Nichols Martin
Textron Systems has deployed two new air-cushion vehicles to the sea after a series of acceptance trials with the U.S. Navy.
Ship-to-Shore Connector Craft 100 and Landing Craft Air Cushion 101 took the final leg of the vessels' trip to the Panama City, Florida-based Naval Surface Warfare Center after departure from a company-run shipyard in New Orleans, Textron said Wednesday.
Craft 100 is built to function as a testing and training platform while LCAC 101 will be the first operational craft.
SSC vehicles are designed replace aging LCACs of assault craft and naval beach units, travel at a speed of 35 knots and have a three-decade service life.
The company noted it is working on 12 more vessels.
