Lightweight Beaching Ramp for Ships

The Navy is seeking an SBIR solution for a durable, lightweight, corrosion-resistant beaching ramp for newly constructed Medium Landing Ships to support ship-to-shore loading and unloading of cargo, equipment, and troops. The work calls for a large Roll-On/Roll-Off ramp concept, then a scaled prototype, with transition planning for Navy use and potential commercial applications. The ramp must be at least 13 feet wide and 75 feet long, support a 70-ton vehicle load, articulate from a single hinge point using hydraulics, deploy within 30 minutes, and withstand harsh marine conditions with a nonskid surface and a 30-year service life. Phase I emphasizes concept development, material testing, and analytical modeling, while Phase II focuses on prototype development and durability/load testing in a simulated environment. The opportunity is open under solicitation DON26BZ01-NV018, with applications due June 3, 2026 at 4:00 PM UTC.