Neel Mehta
Rolls-Royce has received a supplier of the year award from a Lockheed Martin-led industry team contracted to build Freedom-variant Littoral Combat Ships for the U.S. Navy.
Lockheed said Wednesday that Rolls-Royce was given recognition during the 30th annual Surface Navy Association National Symposium held Tuesday.
Rolls-Royce produces the MT30 gas turbines and Mk1 waterjets for the Freedom-variant LCS’ combined diesel and gas propulsion system.
Joe DePietro, vice president of small combatants and ship systems at Lockheed, said that Rolls-Royce has supported the shipbuilding program and the Navy customer as an original Team Freedom member.
Don Roussinos, president of Rolls-Royce’s naval business, said the award came 10 years after the commissioning of the first MT30 gas turbine-powered ship USS Freedom.
MT30Â is designed to generate up to 36 megawatts of power and help Freedom-variant ships operate at a speed of more than 40 knots.
Team Freedom includes Fincantieri Marinette Marine, Gibbs and Cox and more than 800 suppliers across the U.S.
