When the Missile Defense Agency (MDA) needed to upgrade one of their current radar cooling pumps, they turned to the Navy pump experts for their new design.
Carver Pump is one of the leading pump suppliers to the US Navy and has been providing centrifugal pumps since World War II. Carver pumps are installed on all current ship building programs (i.e., Ford Carriers, Zumwalt Destroyers, Aegis Destroyers, Littoral Combat Ships, America Big Deck Amphibious Assault Ships, San Antonio Amphibious Transport Docks and Virginia Submarines). Carver’s reputation within the Navy community over the years has led to opportunities with other branches of the armed forces, including the Coast Guard and Army.
After undergoing a competitive selection process, Carver Pump was awarded a contract to replace radar cooling pumps that failed to meet reliability requirements. These pumps are used to cool the transportable radars that operate as part of the THAAD (Terminal High Altitude Area Defense) and are designed to be operated all over the world. The program is managed by the MDA (Missile Defense Agency) and the system is owned by the US Army. Reliability plus weight were the major factors in the pump selection process
After reviewing all the requirements, Carver chose an M Series design for this special application. Although the M Series line was specifically designed to serve the naval market, meeting specific requirements such as being able to survive a shock event, there are many similarities between the two applications in that both require a robust design with high reliability while maintaining the smallest envelope and lowest weight possible.
Since these radar cooling pumps will need to operate all over the world and encounter many different types of environments, they underwent extensive testing including extremes in altitude, temperature, humidity, blowing sand, dust, fog, snow, ice, fungus plus induced vibration as well as truck/rail and air transportation shock/vibration. The majority of the testing was conducted in accordance with MIL-STD-810G.
Military Standard
The first two prototype pumps recently completed laboratory performance as well as environmental testing. The first set has been installed on the radar cooling assembly to undergo system testing and the second set of pumps will be delivered by the end of the year.
Carver’s M Series meets ASTM F998 including the Navy Supplement and is constructed to withstand some of the toughest pumping environments. With their close-coupled design, these pumps can fit into some of the smallest spaces, while their internals can be easily accessed for maintenance.
Approved for Public Release
17-MDA-9044 (22 February 17)
