India's Second Indigenous Aircraft Carrier May Adopt Rolls-Royce MT-30 Engine with Integrated Electric Propulsion, Seeking to Replace US LM2500

India's second Indigenous Aircraft Carrier (IAC-2) is likely to feature a significant shift in propulsion technology, potentially adopting the Rolls-Royce MT-30 gas turbine with an Integrated Electric Propulsion System (IEPS). This move would represent a departure from the US-supplied LM2500 engines currently powering the IAC-1, INS Vikrant, and align India with global trends in naval propulsion.

The Rolls-Royce MT-30 is recognized as one of the world's most power-dense marine gas turbines, offering exceptional power output that has been demonstrated on advanced platforms like the Royal Navy's HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales aircraft carriers. These carriers utilize the MT-30 in conjunction with electric propulsion systems, resulting in operational flexibility, reduced noise, and enhanced efficiency.

First deployed in 2008 aboard the USS Freedom, a Littoral Combat Ship of the US Navy, the MT-30 is known for its compact design and impressive power generation capabilities. Each turbine can produce up to 36 MW of power, enabling ships to achieve speeds exceeding 40 knots when combined with diesel engines.

This potential shift towards the MT-30 is further supported by the establishment of a Joint Working Group on Electric Propulsion Capability Partnership between India and the UK. This collaborative effort aims to foster knowledge exchange and industrial cooperation in electric propulsion, increasing the likelihood of Rolls-Royce propulsion systems being integrated into future Indian Navy vessels, including destroyers, frigates, corvettes, and landing platform docks (LPDs).

The adoption of the MT-30 for the IAC-2 would underscore India's intent to diversify its sources for critical naval technologies and transition away from traditional propulsion systems predominantly sourced from the US, Russia, and Ukraine. By embracing Rolls-Royce marine gas turbines, the Indian Navy aims to achieve several key advantages:

• Enhanced Performance: The MT-30's power and efficiency could translate to improved ship performance, including higher speeds and greater operational range for the IAC-2.
• Reduced Maintenance Costs: Modern gas turbines like the MT-30 generally require less maintenance compared to older systems, potentially leading to reduced operational costs over the lifespan of the vessel.
• Alignment with Global Best Practices: Integrating the MT-30 and IEPS would bring the IAC-2 in line with global trends in naval propulsion technology, enhancing interoperability and technological compatibility with allied navies.

While the final decision on the IAC-2's propulsion system is yet to be confirmed, the potential adoption of the Rolls-Royce MT-30 and IEPS represents a significant step towards modernizing India's aircraft carrier capabilities and potentially influencing the propulsion systems of its future warships. This move could enhance the Indian Navy's operational effectiveness and contribute to its long-term strategic goals.

 

[R. Singh]

IAC-II must be a 65000 ton displacement electric powered AC !

 

[sanket]

UK is ahead in naval propulsion Tech compared to US

 

[Anant]

Assuming we don't see an increase in displacement or changes in the hull-form, if we do go for the MT30, that has the potential to theoretically increase IAC-II's speed up to 33 knots. Of course, with the requisite strengthening that will be needed, that would limit top speed to 32-32.5 knots, which is still perfectly respectable.

 

[desigandu]

UK is ahead in naval propulsion Tech compared to US

Not n nuclear propulsion, but potentially with conventional IEC!

 

[desigandu]

Assuming we don't see an increase in displacement or changes in the hull-form, if we do go for the MT30, that has the potential to theoretically increase IAC-II's speed up to 33 knots. Of course, with the requisite strengthening that will be needed, that would limit top speed to 32-32.5 knots, which is still perfectly respectable.

Won’t this mean that IAC-2 and beyond will not be approved till 2026? We should just replicate IAC-2 and start building it asap…IEC can start with LPDs/LHDs and potentially IAC-3 & 4! Thoughts?

