Eureka Naval Craft unveils its Aircat Bobcat high-speed catamaran landing craft
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Houston-headquartered Eureka Naval Craft is using this week\u2019s AUSA Week<\/a> event in Washington, D.C., to unveil the Aircat Bobcat, a 57-foot, ultra high-speed catamaran landing craft designed to move personnel and materiel rapidly into littoral zones, up rivers, and through estuaries where ports and infrastructure are limited or denied.<\/p>\n The company says that the autonomous or optionally manned, all-aluminum. Bobcat can carry up to 10 tons of cargo or 36 troops. It has a top speed of 50 knots and a range of 350 nautical miles at an average speed of 38 knots, while range can be extended with additional modular fuel tanks.<\/p>\n \u201cThe Bobcat is quite literally the pick-up truck of the littorals and will revolutionize Army and Marine Corps expeditionary operations,\u201d said Bo Jardine, CEO of Eureka Naval Craft. \u201cIt is the practical workhorse for modern ship-to-shore movement, and it is production-ready today.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBobcat can be produced rapidly and cost-effectively in multiple Tier 2 and Tier 3 U.S. shipyards with which we have collaborated, including Bordelon Marine <\/a>in Houma, La, and Shoreline Offshore <\/a>in New Bedford, Mass.,\u201d Jardine noted, adding that Eureka is scheduling Bobcat briefings, technical exchanges, and virtual demonstrations during AUSA week.<\/p>\n The Bobcat has an open-top deck that can carry outsized and irregular loads, support modular weapons payloads, and enable offshore load and discharge alongside larger ships and port quaysides.<\/p>\n The vessel is fitted with both bow and stern ramps to provide rapid roll-on\/roll-off capabilities. It is also equipped with SH Defense<\/a>\u2019s modular deck lock system to allow rapid securing of containers, mission modules, small vehicles, and other cargo.<\/p>\n With its catamaran design, the Bobcat is designed to operate effectively in as little as 1.6 feet of water, and is capable of beaching and self-recovery. It is optimized for conveying personnel and materiel into littoral zones and for transit up rivers and estuaries.<\/p>\n Richard Byno, EVP of defense at Eureka Naval Craft said: \u201cThe design supports ship-to-shore and island-to-island operations as well as inland-waterway operations. We have designed it for high-tempo forward operations with features to support sustained sorties and rapid turnaround in austere environments.\u201d<\/p>\n For contested littoral operations, the low-profile craft with minimized visual signature can be fitted with a stabilized remote weapon station and a compact counter-UAS systems suite for self-protection. Appliqu\u00e9 armor can be added to the hull and superstructure as required for specific missions.<\/p>\n Byno emphasized the Bobcat\u2019s field serviceability with main engines fitted on quick-change modular mounts at main deck level with standardized mechanical and electrical interfaces. Accessible service hatches and on-deck lifting provisions allow engine swaps and repairs without the need for specialized shore support equipment. Additionally, parts commonality with commercial energy-industry components simplifies spares and reduces mean time to repair \u2013 keeping the warfighter in the fight.<\/p>\n Richard Byno, EVP of defense at Eureka Naval Craft said: \u201cThe design supports ship-to-shore and island-to-island operations as well as inland-waterway operations. We have designed it for high-tempo forward operations with features to support sustained sorties and rapid turnaround in austere environments.\u201d<\/p>\n For contested littoral operations, the low-profile craft with minimized visual signature can be fitted with a stabilized remote weapon station and a compact counter-UAS systems suite for self-protection. Appliqu\u00e9 armor can be added to the hull and superstructure as required for specific missions.<\/p>\n Byno emphasized the Bobcat\u2019s field serviceability with main engines fitted on quick-change modular mounts at main deck level with standardized mechanical and electrical interfaces. Accessible service hatches and on-deck lifting provisions allow engine swaps and repairs without the need for specialized shore support equipment. Additionally, parts commonality with commercial energy-industry components simplifies spares and reduces mean time to repair \u2013 keeping the warfighter in the fight.<\/p>\n The post Eureka Naval Craft unveils its Aircat Bobcat high-speed catamaran landing craft<\/a> appeared first on Marine Log<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n