The US Navy has certified Rolls-Royce mtu Series 4000 and Series 2000 marine engines for use aboard autonomous naval vessels following reliability testing designed to demonstrate that they can operate for extended periods without human maintenance, Rolls-Royce has announced.
The certification allows Series 4000 engines to be used in autonomous applications providing up to 4,300kW of propulsion power and 3,000kWe of electrical generation. The engine is available in V8, V12, V16 and V20 configurations.
Rolls-Royce said the Series 4000 passed two 720-hour durability tests before receiving approval. The Series 2000 was certified following component testing and thousands of hours of operational experience, with the platform capable of providing up to 1,939kW for propulsion in V10, V12 and V16 configurations.
The testing is intended to demonstrate that propulsion systems can support an unmanned vessel during a 30-day deployment without preventive or corrective maintenance to its main propulsion, fuel or oil systems.
Scott Hanson, Vice President of Governmental Sales at Rolls-Royce Power Systems in North America, said: “The certification of our engines for unmanned operations further demonstrates the reliability and advanced technology of our mtu Series 4000 and 2000 marine propulsion systems. For decades, mtu engines have been trusted to provide reliable, mission-ready power for our crews at sea.”
He added: “As autonomous missions become increasingly important to naval strategy, we are proving that we can deliver the power systems, long-endurance capability and technology required for the new operational demands of unmanned vessels.”
The certification comes as the US Navy expands its use of unmanned surface vessels as part of efforts to increase fleet capacity and operate platforms for longer periods without putting sailors aboard them.
One of the Navy’s best-known autonomous vessels, Sea Hunter, is already powered by two mtu 12V 2000 engines. Rolls-Royce said the vessel has accumulated tens of thousands of operational hours since its christening in 2016.
Sea Hunter and the related Seahawk were operationally deployed earlier this year as part of the US Navy’s first division of unmanned surface vessels, according to the company.
Certification of propulsion systems is one element of the wider process required before autonomous vessels can be routinely deployed. Rolls-Royce said US Navy requirements also place emphasis on control systems, cybersecurity and safety-critical functions as unmanned systems become more prominent across maritime operations.
