Britain orders WHLS for subs

Britain's Ministry of Defense has tapped Babcock to supply additional weapon handling and launch system for Astute class submarines.

The WHLS by Babcock uses advanced air turbine pump and programmable firing valve technology, The ATP is an air-driven rotary pump that displaces a volume of water to launch a weapon from a torpedo tube; the PFV controls the ATP firing air profile and enables precision matching of launch requirements to variables such as weapon type, boat speed and depth of the vessel.

"The system is more compact than previous systems, more efficient and quieter with a lower noise signature, as well as having lower maintenance requirements and reduced through-life costs," Babcock said.

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