Rolls-Royce nets US Navy contract

17th Jan 2011 07:02

Rolls-Royce has won its biggest ever marine naval surface ship contract, sealing a deal to supply gas turbines and waterjets for ten of the US Navy's Littoral Combat Ships (LCS).The British company will equip each of the ships, designed to operate in combat zones close to shore, with two MT30 gas turbines, the most powerful marine gas turbines in the world. They'll power four large waterjets.With an ability to reach speeds in excess of 40 knots, the boats are highly manoeuvrable, able to operate in shallow waters and to stop and accelerate quickly.The massive waterjets are capable of pumping enough water to fill an Olympic-sized swimming pool in 25 seconds.Rolls is already supplying propulsion equipment on the first two of the LockheedMartin-designed vessels. Today's announcement extends this with one firm order and options for a further nine."We have worked closely with Lockheed Martin and other partners throughout the design, build and sea trials of the first vessel, USS Freedom, and are making good progress on the second ship, Fort Worth, which is more than 80 percent complete and remains on cost and on schedule," Rolls' President - Naval Andrew Marsh said.