American Superconductor $70M Navy Contract
American Superconductor Corporation announced it has been selected by the U.S. Navy's
Office of Naval Research (ONR) as prime contractor to lead a team in designing
and building a prototype 36.5 megawatt high temperature superconductor (HTS)
propulsion motor for electric warships. AMSC has teamed with Northrop Grumman
Corporation, to optimize the design, integration and testing of the HTS propulsion motor for integration into electric warships. The full value of the contract, which
will be incrementally funded over the next 37 months, is expected to be
approximately $70 million in revenue for AMSC -- the largest single contract
in the company's history. Revenue for the first 12 months starting March 1,
2003, is expected to be approximately $24 million.
Rear Admiral Jay M. Cohen, Chief of Naval Research, commented that the
future of naval warfare will include all electric ships and many electrically
intensive applications, including advanced high-power multi-function radar,
high power microwave, electric rail guns, high energy lethal lasers (speed of
light weapons), as well as electromagnetic launch and recovery of advanced
aircraft.
"The U.S. Navy is going electric," said Admiral Cohen. "Superconductor
technology will help reduce the size and weight of motors, generators, power
transmission and supporting electrical components to help speed the transition
to electric this decade. This contract is an important step along the road to
attaining these capabilities."
As prime contractor, AMSC will lead the design and manufacture of a
prototype HTS electric ship propulsion motor system that includes a 36.5-
megawatt/120rpm HTS motor and the required power electronics, circuit breakers
and switchgear. The motor is expected to be less than half the size and
approximately one-third the weight of a conventional copper-based motor.
Specifications of the contract with ONR call for the motor to be delivered to
the Navy in 37 months. The 36.5-megawatt power rating is equivalent to
48,667-shaft horsepower.
