CCHC Strategic Systems Program
F3 Engineering has been awarded a contract from the U.S. Navy Strategic Systems Programs (SSP) for design and production of specialized mechanical gear for the Ohio-class submarines. The awarding of this contract to F3 Engineering is particularly noteworthy because it marks the first time that a small business has received a contract for this level of engineering design on this class of submarine.
Some of these Ohio-class submarines that replaced the ballistic missile subs of the 1960’s were originally equipped with Trident I C-4 missiles. They are now being upgraded with the more powerful Trident II D-5 missiles to match the rest of the fleet.
Specifically, F3 Engineering is designing, manufacturing and testing the Cooling Chamber Handling Carts that will be used to transport Cooling Chambers onto and off the submarines. The cooling chamber is cylindrical and approximately 58 inches high, 30 inches outside diameter, and weighs approximately 4,000 pounds. The space in which the CCHC must operate is extremely limited and the CCHC must be able to safely lower/lift and hold the cooling chamber into a tight tolerance space approximately 4 feet below deck.
