The X-Craft was designed by UK based Nigel Gee and Associates Ltd and will be built by Nichols Brothers Boat Builders of Washington USA for the US Navy's Office of Naval Research. It will be evaluated for the advanced hydrodynamic performance, structural behaviour, and propulsion systems efficiency of high speed hull form technologies. The waterjets will be built at Rolls-Royce AB in Kristineham, Sweden.

The MT30 order for the DD(X) programme marks the hugely significant Rolls-Royce entry into the US Navy large gas turbine market which has been dominated for decades by GE Marine. It closely follows the MT30's nomination as the main engine for the British Royal Navy's Future Aircraft Carrier project.

Rolls-Royce will provide one 36 MW MT30 generator set to DD(X) lead design agent Northrop Grumman to drive the IPS EDM at the US Naval Surface Warfare Center Philadelphia Division Land Based Test Facility (LBTF).

In addition, the Rolls-Royce 4 MW AG9150 was selected to participate with another 4 MW genet in conjunction with LBTF IPS testing. Rolls-Royce's $25 million contract is part of a $2.9 billion overall contract.

The DD(X) EDM genset will be delivered to Northrop Grumman early in 2005 and is expected to have more than 75% US content. Design, manufacture, assembly and testing will all be performed in America. The MT30 has 80% commonality with the Trent 800 aero engine and is the eleventh engine type Rolls-Royce has derived from core aero engine technology.

MJ Information No: 18134