GE Aerospace wins Korean Navy destroyer engine deal

South Korea’s Navy has selected GE Aerospace to supply gas turbine engines for its next-generation KDDX destroyer program, with GE Marine set to deliver 12 LM2500+G4 engines to power six ships, the company said.

Each destroyer will carry two LM2500+G4 engines, integrated into a full electric propulsion configuration. GE Aerospace said the setup is intended to support the KDDX’s power demands as the first ship in Korean Navy history built with stealth-integrated radar and armed with anti-aircraft and land-attack missiles.

“The transition to full electric propulsion is a step toward the next generation of naval power,” said Asha Belarski, Vice President and General Manager of GE Aerospace’s Marine Engines and Systems. “We are honored to be a part of this project incorporating the latest advancements in shipbuilding. The selection of GE Aerospace’s LM2500+G4 technology strengthens our strong collaborations in Korea and demonstrates our commitment to local manufacturing.”

Each engine will be housed in a new lightweight composite enclosure, replacing the steel enclosure used on earlier LM2500 installations. GE Aerospace said the composite version cuts weight by more than 2,500 kilograms (5,512 pounds) while keeping the same footprint as the base LM2500 gas turbine. The company said the new enclosure also runs 60 percent quieter and reduces wall temperatures by 25 to 50 degrees Fahrenheit (14 to 28 degrees Celsius) compared with the steel version.

GE Aerospace’s marine gas turbine and electric drive power and propulsion system configuration. Image courtesy GE Aerospace

The Republic of Korea Navy has procured 163 GE Aerospace marine gas turbines across 95 ships to date. Under the KDDX program, GE’s longstanding Korean manufacturing partner, Hanwha Aerospace, will produce engine components and handle assembly, testing and in-country service support. The lightweight composite enclosure will be manufactured separately in Busan by NRTEC.

The LM2500+G4 entered service in 2012 and currently powers FREMM frigates operated by Italy, France, Egypt and Morocco. The U.S. Navy has also selected the engine for its Constellation-class frigate program, designated FFG-62, and more recently chose the LM2500+G4 to power the land-based test site supporting design work on its future DDG(X) destroyer class.