GE’s LM2500+G4 marine gas turbine to power France's Lorraine FREMM Frigate

GE Marine has recently delivered one LM2500+G4 aeroderivative marine gas turbine to Avio SpA of Turin, Italy, a GE Marine System Supplier. The gas turbine will power the French Navy's eighth FREMM frigate Lorraine.

The Italian-French FREMM program marks the first application in the marine sector of GE's LM2500+G4 gas turbine, which has 17 percent more power than its LM2500+ predecessor. Through Avio, 18 LM2500+G4 gas turbines will provide propulsion for the current FREMM program, which includes six ships for the Italian Navy, 11 ships for the French Navy, and one ship for the Royal Moroccan Navy.

The LM2500+G4 gas turbine was manufactured at GE's Evendale, Ohio, facility. Avio will assemble the gas turbine into a propulsion system produced at its Brindisi industrial plant. The propulsion system includes a sophisticated turbine control system entirely developed and manufactured by Avio.

In November 2012, France's first FREMM frigate Aquitaine was delivered to the French Navy by shipyard DCNS. According to DCNS, five FREMM frigates are currently under construction at its Lorient, France, center. In July last, Italy's first FREMM frigate Bergamini was delivered to the Italian Navy by shipyard Fincantieri.

Commissioning activities have commenced on Italy's Fasan and Margottini, and France's Normandie frigates. The remaining three Italian Navy ships and nine French Navy ships are expected to launch approximately one per year from 2014 through 2017 and 2022, respectively.