GE signs MoU with RJE Global for Australian Navy turbine assembly

Gas turbines for the Royal Australian Navy’s Future Frigate program could be built by Australian RJE Global under a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed with GE’s Marine Solutions.

GE’s Marine Solutions said in an announcement on September 27 that RJE would assemble GE LM2500 gas turbine modules and manufacture a number of components for this engine. The MOU was signed by both companies recently at RJE’s facility in Adelaide.

The nine-ship SEA 5000 Future Frigate Program will replace the aging Anzac class frigates. GE’s LM2500 gas turbines are operational on two of the short-listed qualified ship designs: Fincantieri’s FREMM and Navantia’s F100.

“Through this MOU, GE provides RJE access to manufacturing and assembly knowledge as well as other GE resources that have been used with similar local manufacturers globally to produce our reliable LM2500 marine gas turbine modules,” said Brien Bolsinger, vice president, general manager, GE.

RJE designs and builds plant and power solutions for industries including mining, renewable energy, utility power generation, and infrastructure. RJE already is an authorized distributor for GE Transportation’s medium speed diesel generator sets both in Australia and internationally; RJE also performs work on GE Power’s LM2500 trailer mounted gas turbine power generation modules.

“As a result of this MOU, we recently met face-to-face with the GE team and some of their key suppliers in Cincinnati where we shared information and aligned capabilities to ensure quality fabrication and assembly for GE’s LM2500 marine gas turbine modules,” RJE’s managing director Robin Johnson said.

According to GE, its LM2500 engines comprise the entirety of the RAN’s gas turbine fleet. In fact, each of the RAN’s new Hobart-class Air Warfare Destroyer (AWD) features two LM2500s configured in a Combined Diesel Or Gas turbine (CODOG) arrangement with two diesel engines. GE LM2500s also power the RAN’s Adelaide and Anzac class frigates, and the two Landing Helicopter Dock ships – HMA Ships Canberra and Adelaide.