GE Aerospace’s Marine Engines & Systems has secured an official order from Austal USA to supply propulsion power for the U.S. Navy’s new Explorer-class ocean surveillance ships, T-AGOS.
GE Aerospace press release
The purchase agreement covers one LM2500+G4 marine gas turbine engine in a composite enclosure with associated generator by Brush for the lead ship, USNS Don Walsh (T-AGOS 25), currently under construction at Austal USA in Mobile, Alabama.
“This official order represents a significant milestone for both the T-AGOS 25 program and GE Aerospace’s continued partnership with the U.S. Navy,” said Mark Musheno, VP of Sales and Marketing Marine Engines and Systems at GE Aerospace. “We’re honored to provide proven, reliable propulsion technology for the Navy’s next generation of ocean surveillance ships. The LM2500’s power density, reliability, and fuel efficiency make it an ideal choice for the integrated electric propulsion system that gives these ships the operational flexibility their mission demands.”
The T-AGOS 25 design employs an Integrated Electric Propulsion (IEP) system featuring four electric motors powered by three diesel generators and one GE LM2500 gas turbine. This hybrid configuration provides operational flexibility, allowing the ship to optimize power generation for various mission profiles—from extended low-speed towing operations (5 knots for 9,000 nautical miles) to rapid transit at sprint speeds when required.
Next-Generation Ocean Surveillance Capability
The Explorer-class represents a significant leap forward in ocean surveillance capabilities, featuring larger, faster vessels designed to support the Navy’s anti-submarine warfare operations and the Integrated Undersea Surveillance System (IUSS). At 359 feet long and with a displacement of 9,099 tons, these ships will be the largest and fastest T-AGOS vessels ever operated by the U.S. Navy, capable of sprinting up to 22 knots.
Revolutionary Composite Enclosure Technology
The LM2500 aboard USNS Don Walsh will be encased in GE Aerospace’s revolutionary lightweight composite enclosure, first introduced to the U.S. Navy fleet on USS Santa Barbara (LCS 32) in March 2023. Fully certified by the U.S. Navy with MIL-S-901D Grade A shock qualification, the composite enclosure delivers transformative operational advantages critical for acoustic surveillance missions:
With more than 50 years of proven reliability and more than 16 million operational hours across global naval fleets, the LM2500 family continues to set the standard for marine gas turbine propulsion. Powering 95% of the U.S. Navy’s surface combatants, this order for the Explorer-class demonstrates the Navy’s continued confidence in GE Aerospace’s commitment to innovation, reliability, and mission-ready performance.About GE Aerospace Marine Engines & Systems.
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