Juliet Marine Ghost

History

Designed to perform offshore fleet protection, general coastal security and SPECOPS support, the stealth vessel Ghost was designed and developed in 2004 by multi-millionaire entrepreneur Gregory Sancoff of Juliet Marine Systems to provide a viable, working prototype , for a mere $10 million - a far cry from a normal ocean development cycle full of delays and cost overruns. The current (2014) Ghost doesn't meet any current U.S.

Navy requirements, but its unveiling still caught the attention of some observers for the stealthy clipper.

The ship should contain enough technology to reduce its signal to loitering enemy radars. Its profile is an inverted "V" shape through the use of positional "wing struts" causing the engine nacelles to run below the waterline. The 38-foot-long fuselage features a faceted design, more common in stealth aircraft, and rarely uses windows.

The overall length of the vehicle is 60 feet. The hull shape has a strong profile with a well-sloped front section and a 2" thick bulletproof windshield. Two side-by-side seats on the control deck - the pilot and co-pilot - are behind the all-glass dash.

At rest, only the hull is mostly exposed - the wing struts and their engine nacelles are almost level with the water and are mostly submerged. When the wing struts are brought closer together, when the speed reaches 8 knots or more, the hull is lifted, which lifts the hull above the water. This action provides a sea-skimming effect instead of a hover effect. The vehicle is controlled via a fighter-style joystick unit in the cockpit. The construction of the hull includes aluminium and stainless steel for a lighter approach as well as corrosion resistance - the latter important for ships operating in salty sea air.

The central part of the hull has a double cargo compartment for cargo, weapons or passengers. When equipped with quick-release seats, the cabin can accommodate up to 16 passengers or rescue personnel. There are no windows in the cargo hold except for two 6-inch portholes on the cabin floor.

Crew and passengers enter and exit the vessel through a single hull door.

The Ghost's engines are housed in 62-foot-long underwater buoyant tubular slides located at the end of each "wing strut". Each engine is rated at 2,000 hp, a power that allows Ghost to reach high operating speeds quickly, while its elevated hull design limits drag-inducing waves.

The result is an aircraft capable of reaching its intended location in short order - ready to intercept illicit cargo or repel an incoming suicide bomber. In fact, the ship is expected to play the role of an attack helicopter (albeit in the hull) when equipped with the appropriate weapons and tracking/intervention technology suited to the role.

The absence of wave flapping (or "wave jumping") is achieved by means of counter-rotating propeller units used to tow and stabilize the front of the engine nacelle. Engineers realized that the effects of the "supercavitation" could be counteracted by a propeller unit up front to provide control and push away oncoming water - making room for the gap where air enters the water from above.

Using air flowing through the struts, Ghost's propulsion system creates a bubble in the water large enough to trap objects moving in the water, greatly reducing drag and enabling the boat to fly at high speeds. Currently, the boat has reached a top speed of just 29 knots during trials - although Juliet Marine Systems believes 50 knots is an achievable target by design.

The drag reduction method also creates a stable weapons platform, and one of the other qualities of the Spectre can strike targets at high speeds. The vessel will also feature wing strut releases, enabling it (along with its appropriate equipment) to be used on the airfield from the belly of a standard USAF-Boeing C-17 Globemaster III series heavy duty crane.

While the U.S. Navy may not have a major interest in the "ghost" product, some U.S. allies have spoken openly about the unique offering of fast ships, including Israel, South Korea, and Qatar - countries that rely on fast coastal ships for intercept/deterrence missions are : Israel tracks illegal weapons shipments to its enemies, while South Korea is forced to manage long coastlines to prevent North Korean invasion and Chinese intimidation of disputed islands.

Qatar, an ally of the United States in the war on terror, is located in the volatile but vital Persian Gulf region of the Middle East. Another interesting use for Ghost could be in VIP personnel transport - although this may come online at a later date if military efforts don't pan out.

The expected price for a single vehicle is $10 million.

Specification

Basic

Roles

Dimensions

Performance

Performance

Armor

Wing