US Navy Clears Two Rolls-Royce Engines For Unmanned Ships After 720-hour Tests
United States Navy has certified Rolls-Royce for its mtu Series 4000 and Series 2000 engines for use aboard autonomous naval vessels. The approval comes as the service seeks to expand its unmanned fleet and deploy ships capable of remaining at sea for extended periods without crews or routine maintenance.
The Series 4000 completed two 720-hour durability tests before receiving certification for autonomous applications. The engine can provide up to 4,300 kW of propulsion power or 3,000 kWe of electrical generation and is available in eight-, 12-, 16- and 20-cylinder V-configurations. The Series 2000 was approved following component testing and thousands of hours of field operations.
Rolls-Royce offers the engine in 10-, 12- and 16-cylinder V-configurations, with propulsion output of up to 1,939 kW. The certifications meet National Defense Authorization Act requirements cited by RollsRoyce for engines used in unmanned systems. Qualifying power systems must operate without human intervention or preventive and corrective work on their main propulsion, fuel and oil systems, supporting deployments of up to 30 days without maintenance.
Vice-president of governmental sales at RollsRoyce Power Systems in North America, Scott Hanson said: “The certification of our engines for unmanned operations further demonstrates the reliability and advanced technology of our mtu Series 4000 and 2000 marine propulsion systems. For decades, mtu engines have been trusted to provide reliable, mission-ready power for our crews at sea.”
Hanson linked the approval to the growing role of unmanned ships in naval planning. “As autonomous missions become increasingly important to naval strategy, we are proving that we can deliver the power systems, long-endurance capability and technology required for the new operational demands of unmanned vessels.”
The US government views autonomous surface vessels as a way to increase fleet capacity, broaden operational options and keep sailors away from hazardous environments. Their ability to conduct extended missions depends on propulsion systems that can operate reliably for long periods without onboard maintenance personnel.
