GE Marine Delivers First Lightweight Composite Gas Turbine Module to Austal USA for LCS-32 Warship

GE Marine announced Wednesday it delivered its first new lightweight LM2500 composite gas turbine module to Austal USA for the future USS Santa Barbara (LCS 32) Independence-class littoral combat ship.

This new module, which was fully certified by the United States Navy in 2019 after receiving MIL-S-901D shock qualification, provides a 5,500-pound weight savings (50% wall weight reduction) and 60% quieter enclosure.

GE is supplying 38 LM2500 gas turbines to Austal USA for LCS Independence variants up to LCS 38. Like all the Austal USA-built LCS, the future USS Santa Barbara will be powered by two GE LM2500 gas turbines arranged in a combined diesel and gas turbine configuration with two diesel engines.

“One of the most important design features of this new module is that it provides a safer environment and improved access for sailors,” said Kris Shepherd, Vice President and General Manager, GE Marine. “By using lightweight composites versus the steel enclosure predecessor, wall temperatures are 25oF to 50oF degrees cooler so there is less heat rejected into the engine room.”

The Module Modernization Program (MMP) was a four-year collaborative effort with the U.S. Navy, Bath Iron Works, Bath, Maine, and GE.

Changes to the LM2500 system include the composite module, components, and fewer shock mounts for weight reduction, all while leveraging the experience and loadings from previous LM2500 shock tests with running units. Components such as sensors, transducers, ice and flame detectors and the heater also were updated.