Italian Navy Opts for Rolls-Royce Gas Turbine
Rolls-Royce signed a contract with Fincantieri to provide MT30 gas turbines to power the Italian Navy’s new multi-purpose amphibious vessel.
The Derby-based company will supply two of its MT30 gas turbines to power a 20,000-tonne landing helicopter dock vessel, which will be the second largest ship in Italy’s navy.
Based on Rolls’ Trent 800 jet engine used on aircraft such as the Boeing 777, the MT30 is already installed on the Royal Navy’s new Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carriers and is due to be used in Type 26 frigates when work on them begins.
The ship will be built by Fincantieri under the Legge Navale ‘Naval Law’ – a major investment programme to renew the Italian naval fleet.
Don Roussinos, Rolls-Royce, President – Naval, said: “We’re delighted the MT30, the most powerful marine gas turbine in operation today, has been selected for this prestigious ship. We are also very pleased that the MT30 has penetrated another new market, which is indicative of the confidence placed in the engine’s design and performance by Fincantieri.”
“We’re extremely proud that our MT30 will be powering the new Landing Helicopter Deck and look forward to working with Fincantieri and the Italian Navy on this programme.”
Giuseppe Ciongoli, Rolls-Royce, Regional Director – Italy, added: “Our equipment will provide the Italian Navy with the optimum solution and we very much welcome the Italian Navy as the latest customer for our MT30 gas turbine.”
The MT30 is derived from Rolls-Royce aero engine technology and builds on over 45 million hours of operating experience. It is the world’s most powerful marine gas turbine and has the highest power density – a key factor in naval propulsion where delivering a high power output in a compact space is essential.
The MT30 has been chosen to power several of the world’s major new and progressive naval programmes, including the Royal Navy’s new Queen Elizabeth class aircraft carriers and Type 26 Global Combat Ship, and the Republic of Korea Navy’s new FFX-II Incheon class frigates. It already powers the U.S. Navy’s DDG-1000 Zumwalt class destroyers and Freedom class Littoral Combat Ships which are built by Fincantieri Marine Group, the U.S. subsidiary of Fincantieri.
