The LM2500+G4 engines will be integrated into the KDDX’s full electric propulsion configuration, which is designed to improve operational flexibility, fuel economy, survivability and redundancy. It will also provide additional power for future upgrades as the navy introduces more demanding sensors and weapons.
KDDX will be the first ship in Republic of Korea Navy history equipped with stealth-integrated radar and armed with anti-aircraft and land-attack missiles. The propulsion system is intended to meet the electrical and operational requirements created by those capabilities.
Asha Belarski, Vice President & General Manager, GE Aerospace’s Marine Engines & Systems, said: “The transition to full electric propulsion is a step toward the next generation of naval power.” She added: “We are honored to be a part of this project incorporating the latest advancements in shipbuilding.”
“The selection of GE Aerospace’s LM2500+G4 technology strengthens our strong collaborations in Korea and demonstrates our commitment to local manufacturing,” Belarski said. Hanwha Aerospace will manufacture various engine components and assemble, test and support the turbines in South Korea.
The local industrial role will also extend to the engines’ lightweight composite enclosures, which NRTEC will manufacture in Busan. The arrangement broadens domestic participation beyond component production and into the integration and long-term support of the propulsion system.
Each LM2500+G4 will be housed in GE Aerospace’s new composite enclosure, reducing weight by more than 2,500 kilograms compared with the previous steel design while retaining the footprint of the base LM2500 turbine. The enclosure is also designed to be 60% quieter and lower wall temperatures by between 25 and 50 degrees Fahrenheit, improving conditions for the ship’s crew.
The selection builds on the Republic of Korea Navy’s extensive use of GE Aerospace propulsion systems. The service has procured 163 of the company’s marine gas turbines for 95 ships to date, supported by its longstanding industrial relationship with Hanwha Aerospace.
Introduced in 2012, the LM2500+G4 already powers FREMM frigates operated by Italy, France, Egypt and Morocco. It has also been selected for the U.S. Navy’s Constellation-class frigate program and the land-based test site supporting development of the future DDG(X) destroyer.
The LM2500+G4 retains the two-spool architecture and footprint of the base LM2500 while incorporating a zero-stage high-pressure compressor blisk and other technical improvements. Those changes increase airflow by 33% and permit higher firing temperatures, allowing the engine to support demanding mechanical and electrical power-generation applications such as KDDX.
