Rolls-Royce announced that its MTU Series 4000 and Series 2000 marine engines have received certification from the U.S. Navy for use in autonomous naval vessel operations, marking a significant milestone in the advancement of unmanned maritime capabilities.
Rolls-Royce press release
After passing two 720-hour durability tests, mtu Series 4000 engines were certified for use in autonomous applications for up to 4300kW of propulsion power and 3000kWe of power generation. The Series 4000 is available in V-configurations of 8, 12, 16 and 20 cylinders.
The mtu Series 2000 platform was also certified based on the results of rigorous engine component testing along with thousands of hours of reliable field operation. The Series 2000 is available for propulsion applications up to 1939kW in V-configurations of 10, 12 and 16 cylinders.
The certifications align with the requirements outlined in the 2021/2026 National Defense Authorization Act for unmanned systems, which require engines to pass demanding operational and reliability tests without human intervention or preventive/corrective maintenance or repairs to the main propulsion, fuel and oil systems. Successful testing qualifies propulsion systems to power an unmanned ship for 30-day deployments at sea without requiring maintenance.
“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. 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.”
Scott Hanson, Vice President, Governmental Sales at Rolls-Royce Power Systems in North America
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