GE Aerospace to provide marine gas turbine engines for South Korea's KDDX destroyers - Breaking Defense

Rendering of the KDDX being put forward by Hanwha Ocean for South Korea's destroyer program. (Hanwha Ocean)

SINGAPORE — GE Aerospace has announced that its LM2500+G4 marine gas turbine engine will power new destroyers for South Korea’s Navy.

The company said in a press release on Tuesday that it will supply 12 LM2500+G4 engines for six KDDX-class ships being built for the Republic of Korea Navy (RoKN). No contract value was announced, and South Korea’s defense ministry has not responded to questions from Breaking Defense.

“The LM2500+G4’s integration with KDDX’s full electric propulsion configuration offers the ships superior operational flexibility and fuel economy, power for future growth, and optimal survivability/redundancy,” said GE’s release, adding that the engine would meet the power demands of the KDDX-class.

Asha Belarski, vice president and general manager of GE Aerospace’s marine engines and systems division, said that transitioning to a full electric propulsion system is a step towards the next generation of naval propulsion.