Naval Warfare

Rolls-Royce to design and manufacture propellers for the US Navy

28th April 2021 - 16:49 GMT | by The Shephard News Team

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Rolls-Royce is designing and manufacturing propellers for the US Navy’s Constellation-class (FFG-62) frigates. (Photo: Rolls-Royce)

Rolls-Royce has reached an agreement with Fincantieri Marinette Marine to produce fixed-pitch propellers for the US Navy’s Constellation-class frigates.

Rolls-Royce has agreed with Fincantieri Marinette Marine to design and produce up to 40 fixed-pitch propellers for installation on the USN’s Constellation-class (FFG-62) guided-missile frigates.

Fincantieri was awarded the contract from the US DoD in April 2020 to design and build the first FFG-62 frigate. The contract is for a total of 20 ships and the first is planned to be delivered in 2026.

The propellers will be manufactured in Rolls-Royce’s new foundry in Pascagoula, Mississippi, which was funded through investments from the DoD.

The Pascagoula Foundry is one of two facilities in the US qualified to produce propellers of this size for the USN.

Rolls-Royce has built a reputation for supplying naval assets to the USN, with 95% of the commissioned USN surface fleet being equipped with its propellers.

According to Shephard Defence Insight, the Constellation class will replace Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigates and are intended to conduct a range of missions including anti-submarine warfare, surface warfare, electronic manoeuvre warfare and anti-air warfare.

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