EVENDALE, Ohio -- GE Transportation's LM2500 aeroderivative marine gas turbine has been chosen to drive the United States Coast Guard's newest and largest multi-mission cutter under the Integrated Deepwater System (IDS) program. The LM2500 will be incorporated into the integrated propulsion system for the U.S. Coast Guard's new Maritime Security Cutter Large (WMSL). The long-range, multi-mission, extremely versatile high-endurance cutter is part of the U.S. Coast Guard's Deepwater Program.
GE will manufacture the LM2500 gas turbine at its Evendale, Ohio facility. GE is under contract with Detroit Diesel Corporation, Detroit, Mich., who is supplying the integrated propulsion system to Northrop Grumman Ships Systems (NGSS).
NGSS has began manufacture of the first of eight WMSLs at its Pascagoula, Miss. facility, under contract from Integrated Coast Guard Systems (ICGS), a joint venture of Northrop Grumman (NYSE: NOC) and Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT). In June 2002, the U.S. Coast Guard awarded the Deepwater contract to ICGS.
"Deepwater is the largest re-capitalization effort in the 213-year history of the U.S. Coast Guard. We are delighted that our first project with the Coast Guard is for this multi-year modernization and replacement program. The Coast Guard is playing an ever more vital role in homeland security for the United States. It is a distinct honor for GE to have been selected for this important program," said Karl Matson, general manager of GE Transportation's marine business in Evendale, Ohio.
The propulsion system for each 421-foot WMSL will feature one GE LM2500 gas turbine in a COmbined Diesel And Gas turbine (CODAG) arrangement with two MTU 20V1163 diesel engines. The total CODAG system output is specified to be 48,960 shaft horsepower.
GE's LM2500 remains popular with both military and commercial marine customers throughout the world. This gas turbine has been selected by 29 navies worldwide for use in a variety of propulsion system configurations aboard vessels such as frigates, corvettes, patrol boats and aircraft carriers. For example, GE has delivered a total of 590 (not including spare engines) LM2500 gas turbines to the U.S. Navy.
The LM2500 is also used in a variety of commercial marine applications such as fast ferries, cruise ships and high-speed yachts in diverse propulsion system arrangements.
Deepwater/WMSL
The Integrated Deepwater System is a sweeping program to modernize and replace the U.S. Coast Guard's aging ships and aircraft, and improve command and control and logistics systems. It is the largest re-capitalization effort in the history of the U.S. Coast Guard. When complete, the interoperable IDS will include three classes of new cutters and their associated small boats, a new fixed-wing manned aircraft fleet, a combination of new and upgraded helicopters, and both cutter-based and land-based unmanned air vehicles (UAVs).
All of these highly capable assets are linked with command, control, communications and computers, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (C4ISR) systems, and are supported by a new and far-reaching integrated logistics system.
The WMSL is one of three new cutter classes that also include the Maritime Security Cutter Medium, and the Maritime Patrol Coastal.
The WMSL will offer the Coast Guard several improvements, including the:
- Ability to carry more fuel, personnel, evacuees, and provisions than any legacy asset;
- Ability to carry a range of rotary aircraft (e.g., two helicopters or one helicopter and two vertical take off and landing unmanned aerial vehicles [VUAVs] or four VUAVs);
- Enhanced sea keeping capability through rudder roll stabilization; and
- Enhanced situational awareness through the Coast Guard Common Operational Picture.
Detroit Diesel will incorporate the LM2500 into the integrated CODAG propulsion system. Fabrication of the first NSC is planned to begin in mid-2004; ship delivery is scheduled in 2006.
GE Transportation's marine business is one of the world's leading manufacturers of a variety of marine products for military and commercial marine applications - in the 1,600 to 57,330 shaft horsepower range -- including aeroderivative gas turbines, diesel engines and main reduction gearing. GE gas turbines range from 6,000 to 57,330 shaft horsepower. The GE diesel family of medium speed engines includes 8, 12 and 16 cylinder V configurations ranging between 1,600 to 4,000 shp for both commercial marine and industrial applications.