GE Aerospace has received a contract to provide its LM2500 for the Indian Navy’s Next Generation Missile Vessels (NGMV) being built by Cochin Shipyard in India.
As disclosed, six LM2500 marine gas turbine engine kits will be delivered by GE Aerospace for assembly and test by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) Industrial and Marine Gas Turbine Division in Bangalore, India.
Additionally, GE Aerospace will be supplying its composite base and enclosure, and full complement of gas turbine auxiliary systems.
These engines will power the newest addition to the Indian Navy’s fleet, described as a force multiplier for their naval capability.
Over 714 vessels globally feature GE Aerospace’s marine gas turbines, according to the company.
The Next Generation Missile Vessel is a new design for the Indian Navy that will reach a max speed of 35 knots and carry an array of anti-surface weapons. The core of the NGMV propulsion system is the LM2500, a marine gas turbine engineered to unleash superior power while meeting stealth requirements.
“The LM2500 gas turbine’s proven power and reliability make it the ideal choice for the NGMV mission. We are proud to continue our collaboration with HAL to deliver this critical technology for India’s maritime defense,” said Amy Gowder, GE Aerospace Defense & Systems President and CEO.
HAL has assembled and tested all LM2500 gas turbines that currently power the Indian Navy’s P17 and P17A frigates, as well as the IAC-1 Vikrant aircraft carrier.
In 2023, GE Aerospace and HAL signed an MOU to explore expanding their capabilities to include assembly, inspection, and testing (AIT) of the LM500 marine gas turbine To date, GE Aerospace has delivered 24 marine gas turbine kits to HAL for the Indian Navy.
India struggles to get Russian supports
A team of the Indian Navy, including personnel from the Chief of Material Directorate, had recently visited the shipyard in Russia, where the INS Tushil and INS Tamal frigates are being built and inspected the project, the defence officials told ANI.
The work is now progressing at a good pace and the first warship has also been launched for sea trials, which are being carried out by the Russian Navy.
The two warships are expected to be commissioned by August and December this year, respectively, they said.
The ongoing conflict in that region created many issues for the project, including the fitment of the Ukrainian engine on the frigate being built in Russia.
Moreover, the workforce from Indian naval shipyards was sent there to fit the engines on the warship, the officials said.
The first ship is now undergoing trials in Russian waters and is expected to be ready soon for delivery to the Indian Navy for acceptance trials.
Additionally, the Indian team is expected to be there soon.
The other two warships of the series being built with Russian support at Goa Shipyard Limited (GSL) in India, are also moving ahead.
The GSL is expected to launch the first warship for trials in the near future and the delivery is planned to be completed by the middle of 2026.
Furthermore, the GSL has expanded its facilities and received supplies for the warships.
The project to build the warships in the Russian and Indian shipyards was cleared during the tenure of the late Manohar Parrikar as Defence Minister.
© 2024, GDC. © GDC and www.globaldefensecorp.com. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to www.globaldefensecorp.com with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.