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.
Forming part of the Reconciliation Bill, the funding will support multiple efforts involving autonomous capabilities, interceptors, missiles, rockets and torpedoes.
The delivery acceptance of the future USS Pierre marks the conclusion of the construction phase for the Independence-variant.
The new Barracuda version has been engineered to perform enhanced subsea and seabed warfare missions.
The nearly $25 billion investment will cover USCG procurement of cutters, aircraft, helicopters, training simulators and Polar capabilities over the next four years.
After commissioning, FRC Frederick Mann will operate in Alaska and perform multiple missions.
The US Coast Guard (USCG) created new units, including five Programme Executive Offices (PEOs), to facilitate and speed up the procurement of new capabilities.
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