GE Aviation Wins Dual Engine Contracts from U.S. Navy and UK Army

GE Aviation announced on Thursday that it has secured two new military contracts, covering the supply of propulsion systems for the new ocean surveillance vessels of the US Navy and the engine maintenance services for the British Army's Apache helicopters, further consolidating its market position in naval propulsion and defense aviation maintenance.

In the United States, GE Aviation's marine engine and systems business unit received an order from Austal USA to provide a LM2500+G4 marine gas turbine and配套generator for the US Navy's "Explorer" class ocean surveillance ship's first vessel, the USNS Don Walsh (T-AGOS 25). The ship is currently under construction in Alabama.

The "Explorer" class ships are specifically designed to support anti-submarine warfare operations and the Navy's integrated undersea surveillance system, adopting a combined electric propulsion system of diesel generators and gas turbines, catering to both long-term towing missions and high-speed maneuvering needs. GE Aerospace stated that the USNS Don Walsh is expected to become the largest tonnage and fastest vessel in the US Navy's T-AGOS surveillance fleet.

The engines mounted on the ship will use a lightweight composite machine compartment technology, which was first applied on USS Santa Barbara in 2023. GE Aviation said that compared to traditional steel compartments, composite compartments can effectively reduce weight and compartment noise, which is particularly important for acoustic surveillance missions. The LM2500 series engines have been in service in naval fleets around the world for decades and currently provide power for most of the US Navy's surface combatant vessels.

In another contract, GE Aviation announced a three-year agreement with Boeing's Boeing Defence UK to continue providing support services for the T700 engines of the British Army's AH-64E Apache helicopter fleet. The contract includes on-site technical support, logistics management, and engine repair and maintenance, with some maintenance work being completed through StandardAero's facility in Gosport, UK.

Paul Ferraro, Vice President and General Manager of GE Aviation's Defense Engines and Services, said that this agreement continues the company's long-standing cooperation with Boeing Defence UK and the British Army.

The announcement of the aforementioned contracts comes at a time when uncertainty in the commercial aviation market persists, and naval modernization and military aviation maintenance areas have relatively maintained their resilience. These contracts also highlight GE Aerospace's continued strategic positioning in the two major defense sectors.