Successful MTG Light Off for USS Zumwalt

Photo - Rolls-Royce

he future USS Zumwalt, the first ship of the DDG 1000 multimission destroyer class, performed a successful Generator Light-Off of its first Main Turbine Generator Set (MTG) this week, Rolls-Royce announced. The ship is now power self-sufficient enabling follow-on systems testing and trials.Neil Pickard, Rolls-Royce, Program Executive said, “On behalf of the entire DDG 1000 program team, I am very pleased to confirm the successful Light-Off of the first Rolls-Royce MT30 Main Turbine Generator Set this week. The accomplishment of this important milestone is significant as it enables us to progress with more comprehensive and self-sufficient testing of the ship’s Integrated Power System (IPS) over the weeks and months ahead.”

The IPS on the DDG 1000 multimission destroyer generates all the power required for main propulsion, combat systems, sensors and weapons systems. Onboard the Zumwalt are two Rolls-Royce MT30 Main Turbine Generator Sets (MTGs) and two RR4500 Auxiliary Turbine Generator Sets (ATGs) that will provide a total of 78 MW for total ship power - the MTGs provide 35.4 MW each and the ATGs 3.8 MW each.Don Roussinos, Rolls-Royce, President – Naval said, “Rolls-Royce is extremely proud of the successful Light-Off of the first MT30 Main Turbine Generator Set aboard Zumwalt, and we look forward to similar success with the two Auxiliary Turbine Generator Sets as well as the second MTG over the coming months. Rolls-Royce generator sets are designed, tested and proven to deliver highly survivable power for the ship’s Integrated Power System that provides 100% of the electrical power aboard the Zumwalt class multi-mission destroyers.”

According to Rolls-Royce, the MT30 is the most power dense marine gas turbine in the world, selected to power the most modern and advanced vessels in the US Navy, including the Freedom Class Littoral Combat Ship, as well as with the Royal Navy’s Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft carriers, the Type 26 Global Combat Ship and the Republic of Korea Navy’s FFX Batch II frigate.