GE Marine LM500 engines to power ROK’s PKX-B
GE Marine announced that its 4.6MW LM500 marine gas turbines will power the next three ships being procured through the Republic of Korea Navy’s (ROKN) Patrol Killer Experimental-B (PKX-B) patrol boat programme.
The programme sees sixteen 220t PKX-B Chamsuri II-class vessels being constructed by Hanjin Heavy Industries with the LM500 engines being built, assembled and tested in South Korea by Hanwha Aerospace.
Kris Shepherd, GE Marine VP and General Manager of Marine Operations, said ‘the PKX-B realised a 45% reduction in size and weight from its PKX-A predecessor by optimising the package and gas turbine auxiliary systems to include an electric start system’.
GE Marine and Hanwha Aerospace are also expected to provide the LM500 to the ROKN’s PKX-B Batch II fleet, commencing in Q4 2020.
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