contract for its Sur- face Electronic Warfare Improvement Program (SEWIP) Block 1B3 to General Dynamics Mission Systems. General Dynam- ics will deliver Block 1B3 system upgrades over the next fve years. The upgrades will be integrated into new and existing Navy ships, providing signifcantly improved situational awareness of the tactical environment surrounding the ship. The Block 1B3 system will provide high-gain/high-sensi- tivity electronic capability. QNA to Deliver Control For Aircraft Carrier QinetiQ North America (QNA) has entered into a contract valued at $16 million from General Atomics (GA) in San Di- ego, California, to deliver control hardware and software for the Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS) and the Advanced Arresting Gear (AAG) to be installed on the U.S. Navy's next aircraft carrier. The contract refects a multiyear production task to up- date, procure, assemble and test launch control and arresting control hardware. Oxygen Research for US Navy Divers To determine the cause of extreme fatigue in Navy divers after routine missions, the Offce of Naval Research (ONR) is sponsoring oxygen research that could have major ramif- cations for divers, aviators and even astronauts, all of whom rely on breathing high levels of oxygen. The research is be- ing conducted by Dr. John Florian, director of the Warfghter Human Performance Program at the elite Navy Experimental Diving Unit (NEDU) in Panama City, Florida. Florian believes the cause of the exhaustion lies in too much exposure to oxygen (hyperoxia). In fact, most of the divers complaining of fatigue conducted dives using 100 percent oxygen or gas mixtures high in oxygen. This increased exposure could lead to life-threatening hyperbaric oxygen toxicity. Florian thinks he's identifed a type of oxygen toxicity that causes cardiovas- cular and muscular performance to temporarily deteriorate between dives, and he will be testing his theory. ST navy currents P.O. Box 2030, North Kingstown, RI 02852, USA Tel: +1 401 884 8801 Fax: +1 401 884 8868 www.subsalve.com richard@subsalve.com The World's Best Underwater Lift Bags from 25 lbs. to 50 tons, Water Load Test Bags to 50 tons. IMCA Compliant. ABS Approved. MARK V/ORCA RAPID RECOVERY SYSTEMS AIRCRAFT LIFTING BAGS WATER LOAD TEST BAGS VEHICLE RECOVERY SYSTEMS CABLE & PIPELINE FLOATS LIFEBOAT DAVIT TEST KITS FEND D - D - AIR R ® INFLAT T - A - A - TANK PIPE PLUGGERS S ®