The US Navy has awarded Rolls-Royce a $54.7-million contract to supply engines for the Landing Craft Air Cushion 100-class (LCAC 100) hovercraft.
The British automobile manufacturer will produce 12 MT7 turboshaft engines, ancillary parts, and installation kits for the service’s Ship to Shore Connector (SSC) program vessels.
Work will be performed in Indianapolis, Indiana, and is expected to be completed by June 2029.
The award to Rolls-Royce comes after the US Navy contracted Textron Systems last week to build three more hovercraft, expected for completion by 2031, on top of a primary order in August 2023 for up to 73 craft.
LCAC 100
The SSC program is meant to replace the retiring LCAC fleet, which enables the Navy and Marine Corps to rapidly deploy personnel, vehicles, equipment, and supplies from ships to shore in varied operational environments.
With a payload capacity of up to 75 tons, the vessels are used for missions including amphibious assault, humanitarian assistance, and disaster response.
Four MT7 engines power the LCAC 100 hovercraft. Each one has a power output of up to 4.6 megawatts, equivalent to about 6,160 shaft horsepower, enabling speeds of around 35 knots (65 kilometers/40 miles per hour) and long-range capabilities.
The MT7 engines are marine gas turbines derived from the Rolls-Royce T406 engine used in the Bell Boeing V-22 Osprey aircraft in service with the Navy.
