LM2500 Engines and Next Generation Missile Vessels Overview

Description

Disclaimer: Copyright infringement not intended.

Context:

Engine manufacturer General Electric announced that its LM2500 marine engines have been chosen to power Indian Navy’s Next Generation Missile Vessels (NGMV) being built by Cochin Shipyard Limited.

What are LM2500 engines?

The General Electric LM2500 is an industrial and marine gas turbine produced by GE Aviation. The LM2500+ is an evolution of the LM2500, delivering 28.6 MW of electric energy when combined with an electrical generator.

A gas turbine is a combustion engine at the heart of a power plant that can convert natural gas or other liquid fuels to mechanical energy.

About Next Generation Missile Vessels (NGMV)

Features	Specifications
Programme	Maritime Capability Perspective Plan. Six NGMVs are being built by government-run Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL) at a cost of Rs 9,805 crore. The delivery of ships is scheduled to commence from March 2027.
Primary Purpose	Surface warfare capabilities, advanced stealth features (low radar cross section, acoustic, magnetic, and infrared signatures), armed with anti-ship or land-attack missiles. The NGMVs' primary weapon is anticipated to be the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile, capable of striking targets at long ranges.
Range	Minimum 5,185 km at sustained economical speed.
Maximum Speed	Not less than 35 knots (approximately 65 kmph).
Endurance	Sustain at sea for a minimum of 10 days without Operational Turn-Around, with 25% reserve fuel remaining.
Propulsion	Adequate power-to-weight ratio for the ship's operations. Greater endurance for low-speed regimes during Low-Intensity Maritime Operations (LIMO) or EEZ patrols.
Weapons	Minimum 8 surface-to-surface missiles (SSM)- SSM or ground-to-ground missile (GGM) is a missile designed to be launched from the ground or the sea and strike targets on land or at sea. Fitted with Point Defence Missile System (PDMS) for near 360-degree anti-missile defence coverage. PDMS- A weapon system that protects a limited area, such as a ship, building, or airfield, from air attacks and guided missiles. PDMS weapons are usually placed near or on the object to be protected and have a smaller range than area-defense systems.

ALSO READ ABOUT-

OFFSHORE PATROL VESSELS AND MISSILE VESSELS

First NGOPV (ex-GSL)

INDIAN MISSILES: AN OVERVIEW

India's Phase II Ballistic Missile Defense

Source:

THE HIINDU

PRACTICE QUESTION

Q.Consider the following statements about Next Generation Missile Vessels (NGMV):

The program is aimed at enhancing the anti-surface warfare capabilities of the Indian Navy.
These vessels are designed to operate in coastal waters and can be deployed for long-range missions.

Which of the above given statements is/are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Answer: c

Explanation:

Statement 1 is correct: Next Generation Missile Vessels (NGMVs) are a planned class of anti-surface warfare corvettes for the Indian Navy. These heavily armed vessels, built by Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL) at a cost of Rs 9,805 crore.

Statement 2 is correct: The Next Generation Missile Vessel is a new design for the Indian Navy that will reach a max speed of 35 knots and carry an impressive array of anti-surface weapons. The core of the NGMV propulsion system is the LM2500, a marine gas turbine engineered to unleash superior power while meeting stealth requirements.