The USNS Yuma Expeditionary Fast Transport (EPF 8) successfully completed acceptance trials on January 26, 2017 in the Gulf of Mexico and returned with a broom flying from the mast indicating a clean sweep of the trial events. The USNS Yuma is the eighth of 10 Expeditionary Fast Transport vessels, formerly the joint high speed vessel program, that General Dynamics Mission Systems has under subcontract with shipbuilder Austal USA.

During the USNS Yumas acceptance trials, General Dynamics and Austal USA demonstrated successful operation of the ships major systems and equipment while underway. General Dynamics designs, integrates and tests the electronic systems including an open architecture computing infrastructure, internal and external communication, electronic navigation, aviation and armament systems for the Expeditionary Fast Transport program. Acceptance trials mark the last milestone before delivering the ship to the U.S. Navy.

General Dynamics is the Expeditionary Fast Transport (EPF) vessel system integrator, using OPEN CI that allows the U.S. Navy to deliver mission capability when and wherever its needed, as well as streamlining the deployment of new and updated technology as it advances. The EPF vessels with their open architecture system provide adaptable and highly capable command & control, allowing the ship to transport troops and equipment through the spectrum of traditional logistics missions. The EPFs ability to access small, minor and degraded ports with minimal external support provides unique options to fleet and combatant commanders for inter-theater lift, engagement, humanitarian assistance/ disaster relief missions, as well as special operations support.

Click here to read Austals full press release on the event.

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