Rolls-Royce to power new UK aircraft carriers
LONDON, Oct 6 (Reuters) - Rolls-Royce Group Plc (RR.L) said it was provide power and propulsion equipment for Britain's two new 65,000-tonne aircraft carriers, in a 96 million pound ($169 million) deal. Rolls-Royce will provide four MT30 gas turbines, "the most powerful available in the marine market today, as part of an integrated system which includes the giant carrier's propellers and propeller shafts as well as rudders, stabilisers and some electrical systems," it said on Monday.
The MT30 turbines are already in use on the U.S. Navy's littoral (close to shore) combat ship, USS Freedom, and will be used on its DDG-1000 destroyers.
Britain's new carriers, to be called HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales and due to enter service in 2014 and 2016, are expected to each carry 36 F-35 Joint Strike Fighter combat jets (LMT.N) as well as four early-warning aircraft. (Reporting by Dan Lalor; Editing by Quentin Bryar)
