PACSCAT demonstrator takes to the water
The Partial Air Cushion Supported CATamaran (PACSCAT) Innovative Solution Demonstrator Craft (ISDC) has entered the water for the first time and will now undergo rigorous sea trials.
The craft, which is designed to off-load front line vehicles and troops from Royal Navy amphibious ships to the beach, is being developed in response to MOD's requirement to launch rapid and effective amphibious operations from over the horizon.
QinetiQ are managing the sea trials that will test the full scale demonstrator vessel. They have already conducted 1/15th scale model tests in their testing tanks at Haslar and a one third scale manned model has already shown enhanced performance over current inservice capability during manned model trials.