MTU Logs French Navy Order

MTU Friedrichshafen has won the contract to supply the diesel electric propulsion systems for eight French frigates from the “FREMM” program (Frégates Européennes Multimissions). Apart from onboard power generation, the four 16-cylinder MTU Series 4000 diesel engines on each vessel provide the heart of the diesel electric propulsion system with each unit delivering 2,200 kW. A gas turbine is available as an alternative for higher speeds. “This is our first major order to equip French naval vessels and MTU is proud to be contributing to Europe’s largest shipbuilding project by supplying our compact diesel generators and our advanced systems expertise” declared Rainer Breidenbach, Executive Vice President, Sales and Marketing, at MTU Friedrichshafen. Delivery of the first unit is scheduled for 2008. MTU’s first contributions to the program were made at the vessel design stage with solutions for the horizontal exhaust outlet system. Because the outlet is located just above the waterline, the diesel unit has to be able to withstand extremely high, short-term exhaust backpressures. Double resilient mounts and acoustic enclosures mean that these diesel electric propulsion units achieve uniquely low acoustic signatures whilst their low weight and shockproof mountings provide an extremely robust design. The prime contractor for the vessels is “Armaris”, a joint subsidiary of the defense concerns DCN and Thales. The frigates have an overall length of more than140 meters and a displacement of 6,000 tonnes and can achieve a top speed of approximately 27 knots with gas-turbines and around 16 knots with diesel electric propulsion.