Cincinnati, — GE Aerospace has received an order to supply eight LM2500 marine gas turbines for two future U.S. Navy Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers, the USS Ray Mabus (DDG 147) and USS Robert R. Ingram (DDG 149).
Both ships will be built to the Flight III configuration, the latest version of the Arleigh Burke-class destroyers. Each vessel will use four LM2500 gas turbines for its propulsion system, making the order part of the U.S. Navy’s continued investment in its surface fleet.
LM2500 Continues to Power the Arleigh Burke Class
The LM2500 is an aeroderivative marine gas turbine developed from GE’s CF6 commercial aircraft engine. The baseline model delivers approximately 33,600 shaft horsepower under standard conditions.
The U.S. Navy has relied on the LM2500 platform throughout the Arleigh Burke-class program. As of April 2026, the Navy operated 75 destroyers of this class, all powered by LM2500 engines.
The Navy has received more than 700 LM2500 gas turbines since the engine entered naval service in 1969. These engines have been used to power frigates, destroyers and other surface combatants.
GE Aerospace has continued to develop the engine family, introducing higher-output variants such as the LM2500+ and LM2500+G4. The company reports a 99 percent reliability rate for its marine gas turbines, with ongoing improvements drawing on operational experience from naval, commercial and industrial applications.
Flight III Destroyers and Long-Term Demand
The Flight III configuration represents the newest version of the Arleigh Burke class. These destroyers incorporate advanced radar and combat systems while retaining the LM2500 propulsion system used across the class.
The U.S. Navy announced the names of the two future destroyers in January 2025. USS Ray Mabus is named after former Secretary of the Navy Raymond E. Mabus Jr., while USS Robert R. Ingram honors Medal of Honor recipient Hospital Corpsman Third Class Robert R. Ingram.
GE Aerospace expects demand for LM2500 engines under the Arleigh Burke program to continue through 2056. The company is investing in production capacity and personnel to support the Navy’s long-term requirements.
“These orders reflect the strength of our long-standing partnership with the U.S. Navy and the confidence they place in the LM2500 platform,” said Asha Belarski, vice president and general manager of GE Aerospace’s Marine Engines & Systems.
She added that the company is investing in the people and capacity needed to ensure the Arleigh Burke class continues to receive reliable propulsion power.
Thousands of LM2500 engines are currently operating in naval fleets worldwide, making the engine family a widely used propulsion system for modern surface combatants.
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