GE Marine Delivers Marine Gas Turbines to Avio for French and Italian FREMM Frigates

GE Marine has delivered two LM2500+G4 aeroderivative marine gas turbines to Avio S.p.A. of Turin, Italy, a GE Marine System Supplier. The gas turbines will power the Italian and French Navy’s fifth and seventh FREMM frigates, respectively.

The first French Navy frigate Aquitaine of the Italian-French FREMM program was launched in December 2010 at DCNS’ shipyard in Lorient, France. The first Italian Navy FREMM Bergamini was launched in June 2011. The remaining five Italian Navy ships and 10 French Navy ships are expected to launch approximately one per year from 2013 through 2022, respectively.

The FREMM project marks the first application in the marine sector of GE’s LM2500+G4 gas turbine, which has 17% more power than its LM2500+ predecessor. The LM2500+G4 benefits from the outstanding reliability and marine operating experience of the LM2500, which has logged more than 13 million hours in marine service.

The LM2500+G4 incorporates proven technology enhancements derived from the latest generation of commercial and military aircraft engines. The LM2500 gas turbine family powers 32 navies worldwide and was chosen for the Italian-French Horizon-class frigate program and the Italian Navy’s Cavour-class aircraft carrier.

The LM2500+G4 gas turbines were manufactured at GE’s Evendale, Ohio, facility. Avio will assemble the gas turbines into propulsion systems produced at its Brindisi industrial plant. The propulsion systems include a sophisticated turbine control system entirely developed by the Electronics & Electrical Systems Division of the Avio Group.

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Naval Today Staff,October 26, 2012; Image: GE