Manufacturing Efficiencies

• SCRA Applied R&D leads programs that have developed technologies to support rapid supply of mission-critical cast and forged metal defense parts. These programs help the Defense Logistics Agency obtain higher quality, cost-effective metal parts while reducing lead times.
• Applied research performed within an SCRA Applied R&D-led Navy Center of Excellence in Shipbuilding has saved over $20M in total “per hull” costs across several U.S. Navy platforms.
• SCRA Applied R&D leads a team reducing defects during solidification of cast metal parts, with an estimated annual energy savings of 2.44 Trillion BTUs and $14.7 Million.
• Laser imaging and 3-D digital ship design data helps determine the quantity and location of various submarine attachments, resulting in an estimated 85 percent reduction in labor and up to $500,000 cost savings per hull.
  

Developing and Applying New Technologies

• SCRA Applied R&D helped commercialize composite-based any-size, any-shape load-sensing technology from an early-stage advanced materials company. SCRA Applied R&D identified a new application for the technology - monitoring socket fit to make prosthetics more comfortable for wounded military personnel.

Improving Product Performance

• An SCRA Applied R&D-led team incorporated composite structural armor into the Marines’ expeditionary fighting vehicle troop ramp door, reduced the weight by 20%, reduced the cost, and maintained the original ballistic protection.
• Investments in large composite structures for the Zumwalt Class Destroyers reduced acquisition and life-cycle costs, realizing a per ship cost avoidance of over $3M to date resulting in a total cost avoidance of over $9M.
• SCRA Applied R&D leads a team developing new die casting techniques using copper alloy in a semi-solid state. The resulting parts are cost-effective, and have forging-like strength and integrity.

Network Reach - Research Resourcing

• An SCRA Applied R&D-led standards development team with members from over 30 corporate leaders in aerospace, automotive, electronic, and other industries from six countries, collaborates to develop these product data standards.
• SCRA Applied R&D leads a collaboration of 12 major U.S. shipyards focused on industry-wide implementation of solutions to common cost drivers.

Supply Chain Optimization

• An SCRA Applied R&D-led defense battery program will reduce U.S. dependence on foreign oil and create a stronger, U.S. based advanced battery supply chain - from concept and design to battery disposal and recycle.
• SCRA Applied R&D-led integrated modeling and simulation research will reduce product development time by an estimated 30% and cut costs by an estimated 50% for the DOD.

Materials Applications

SCRA Applied R&D leads teams that exploit the physical properties of materials to improve the quality of a wide range of products. Examples include:

• Increasing the reliability of motor rotors using copper
• Making Navy platform components lighter and stronger using composites
• Increasing the strength of steel parts while decreasing their mass using vanadium steel alloys
• Applying anti-microbial copper in hospital settings to reduce infections
• Developing composites applications that will save over $100M in acquisition costs on the Navy’s VIRGINIA Class submarine
• Developing new manufacturing techniques for cast metal tank track inserts that deliver a high quality product that lasts 500% longer with only four weeks leadtime

Sustainment

• SCRA Applied R&D leads development of Seabasing applications that help efficiently deliver supplies to and from agile sea bases.
• An SCRA Applied R&D-led seabasing program developed an automated process for unloading and readying weapons components that will enable air-capable ships to increase aircrafts, while decreasing the manpower involved in the process by as much as 25%.
• An SCRA Applied R&D-led team developed an auto-tensioning, remote operation device to secure and release cargo on the US Navy’s Landing Craft. Benefits include increased sortie rates, reduced personnel exposure in potential hostile fire zones, and a
  50-70% reduction in load time and 30-40% reduction in release time.