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Navy/USMC

Austal Delivers Autonomous-Capable EPF-13 To Navy, CNO Downplays Quick Changes

Friday, February 17th, 2023

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Austal Delivers Autonomous-Capable EPF-13 To Navy, CNO Downplays Quick Changes

USNS Apalachicola (EPF-13) underway in the Gulf of Mexico during sea trials in 2022. (Photo: Austal USA)

Austal USA delivered the Spearhead-class Expeditionary Fast Transport USNS Apalachicola (EPF-13) to the Navy on Feb. 16. Delivery followed after the ship previously completed acceptance trials and Unmanned Logistics Prototype Trials in September (Defense Daily, Sept. 9). EPF-13 differs from other ships in the class by having systems to help demonstrate some autonomous capabilities to become a self-driving platform. The company previously said its autonomy modifications include perception and autonomy control suite, automation enhancements to the machinery plant that improve…

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