Magnetics Business & Technology - March/April 2023 - 4

EDITOR'S CHOICE
American Superconductor Cloaks Magnetic Signature of Navy
Ships
High-temperature
superconductor
degaussing systems
from American Superconductor
(AMSC) are
increasingly finding their
way aboard a new class of
U.S. Navy ships, designed
to cloak their magnetic signatures
from enemy vessels
and underwater mines.
HTS degaussing system onboard the USS Fort Lauderdale masks
its magnetic signature
In December 2021, AMSC
finalized its fifth contract
for what has become the
baseline design for the San
Antonio-class ship platform.
The delivery contract is with
Huntington Ingalls Industries through its Ingalls Shipbuilding division for a high temperature
superconductor (HTS)-based ship protection system to be deployed on the amphibious
transport dock ship, LPD-32.
Degaussing systems typically containing tons of copper wire are utilized in most naval
ships to cloak their magnetic signature, making them much more difficult to be detected by
magnetic sensors and magnetically activated mines. AMSC's innovative degaussing system
consists of smaller, lighter, and higher performing high-temperature superconductor
(HTS) cable, eliminating 50% to 80% of the system weight with significant power savings.
The degaussing system is essentially a network of cables coursing through the ship, with
the electrical current in the cables calibrated to counteract the magnetic field fluctuations
as it travels through the water. Until now, the Navy has relied on heavy copper-cable degaussing
systems.
Other contracts for the San Antonio Class include the USS Fort Lauderdale, USS Richard
McCool, USS Harrisburg, and USS Pittsburgh. Under the terms of the new contract, AMSC
has agreed to deliver the degaussing system to Ingalls' shipbuilding facility in Pascagoula,
Mississippi for integration into LPD-32, which represents the third vessel of the next generation
amphibious warship 'Flight II' variant of the San Antonio-class.
The San Antonio-class of ships can carry up to 800 troops and has the capability of transporting
and debarking landing craft air cushion or conventional landing crafts, augmented
by helicopters or vertical take-off and landing aircraft such as the MV-22. The ships are
expected to support amphibious assault, special operations or expeditionary warfare missions
through the first half of the 21st century.
In January 2022, AMSC made delivery on the first system, inserted aboard the USS Fort
Lauderdale. " The delivery of this system is a watershed moment for our company and for
superconductor technology. We have a culture of delivery and believe that the delivery of
this system demonstrates momentum for our company and for the naval industry to adopt
change, " said Daniel McGahn, CEO. " We look forward to continuing to work with the U.S.
Navy to deliver and install our HTS degaussing system on future San Antonio class ships
as well as other potential vessels. "
AMSC and the Navy have collaborated on AMSC's advanced HTS-based Ship Protection
Systems. Their core components are common and transferable to other applications being
targeted for ship implementation. AMSC is continuing its work to expand HTS technology
into the fleet through a variety of applications for power, propulsion and protection equipment.
Headquartered
near Boston, AMSC also applies its HTS technology to marine motors and
generators that are compact, efficient and power-dense propulsion systems, also to wind
turbines. For more info, see www.amsc.com.
4 Magnetics Business & Technology * March/April 2023
Volume 22, Issue 2
Editor & Publisher
David Webster
Contributing Editor
Dr. Stan Trout
Director of Operations and
Support Services
Ross Webster
Director of Sales and Content
Scott Webster
Design & Layout
Scott Webster
Administration
Marsha Grillo
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