The Italian Navy selected Rolls-Royce to provide MT30 gas turbines to power the Landing Helicopter Deck (LHD), a new multi-purpose amphibious vessel, the company said March 17.
Two MT30 gas turbines are set to power the 20,000 ton displacement LHD, which will be built by the Italian shipbuilding company Fincantieri under the Legge Navale ‘Naval Law,’ a major investment program to renew the Italian fleet, Rolls-Royce said.
“We’re delighted the MT30, the most powerful marine gas turbine in operation today, has been selected for this prestigious ship,” Don Roussinos, president for the naval section of Rolls-Royce, said in a statement.
“We’re extremely proud that our MT30 will be powering the new Landing Helicopter Deck and look forward to working with Fincantieri and the Italian Navy on this program,” Roussinos added.
The MT30 is derived from the company’s aero technology and is the world’s most powerful marine gas turbine with the highest power density, Rolls-Royce said.
It has previously been chosen to power several other international naval programs including the Royal Navy’s new Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carriers and Type 26 Global Combat Ship as well as the South Korean Navy’s new FFX-II Incheon-class frigates. The MT30 currently powers the U.S. Navy’s DDG-1000 Zumwalt-class destroyers and Freedom-class Littoral Combat Ships.