HAL to Receive 6 LM2500 Marine Gas Turbine Engine Kits from GE to Power Indian Navy's Next Generation Missile Vessels

Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) will receive six LM2500 marine gas turbine engine kits from GE Aerospace to power the Indian Navy's Next Generation Missile Vessels (NGMV), currently under construction at Cochin Shipyard Limited.

The LM2500 gas turbine engine kits, renowned for their reliability and performance, were manufactured at GE's Evendale, Ohio facility. They will be shipped to HAL's Industrial & Marine Gas Turbine Division in Bangalore, where they will undergo final assembly and rigorous testing. This process aligns with India's "Make in India" initiative, promoting domestic manufacturing and technological expertise.

This isn't the first time these two companies have collaborated. HAL has a long history of assembling, inspecting, and testing LM2500 gas turbines for the Indian Navy, having already delivered 22 engines for 11 naval vessels.

In 2023, GE Aerospace and HAL further solidified their partnership by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to explore expanding HAL's role to include the assembly, inspection, and testing of the LM500 marine gas turbine. This potential expansion could lead to HAL producing indigenous 4-megawatt gas turbine generators for future Indian naval vessels.

The LM2500 gas turbine enjoys a dominant position in the global market, powering naval ships in 39 navies worldwide, including a significant majority of the United States Navy fleet. Its proven track record, ease of maintenance, and global support network make it a preferred choice for naval propulsion. This continued collaboration between GE and HAL underscores the commitment to equipping the Indian Navy with cutting-edge technology and ensuring their vessels are ready for any challenge.

 

[abhinav srivastava]

We must also develop kaveri derivative smaller ships.

 

[Ysmir Rewari]

Haven't learnt from F-404 fiasco yet?

 

[GMR]

For god's sake, start developing marine & land engines... when r our defence planners going to learn any lesson??? So lethargic, so no brainers

 

[Dredd]

We must also develop kaveri derivative smaller ships.

there was news couple of years ago regarding marine variant, but it couldn't provide continuous power for long duration and project was shelved.

 

[abhinav srivastava]

there was news couple of years ago regarding marine variant, but it couldn't provide continuous power for long duration and project was shelved.

They must study the shortcomings and improve it.

 

[ramdas]

GE and HAL have a good partnership on paper but nothing on the ground.

 

[Dredd]

They must study the shortcomings and improve it.

they need someone to do handholding, more over IN, IAF have no trust in GTRE .

 

[Krishnendu Chatterjee]

Kaveri marine gas turbine has failed like so many DRDO initiatives. No pvt. Sector Co. seems to venture into arduous engine development activity. Indians have always been weak in core engineering (mechanical, electrical/ electronic)

 

[Muthukumar Ponnambalam]

Why ? India doesn't have the expertise to develop its own ? Or is India that much intellectually challenged to not be able to develop one ??? I mean, despite chest thumping about IITs and IISc ????

 

[Jessica Cheong]

This is so called ambitious indigenous development aircraft and vessel engine projects?

 

[Aayush Pratap]

Outdated design but of course we love outdated stuff.

 

[Parthasarathi DasGupta]

Marine Gas turbine can be easily manufactured in India by BHEL. Unfortunately, they are not interested. How many years we'll import.

 

[RG]

What happened to marine version of Kaveri. Being risk averse will never get you ahead in technology. I would say make Brahmaputra that met with accident a technology demonstrator and make it a research vessal, by providing it to research community for technology development.

 

[Anant]

Why ? India doesn't have the expertise to develop its own ? Or is India that much intellectually challenged to not be able to develop one ??? I mean, despite chest thumping about IITs and IISc ????

You need either a good aircraft jet engine or a bunch of money and expertise to develop a marine gas turbine engine.

The Kaveri has been modified into a 12 MW marine gas turbine, but this is still in testing. In any case, that kind of engine would not be powerful enough for large ships.

 

[Anant]

Outdated design but of course we love outdated stuff.

Um, the LM2500 is a perfectly modern and capable design, which is used in new ships around the world.

 

[Anant]

Marine Gas turbine can be easily manufactured in India by BHEL. Unfortunately, they are not interested. How many years we'll import.

Based on what, exactly? BHEL can manufacture MGTs, but unless you have a set of detailed design drawings and expertise, that won't happen.

 

[Parthasarathi DasGupta]

Based on what, exactly? BHEL can manufacture MGTs, but unless you have a set of detailed design drawings and expertise, that won't happen.

BHEL is making gasturbines for last 30 years. Marine gasturbine is almost same. Only you need a very reliable gear box. SHANTI GEAR can make that. We have the technology , but we don't have a knowledgeable person, who can liason between various companies.

 

[Aayush Pratap]

Um, the LM2500 is a perfectly modern and capable design, which is used in new ships around the world.

Don't just write whatever for the heck of it, do some research first. It's a 60's vintage design.

 

[Anant]

Don't just write whatever for the heck of it, do some research first. It's a 60's vintage design.

You do realise that if the engine had not been modernised over the years or was not a good design or wasn't modern even by today's standards, you wouldn't have so many nations operating it, right?

Maybe take some more context before you reply.