Rolls-Royce MT30 selected for Korean FFX Batch IV Programme
May 27, 2025 - The Rolls-Royce MT30 marine gas turbine and controllable pitch propellers, as well as mtu powered diesel generator sets, have again been selected for the Republic of Korea Navy’s (RoKN) FFX Batch IV frigate, known as the Ulsan Class frigate.
The first two ships will be built by Hanwha Ocean. Rolls-Royce has already successfully worked with the RoKN and DAPA to introduce a revolutionary, modern and simple, hybrid propulsion system arrangement for all eight ships in the Daegu-class FFX Batch II and all six ships in the Chungnam-class FFX Batch III Anti-Submarine Warfare frigate programme.
Each are powered by a single MT30 gas turbine and electric propulsion motors. Four generator sets with mtu 12V4000 M43 diesel engines will supply power to the electric motors. They were assembled in South Korea by Korean partner STX-Engines under licence from Rolls-Royce's Power Systems division. They supply the energy for propulsion during the frigates' cruising speed, while the turbine is used for high-speed travel.
The use of the 20 MT30 marine gas turbines across the Batch II, Batch III and Batch IV frigates will deliver benefits to the customer, such as spare parts, support infrastructure and training.
As part of Rolls-Royce’s ongoing design collaboration with HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (HD HHI) for the specialised integrated gas turbine enclosure for MT30, HHI-EMD will continue to be responsible for the manufacture of this highly complex engineering enclosure and all ancillaries in-country, as well as continuing to provide in-service support.
Jay Lee (Jongyel Lee), Rolls-Royce Vice President of Business Development & Future Programmes, Defence – Naval, Korea said:
Our MT30 marine gas turbine is a reliable, efficient and proven capability. I am delighted that we have been given this opportunity to once again provide advanced power and propulsion capability to our customers, the Republic of Korea Navy, DAPA and HD HHI.
“This partnership will ensure our customers can retain their military advantage through future technology insertion, without having to endure costly upgrades to legacy power generation capability throughout the life of their ships.”
Knut Müller, Senior Vice President at Rolls-Royce’s Power Systems said:
We are a long-term partner together with STX-Engines for the Korean Navy. Gensets based on mtu series 4000 are placed in most of the modern frigates and we are proud that we are together with our colleagues supplying mission critical components for the propulsion for the new frigate.”
The Republic of Korea Navy first utilised the MT30 on their Daegu-class in 2018. In December 2024, the first ship of Chungnam-class Batch-III was handed over to the Republic of Korea Navy after successfully completing all tests. Its selection for FFX Batch IV is a testament to the confidence that our customer has in the proven performance of this engine.
Designed for the 21st Century, the MT30 is proven at sea, delivering long-term reliability, unrivalled life-long performance with operating cost efficiencies. The MT30 gas turbine is already in service with several navies around the globe including the U.S. Navy’s Freedom-class Littoral Combat Ship and Zumwalt-class destroyers, the Republic of Korea’s Daegu & Chungnam-class frigates, the Royal Navy’s Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carriers and the Italian Navy’s new Landing Helicopter Dock.
Beyond the FFX programme, the power density of the proven naval MT30 gas turbine genset is also one of the key enablers for Integrated Full Electric Propulsion (IFEP) such as the Royal Navy’s Type 45 destroyers and Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carriers, and the U.S. Navy’s Zumwalt-class destroyers, will support the RoKN’s technological ambitions and their SMART Navy Vision 2045, delivering game-changing military capability in next upcoming programmes.
