First Italian FREMM with Avio-GE propulsion system launched

source navaltoday.com

July 18, 2011 defpro.com

Riva Trigoso (Genoa), Italy | Avio takes part in the successful launch of the first Italian frigate Carlo Bergamini as part of the Italian-French programme FREMM, which will be equipped with the LM2500+G4 propulsion system supplied by Avio in partnership with General Electric.

The Carlo Bergamini frigate, built in the Fincantieri dockyard in Riva Trigoso (Genoa), comes a few weeks after the positive conclusion of the sea trials of the first French FREMM. The FREMM programme foresees 11 frigates destined for the French Navy, 10 for the Italian Navy and 1 for the Moroccan Navy, all equipped with the Avio-General Electric LM2500+G4.

Besides the propulsion system, produced at the Brindisi industrial plant, Avio also supplies the electronic control system (TCS) which manages automatically the turbine, reducing its maintenance time, and facilitates the ship manoeuvrability, developed entirely by the Electronics & Electrical Systems Division of the Group.

The Avio/General Electric project for FREMM achieved the first application in the marine sector of the new LM2500+G4 aeroderivative gas turbine, which is 11% more powerful with respect to the previous model of the LM2500 family of which maintains the immense reliability and operating experience guaranteed by 13 million hours in marine service and contains cutting-edge technology developed for the most recent and innovative aeronautical engines. The LM2500 family is used by 31 countries and it has also been chosen for the Italian-French Horizon Class frigates, as well as for the motorisation of the Italian aircraft carrier Cavour.

FREMM frigates represent the most important naval programme in Europe since World War II. The involvement of Avio in the programme confirms the reliability of the Group’s technology and its excellence at international level.