GE Marine to provide gas turbines for Japanese new destroyer

GE Marine Solutions, a subsidiary of the U.S. engineering giant General Electric, announced it would provide two LM2500 aeroderivative marine gas turbines for the Japan Maritime Self Defense Force’s (JMSDF) new 8,200-ton class Aegis destroyer.

The turbines will be installed by IHI, the Tokyo-based company responsible for the construction of propulsion systems for Japan’s destroyers.

“GE’s LM family of gas turbines are already part of numerous JMSDF ships, most recently the Izumo-class DDH helicopter carriers and 5,000-ton class destroyer programs,” said Brien Bolsinger, Vice President, Marine Operations, GE, Evendale, Ohio.

“As with previous contracts, IHI will handle in-country design, manufacture and testing of the LM2500 propulsion modules for the new 8,200-ton class Aegis destroyer program. We are delighted to continue our long-standing partnership with the JMSDF and IHI,” Bolsinger added.

Including the aforementioned new destroyer programs, the JMSDF uses LM2500 and LM500 gas turbines for its Kongo-, Murasame-, Atago-, Hyuga- and Izumo-class ships.

GE said the LM2500 gas turbines for the new Aegis destroyer would be equipped with integrated electronic controls, and would be arranged in a combined gas turbine-electric and gas turbine (COGLAG) configuration.

IHI is expected to deliver the LM2500 propulsion modules to the shipyard, Japan Marine United Corporation, in 2018.