SEOUL, — The Republic of Korea Navy has selected GE Aerospace’s LM2500+G4 marine gas turbines to power six next-generation KDDX destroyers. GE Aerospace will supply 12 turbines, with two engines installed on each ship.
Full-Electric Propulsion
The LM2500+G4 turbines will be integrated into the KDDX’s full-electric propulsion system. The configuration is designed to improve fuel economy, operational flexibility, survivability and redundancy, while providing additional electrical power for future upgrades to sensors and weapons.
The system is intended to meet the high electrical and operational requirements of the KDDX’s advanced combat systems.
Advanced KDDX Systems
The KDDX program covers six destroyers in the 6,000- to 7,000-ton class. Hanwha Ocean holds the contract for detailed design and construction of the lead ship, which is scheduled for delivery in 2032. The remaining five ships are planned for delivery by 2036, with the overall program valued at about 7.8 trillion won.
The ships will feature an indigenous combat management system, a stealth-integrated dual-band AESA radar in an integrated mast, and Korean vertical launch systems capable of firing advanced anti-aircraft and land-attack missiles.
South Korean Industrial Participation
Hanwha Aerospace will manufacture various engine components and handle local assembly, testing and support of the turbines.
NRTEC, a Busan-based manufacturing company, will produce lightweight composite enclosures for the engines. The arrangement expands local participation into propulsion-system integration and long-term support.
Each composite enclosure reduces weight by more than 2,500 kilograms compared with the earlier steel design while maintaining the same footprint as the base LM2500 turbine. The enclosure is also designed to be 60 percent quieter and reduce exterior wall temperatures by 25 to 50 degrees Fahrenheit, improving conditions for crew working around the engines.
LM2500+G4 Engine
Introduced in 2012, the LM2500+G4 retains the two-spool architecture of the base LM2500. It incorporates a zero-stage high-pressure compressor blisk and other improvements that increase airflow by 33 percent and allow higher firing temperatures.
The engine is already used on FREMM frigates operated by Italy, France, Egypt and Morocco. It has also been selected for the U.S. Navy’s Constellation-class frigates and the land-based test site supporting the future DDG(X) destroyer.
Long-Standing ROK Navy Relationship
The KDDX selection continues GE Aerospace’s long-standing relationship with the Republic of Korea Navy. The service has previously procured 163 GE Aerospace marine gas turbines for 95 ships, with Hanwha Aerospace playing a longstanding role in the local industrial supply chain.
Asha Belarski, Vice President and General Manager of GE Aerospace’s Marine Engines & Systems, said the transition to full-electric propulsion represents a step toward the next generation of naval power and highlighted the company’s cooperation with South Korean industry and commitment to local manufacturing.
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