EVENDALE, OH - GE Marine Engines has contracted with Ishikawajima-Harima Heavy Industries Co. Ltd. (IHI) to supply four LM2500 aeroderivative gas turbines. The units will be used to power two 09DD Murasame-class destroyers being built for the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF).

Each ship will use four gas turbines, two of which are GE LM2500 aeroderivative units. Each of the LM2500s is rated at 16,500 horsepower (hp). The LM2500 has also been qualified for ratings up to 32,000 hp for other naval applications.

With the order for the 09DD, this brings the total number of LM2500s in the JMSDF fleet to 43, including all engines on order, operational and spares. The JMSDF will have a total of 14 LM2500-powered ships: Nine Murasame-class and four Kongou-class destroyers, as well as one Asuka-class experimental test ship. Three LM500 gas turbines also power JMSDF patrol hydrofoils.

The LM2500 gas turbines for the 09DD destroyers will be manufactured at GE's Evendale, OH facility. IHI will assemble and test the gas turbines and modules at its Kure No.2 plant. The two 09DD ships are being constructed by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and Marine United in Japan.

The two 09DD destroyers are scheduled for launch in 2000, with full commissioning slated for 2002.

IHI is a GE Marine Systems Supplier, and is headquartered in Tokyo. To date, IHI has packaged 34 LM gas turbines for marine propulsion, and 70 LMs for various power generation applications throughout the world. GE Marine Engines of Evendale is part of GE Aircraft Engines.