MTSI together with GE, Woodward and Bibby Transmissions has developed and delivered a compact gas turbine marine propulsion package for the Republic of Korea Navy or ROKN. Each module contains a GE LM500 engine rated at 5500 shp and is fitted with five GE standard shock/vibe isolators similar to those used on the U.S. Navy LM2500 propulsion modules. There are two LM500 modules mounted on each PXK patrol boat which power a single waterjet through a combining gearbox. This package also includes a high speed coupling shaft (HSCS) that has seen some design enhancements which will benefit future marine propulsion programs requiring shock qualification.
MTSI, the packager for the PKX LM500 modules, also designed and built the First-Engine-To-Test (FETT) test facility. The indoor testing equipment included an inlet silencer which is situated above the engine and immediately downstream of the inlet louvers. Thermal shielding between the inlet louvers and the exhaust silencer was provided in order to prevent thermal distortions in the inlet airflow. The shaft-horsepower is absorbed by a Kahn water brake. The outdoor portion facility is comprised of the cooling tower, exhaust silencer and fuel tank. After successful testing of the first shipset, the test facility equipment was shipped to Samsung in Korea for the testing of future shipsets.
This marine propulsion package was designed for the Korean PKX (Patrol Killer Experimental) class ships which will replace the Chamsuri-class vessels. The PKX class patrol vessel is a 440-ton advanced high-speed patrol craft equipped with guided missiles and radar-evading stealth technology. At 63 meters long and 9 meters wide, it is capable of a maximum speed of 40 knots carrying roughly 40 crewmen. These patrol vessels will be equipped with four domestically built “Hae-Seong” cruise missiles with a range of 170 to 180 kilometers as well as a 76mm and a 40mm gun. The first vessel of the PKX class, the Yoon Young-Ha, was commissioned in December of 2008.