USS Jack H Lucas DDG 125. Photo: US NavyGE Aerospace’s Marine Engines & Systems division has received orders to supply eight LM2500 marine gas turbine engines for the US Navy’s next two Flight III Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers: the future USS Intrepid (DDG 145) and USS Robert Kerrey (DDG 146). Each destroyer will be powered by four LM2500 engines, continuing the propulsion legacy that has made the Arleigh Burke class the backbone of the US Navy’s surface fleet for more than three decades.
As of January 2025, 74 Arleigh Burke-class destroyers are active, all powered by GE Aerospace’s LM2500 engines. With these latest orders, GE Aerospace will have delivered engines for every active Arleigh Burke destroyer, representing 296 LM2500 engines across 74 ships in what is widely regarded as the US Navy’s most successful shipbuilding programme.
Mark Musheno, vice president of sales and marketing for GE Aerospace’s Marine Engines & Systems business, said: “The LM2500 has been the engine of choice for the US Navy’s destroyer fleet for decades, and we are proud to continue that legacy as the Navy builds toward its 390-ship goal.”
Quality and reliabilityHe added: “GE Aerospace is committed to ramping up production capacity to meet the Navy’s expanding fleet requirements while maintaining the quality and reliability that has made the LM2500 the most trusted marine gas turbine in naval service worldwide.”
To date, the US Navy has taken delivery of more than 700 LM2500 gas turbines operating aboard surface combatants such as frigates and destroyers. Since the first LM2500 entered naval service in 1969, GE Aerospace has continuously refined and evolved the engine family through the LM2500+, LM2500+G4 and related variants. This ongoing development, combined with over 55 years of operational experience, has produced marine gas turbines that boast 99% reliability — a standard demanded by navies worldwide.
The LM2500 marine gas turbine remains the most widely used naval propulsion system globally, with thousands of engines in service across multiple navies.