 

[Sathish Kumaram]

Our universities should focus on the Combustion software development and 3D ,Simulation expertise with stand alone software suites...Chinese have started with this to understand have the results and simulation guarded..

 

[DrEaDlOcK]

Relying on 3 separate propulsion systems is going to be a hectic job for the Navy to maintain and get spares for each one of them:

1. Ukrainians
2. LM2500 GE American
3. & now a 3rd is under discussion.

The Ukrainian will be phased out eventually, but not immediately. But is the UK a reliable partner for such key component purchases and operation? As we all know, the UK is an American... (respectfully omitting the offensive term) ...who will do anything and everything that the US tells them to do. They don't have an independent foreign policy, so in the future, if we have issues with the US and they decide to punish us, we'll lose both GE & Rolls-Royce engines.

It's not like the government is highly motivated to make Kaveri marine a reality soon, so we should at least work on it and refine the system while using it.

Sure, MT30 is a great option, but are they giving you full ToT on assembly & spares manufacturing or IP rights to make it in India? I don't think so.

 

[Anant]

Won’t this mean that IAC-2 and beyond will not be approved till 2026? We should just replicate IAC-2 and start building it asap…IEC can start with LPDs/LHDs and potentially IAC-3 & 4! Thoughts?

Unfortunately, that may be case. I don't see IAC-II getting approved until the second half of next year at the earliest, as most of this year's CapEx budget would have been spent by now, and what remains will be adjusted towards the end of March.

That said, I agree with you to the point that we can trial out IEP in our LHDs, and instead just go for the LM2500 for IAC-II to expedite construction.

 

[Rajesh]

Electric propulsion is the future and is a good step, especially co-designing & developing when the UK already has that tech. We already have Ukrainian engines which we won't be using anymore for new ships and eventually will be phased out, but again having 2 western engines, that too just assembling knocked-down kits, hopefully, we won't have the GE 404 type situations again. We should try creating a JV company and manufacture these engines here, also the subsequent Trent engines which can be used for Indian flight carriers, eliminating problems caused by P&W to one of our carriers.

 

[Parthasarathi DasGupta]

Writer doesn't know anything about marine gas turbine engine. GE engines are more reliable.

 

[Sandeep]

It’s highly unlikely that we will use this new engine for the second carrier. Changing engines will require a lot of design and structural changes to the carrier which will lead to significant delays. It’s easier and quicker to use what we have already developed and know that it already works. We already have the manufacturing and MRO capabilities to make them in India already so most likely we will just make a sister copy of Vikrant.

Word is that we will use the MT30 engine for our next generation corvettes but it’s not clear if it will be used for our frigates and destroyers.

 

[Anant]

The Ukrainian will be phased out eventually, but not immediately.

No, the Ukrainian Zorya-Mashproekt gas turbines will be serving well into the 2060s, as we still have atleast five ships utilising those engines which are yet to enter service (INSs Surat, Tushil, Tamala, Triput, and the tenth Talwar).

 

[Pad UwU]

This a good start😻🔥🔥🔥
electric engine is one of the best future....
GoI must establish a joint partnership and ask Rolls-Royce for RR Indian subsidiary or a JV

 

[Dipesh Debnath]

No, the Ukrainian Zorya-Mashproekt gas turbines will be serving well into the 2060s, as we still have atleast five ships utilising those engines which are yet to enter service (INSs Surat, Tushil, Tamala, Triput, and the tenth Talwar).

The engines for carrier and frigates and destroyers are different spec and can have separate manufacturers as they are made by different dockyards also, some even from Russia.

 

[Anant]

Writer doesn't know anything about marine gas turbine engine. GE engines are more reliable.

Based on what, exactly? The US, UK, Japan, Italy, and South Korea all use the engine, and a total of 36 ships have been completed to date with the MT30 installed. Not one of them has had a gas turbine-related issue.

Not saying the LM2500 isn't reliable; it most certainly is. However, the LM2500 has been around for decades now, and as such, has seen far more widespread use.