Goodrich Corporation (NYSE: GR) recently delivered its 331st sonar dome rubber window (SDRW) to the U.S. Navy. Goodrich's Engineered Polymer Products (EPP) team in Jacksonville, Fla. has been the exclusive supplier of sonar domes for FFG-7, DDG-51, and CG-47 class ships to the U.S. Navy and allied navies for more than 40 years.
A sonar dome is an acoustically transparent housing that surrounds the sonar transducer array, which together make up the sensor part of the sonar system.
"We have a long history of innovation in building quality components that support anti-submarine warfare capabilities for the U.S. Navy's powerful surface fleet," said Jim Pollock, vice president for Goodrich's Engineered Polymer Products team. "With decades of proven experience working with the U.S. Navy in improving sonar systems technology, combined with the development of innovative processing techniques, we are uniquely positioned to offer superior acoustic technologies for continued DDG-51 class production."
DDG-51 class destroyers are the newest class of ships that use SDRWs and are multi-mission combatants. They can conduct a variety of operations, from peacetime presence and crisis management to sea control and power projection, in support of National Military Strategy. DDG-51 class destroyers are capable of simultaneously fighting air, surface and subsurface battles. The ships contain a myriad of offensive and defensive weapons designed to support maritime defense needs well into the 21st century.
Mounted on the bow of destroyers and cruisers, the sonar dome surrounds and protects the ship's sonar array while offering minimum interference to sound transmission and reception for enhanced detection and classification of underwater targets. Goodrich pioneered the development of rubber wire-reinforced surface ship sonar domes for anti-submarine surface combatants. The rubber's unique energy absorption and reflection properties enhance the ships' detection capability.
Goodrich marine composite products and acoustic materials will be on display in stand 207 at the Surface Navy Association's Annual Symposium in Crystal City, Va. from January 11-13, 2011. Experts will be available from company sites in Jacksonville, Fla. and Washington, D.C.
Source: http://www.goodrich.com/