Rolls-Royce to Equip UK Navy's Type 26 Warships
Rolls-Royce Canada said it has won a contract with BAE Systems for its mission bay handling technology for the U.K. Royal Navy’s new Type 26 Global Combat Ship.
The contract covers the first three ships, the first of which is currently under construction at the BAE Systems Glasgow shipyard, Scotland.
The Type 26 Global Combat Ship is designed with modularity and flexibility in mind, and a key feature which sets it apart from competing designs is its mission bay. The Rolls-Royce Mission Bay Handling System, designed and built at the Rolls-Royce facility in Peterborough, Ontario, will enable efficient movement within the mission bay of a wide variety of payloads including cargo, munitions, assorted crafts, and containerized mission modules. It also features a launch and recovery system.
Don Roussinos, Rolls-Royce, President – Naval, said, “The team at our Naval Marine Center of Excellence in Peterborough, has developed truly world-leading Canadian technology, which will ‘future proof’ the Global Combat Ship, whatever its mission.
“The U.K. Royal Navy’s Type 26 frigates will be globally deployable, multi-mission warships capable of undertaking a wide range of roles. We’re proud to be supplying our pioneering Mission Bay Handling System, which will ensure flexibility and adaptability throughout the life of the ships”.
Rolls-Royce is working closely with Lockheed Martin Canada and BAE Systems, and has engaged with several in-country suppliers, to offer a wide range of technology for Canada’s future frigate.
Roussinos added, “Canada has great ambitions with the planned renewal of its naval fleet and we believe that the combination of an advanced ship design incorporating a range of Rolls-Royce technology, can deliver the flexible capability the Navy demands.”
Rolls-Royce is delivering the majority of the propulsion system for the U.K.’s Type 26. Power will come from a single MT30 gas turbine, the most powerful marine gas turbine in service today. The MT30 provides direct drive through a gear box, and four MTU Series 4000 diesel generator sets from Rolls-Royce Power Systems. The company will supply also two fixed bolted propellers per ship, designed to meet underwater-radiated noise requirements, suited to the ships’ role of antisubmarine warfare.