Korea’s Daegu-class frigates to be Rolls-Royce powered

Daegu-class frigate

MAY 17, 2017 — Rolls-Royce has won a contract to supply MT30 marine gas turbines to power the next three ships in the Republic of Korea Navy’s Daegu-class frigate program.

Eight Daegu-class frigates (also known as FFX Batch 2) are scheduled to be built.

The first ship was launched last June by Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering’s Okpo shipyard in June 2016, which will also build Ship 2, while Ships 3 and 4 will be built by Hyundai Heavy Industries.

The MT30 gas turbines for Ships 2 and 3 are due to be delivered in the second half of 2018 and for Ship 4 very early in 2019.

The frigates are intended for a variety of missions including anti-submarine warfare, anti-air warfare, patrol, surveillance, search and rescue, protection of EEZ, and transport.

Don Roussinos, Rolls-Royce, President – Naval, said: “Our continued supply to this program validates our on-going relationship with DSME and HHI. The Daegu class is an exciting program. It is the world’s first frigate to use a single MT30 in the compact package and our first application for MT30 outside the U.K. and U.S. markets. The MT30 gas turbine has been successfully installed in Ship 1 and is currently successfully supporting the commissioning of ROK Daegu’s propulsion system. We understand that MT30 has powered the ship to meet its full speed requirement.”

The MT30 is derived from Rolls-Royce Trent aero engine technology and builds on over 45 million hours of operating experience and ultra-high reliability. It is initially built as separate modules on the same build line in the U.K. as the Rolls-Royce Trent aerospace engines in Derby. It is then assembled and tested at the company’s Bristol facility.

With testing complete, the MT30 engine is shipped to Korea, where Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) Engine & Machinery Division integrates it into a steel enclosure that also houses the air inlets, exhausts and ancillary equipment, prior to installation in the ship.

The MT30 gas turbine is the world’s most powerful in-service marine gas turbine with the highest power density and will deliver a high power output in a compact space.

Rolls-Royce MT30s are in service with the U.S. Navy’s Freedom class Littoral Combat Ship and already successfully powering the Zumwalt class.

MT30 has been selected for the Royal Navy’s Type 26 Global Combat Ship and is powering the Royal Navy’s new Aircraft Carriers. On HMS Queen Elizabeth the two MT30 gas turbine alternators have now been released to full power. MT30 has been recently selected for the Italian Navy’s new Landing Helicopter Dock.