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PORT HUENEME, Calif.—Naval Surface Warfare Center, Port Hueneme Division (NSWC PHD) has recently entered a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) with Transhield, Inc. to investigate the feasibility of incorporating Radio Frequency (RF) shielding capabilities in protective covers.
The objective of this collaborative research and development effort is to prevent passive exterior intelligence gathering.
Existing topside covers function by isolating enclosed equipment from the environment in order to prevent corrosion and damage. Initial field tests will incorporate fabric that is used for antenna, non-polarized RF reflective surfaces and airplane lightning-strike mitigation in an effort to provide RF shielding.
Analysis will be conducted by NSWC PHD to determine if RF shielding significantly negates passive exterior intelligence gathering, particularly radar components of combat communications and ordinance delivery systems while still meeting the corrosion prevention requirements.
Tim Tenopir, Office of Technology research scientist and materials lab manager, serves as the principal investigator (PI) at NSWC PHD for the agreement. As PI, Tenopir oversees the scientific and technical conduct of the cooperative work performed within NSWC PHD facilities or being done on behalf of NSWC PHD by third parties in support of the agreement.
NSWC PHD is considered a Department of the Navy federal laboratory and has extensive expertise, capabilities, and information in radar, materials and materials-related engineering. It has also been positioned to become the materials center of excellence for surface warfare combat systems after recent approval and official recognition of the Surface Warfare Combat Systems Materials Lab (SWCSML) by Naval Sea Systems Command headquarters.
Materials are part of NSWC PHD’s In-Service Engineering Agent role and responsibilities for surface combat systems survivability, maintainability and affordability. The SWCSML contains unique and highly specialized test equipment needed for internal and multiple Warfare Center collaborative research, development, testing and evaluation of materials-related research.
The laboratory-facility network can handle a variety of testing, development and validation needs, from simple research to complex product development and small-scale prototype manufacturing. The SWCSML will also be the fabrication center for unique and highly-specialized test and calibration standards needed for surface combatant research and will serve as the West Coast surface combatant training and certification facility for new, emerging and mature technologies.
Dr. David Sharman serves as the PI and military advisor at Transhield, overseeing the scientific and technical contributions by the organization in support of the agreement.
Headquartered in Elkhart, Indiana, Transhield has extensive expertise in the research and development of protective covers and retains a portfolio of advanced materials that protect assets from corrosion and provide long-term protection. The company will be able to transition the results of the research and development for public use.
U.S. Congress has passed legislation to encourage the transfer of federally funded technology to the private sector. The Department of the Navy designates ORTA managers as technology transfer (T2) representatives. These command-designated positions exist at every federal laboratory and identify and assess potential technologies and ideas from their own laboratories that may be transferred to state and local governments, industry, or universities. The ORTA representatives also assist in domestic T2 efforts by being the laboratory representative to any outside entity wishing to partner with, or collaborate on research and technology development, test or evaluation.
ORTA serves to protect the Government's rights in both proprietary information and unprotected intellectual property. T2 best practices produce measurable results and deliver products and services, and enable collaborations that fully meet or exceed requirements. The technology products are commercialized, produced, and then transitioned back to the warfighter.
NSWC PHD has continuously served a crucial role in data and information exchange agreements under major programs for DOD.
| Date Taken: | 10.02.2017 |
| Date Posted: | 10.02.2017 15:42 |
| Story ID: | 250314 |
| Location: | PORT HUENEME, CALIFORNIA, US |
| Web Views: | 315 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Warfare Center signs cooperative agreement with Transhield, by J.W. Marcum, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
