Oct 12, 2005 By The 3 min read

A northern Virginia company with ties to Fayette County was awarded a $9.1 million engineering support contract to help upgrade the U.S. Navy’s surface ship torpedo defense system program. ArgonST Engineering Test Center (AETC), based in Uniontown, will perform the bulk of the work on Phase II of the AN/SLQ 25-A upgrade, according to a press release from the office of U.S. Rep. John P. Murtha (D-Johnstown).

The engineering effort is part of a multiphase program that is continuing and overlapping the other phases. This second phase continues the first-phase efforts and incorporates new changes, including interoperability – the ability of software and hardware on different machines to share data – and design improvements.

As the system matures with these design changes emanating from Fayette County, additional material requirements and manufacturing work will result in refitting as well as building new ship systems for the Navy, according to the release.

“These modifications are part of the Navy’s aggressive plan to change the way systems are built and integrated,” said Terry Collins, chief executive officer and president of ArgonST.

“This particular contract award is intended to continue the modernization of the AN/SLQ 25-A installed on most Navy surface combatants. ArgonST is pleased to have been chosen to assist the Navy to rapidly and affordably upgrade its component within the system throughout its life cycle,” he said.

Engineers employed by ArgonST will perform most of the engineering work. The ArgonST Manufacturing Center in Smithfield will participate in the prototype work. An exception to the ArgonST effort is that Odim Engineering of Peterborough, Ontario, will continue to work on the design of a newer lightweight modular winch in cooperation with Shumar Industries of Grindstone.

Shumar is participating in the engineering designs to maximize system productivity and lower production costs. Upon completion of the design phase, Shumar will manufacture two prototypes and all future modular winches. A major goal of this design effort is to produce a lighter-weight winch as newer ships, such as the destroyer and shallow water combat ships (DDX and LCS), become part of the Navy’s fleet.

“I’m pleased to see the continuing high-tech engineering development in Fayette County,” said Murtha, a longtime supporter of the Navy’s SSTD program.

“The integration of newly developed technology at the ArgonST facility contributes directly to the safety of the sailors and Marines who serve aboard ship in mission critical roles in support of our country’s defense.”