French Navy enters new territory with propeller technology
Andromède becomes first naval vessel to be equipped with 3D-printed propeller
Naval Group has fitted a 3D-printed propeller to the French Navy Eridan-class minehunter Andromède, following a three-year R&D process.
The 2.5m-span propeller, supported by five 200kg blades, was made in the Naval Group facility at Nantes-Indret before being mounted on the propeller shaft in late 2020.
‘Sea trials were then performed successfully at the end of December,’ Naval Group announced on 13 January 2021.
The first 3D-printed marine propeller (called WAAMpeller) was unveiled by Damen in November 2017.
However, Naval Group claims to be the first shipbuilder to apply a 3D-printed propeller to a naval vessel for full operational use.
The French company is investing €7 million investment in metal 3D printing this year and Eric Balufin, director of the Naval Group facility in Brest, said that the technology ‘will enable us to considerably reduce manufacturing solutions for complex geometrical shapes which cannot be produced through conventional processes. It will also enable us to greatly reduce production time and consequently in-service support’.
Other applications for 3D printing in ship design include production of thrusters, Naval Group added.
As part of our promise to deliver comprehensive coverage to our Defence Insight and Premium News subscribers, our curated defence news content provides the latest industry updates, contract awards and programme milestones.
Related Equipment in Defence Insight
More from Naval Warfare
-
![Russian vessels exercise in English Channel and off Irish coast]()
Russian vessels exercise in English Channel and off Irish coast
One of the vessels present in both cases was armed with hypersonic cruise missiles.
-
![Australia narrows SEA 3000 frigate designs to TKMS and MHI]()
Australia narrows SEA 3000 frigate designs to TKMS and MHI
Two modular frigate designs will be considered as the replacement to Australia’s ageing Anzac-class.
-
![Latest Arleigh Burke destroyer commissioned]()
Latest Arleigh Burke destroyer commissioned
The vessel, DDG 122, will be named after enlisted marine John Basilone.
-
![Kongsberg awarded $960 million missile contract]()
Kongsberg awarded $960 million missile contract
The contract could rise to as much as US$1.1 billion and follows an announcement last month that Kongsberg was building a missile production facility in the US to meet burgeoning global demand.
-
![New US Navy batteries are deemed submarine-safe]()
New US Navy batteries are deemed submarine-safe
The use of Passive Propagation Technology significantly reduces the risk of Lithium-ion batteries for use in torpedo tube launched AUVs.
-
![BAE Systems’ Herne XLAUV set to hunt for underwater intelligence]()
BAE Systems’ Herne XLAUV set to hunt for underwater intelligence
The Herne is modular, highly configurable underwater autonomous platform, with potential for both ISR missions in the short term and self-determined assistance surveillance later.
