Alion to analyze explosions for Navy

• Tweet

MCLEAN, Va., Dec. 6 (UPI) -- Alion Science and Technology has received a U.S. Navy contract to analyze the effects of underwater explosions on its ships.

The contract -- a SeaPort Enhanced award from the Naval Surface Warfare Center, Carderock Division's Survivability and Weapons Effect Department -- is worth $4.6 million.

Its performance period, which began in September, runs through September of 2014.

Alion, which has headquarters in Virginia, said that under the award it will provide engineering and technical support for UNDEX testing, shock qualification and ship survivability programs for both surface and underwater ships.

It will develop and validate algorithms for predicting the response of test vehicles, scale models and submarines and surface ships due to UNDEX events, it said, and also develop and validate new methods for increasing survivability of hull structure, systems and equipment.

"UNDEX incidents pose a different threat to Navy vessels than above-water explosions because of the pressure shock-wave generated by a blast below the surface," said JJ Waickwicz, Alion senior vice president and manager of the Design, Engineering and Technology Group.

"By providing the Navy with UNDEX engineering support, Alion is enabling leaders to conduct physical security assessments of the naval fleet for survivability and long-term performance, helping to extend the fleet's life cycle."