GE Aerospace has received orders for eight LM2500 marine gas turbines to power two upcoming US Navy Arleigh Burke-class Flight III destroyers, USS Ray Mabus (DDG 147) and USS Robert R. Ingram (DDG 149), with each ship requiring four engines for propulsion. The order reinforces GE’s longstanding role in the programme, as the company supplies propulsion systems for every destroyer in the class. As of April, 75 Arleigh Burke-class ships were in active service, all equipped with LM2500 turbines. The US Navy has received more than 700 engines from the LM2500 family for its destroyers, frigates and other surface combatants since the turbine entered naval service in 1969. The engine has undergone continuous development, producing variants such as the LM2500+ and LM2500+G4, with upgrades incorporating technologies and hardware improvements from military and commercial applications. GE is also expanding its naval propulsion business internationally. South Korea selected 12 LM2500+G4 turbines in September for six planned KDDX destroyers, while Austal USA ordered another LM2500+G4 turbine and generator in May for the future USNS Don Walsh ocean surveillance vessel. The ship will use a combined gas-turbine and diesel-electric propulsion arrangement. To support increasing defence requirements, GE has announced a $1 billion investment in US manufacturing facilities and suppliers, together with plans to hire around 5,000 additional manufacturing and engineering personnel.
