GDEB’s CONFORM Advanced Sub Studies Program

DARPA’s “Tango Bravo” project, aims to break a number of fundamental submarine design constraints, and create much smaller submarines via breakthrough technologies. In contrast, the Concept Formulation (CONFORM) contract is aimed at a more evolutionary set of improvements in manufacturability, maintainability, producibility, reliability, manning, survivability, hull integrity, performance, structural, weight/margin, stability, arrangements, machinery systems, acoustics, hydrodynamics, ship control, logistics, human factors, materials, weapons handling and stowage, submarine safety, and affordability of current and future submarine platforms; which can be applied to current and future submarine designs. If all options under CONFORM were exercised, the program’s potential value was $78.5 million. Contracts under this banner include… Jan 30/08: General Dynamics Electric Boat Corp. in Groton, CT received a $6.3 modification to a previously awarded contract (N00024-07-C-2107) for research and development of advanced submarine technologies for current and future submarine platforms. Work will be performed in Groton, CT and is expected to be complete by January 2010. The Naval Sea Systems Command in Washington, DC issued the contract. A GD release notes that this is the final option. While GDEB notes that this drives the program’s value to $78 million, DID counts $75.55 million. Nov 1/07: General Dynamics Electric Boat Corp. in […]