US Navy Certifies Rolls-Royce Engines for Unmanned Vessels Built to Run 30 Days Without a Crew
The US Navy has approved Rolls-Royce mtu Series 4000 and Series 2000 engines for unmanned surface vessels, after the larger engine completed two 720-hour durability trials. The certification supports missions of up to 30 days without personnel aboard.
The Series 4000 completed two separate 720-hour durability assessments before it was cleared for both propulsion and onboard electricity generation. According to Rolls-Royce, that engine can deliver as much as 4,300 kilowatts for propulsion while providing up to 3,000 kilowatts through its electrical generation system. The smaller Series 2000 was approved after component checks and operational trials, and can provide propulsion output reaching 1,939 kilowatts.
The approval was granted against requirements established through the National Defense Authorization Act, which sets conditions governing equipment used within autonomous military platforms. Both engine families can now support Navy vessels intended for lengthy missions that do not require people aboard for routine maintenance or repairs.
The Navy has already begun deploying unmanned boats, including Sea Hunter vessels fitted with twin mtu 12V 2000 engines supplied by Rolls-Royce. That existing deployment links the newly certified engines to a fleet already used for remote operations. Rolls-Royce said its propulsion systems have supported naval operations for decades, while newer autonomous missions place different demands on endurance.
"For decades, mtu engines have been trusted to provide reliable, mission ready power for our crews at sea," said Scott Hanson, vice president of governmental sales at Rolls-Royce Power Systems North America. The company said the certification gives the Navy additional options as unmanned vessels become part of its wider fleet plans.
Rolls-Royce also supplies propulsion equipment for unmanned aircraft including the MQ-4C Triton and MQ-25A Stingray, and engines used by the US Air Force's RQ-4 Global Hawk. The maritime approval extends an existing relationship between the company and American military programs into autonomous surface operations.
The certification does not mean every unmanned vessel using these engines will reach 30-day endurance on an actual mission. Operating duration can vary with vessel design, speed, weather, payload, fuel capacity, mission demands and maintenance requirements. For the Navy, the immediate change is the availability of certified propulsion options for craft expected to spend longer periods at sea without crews, where an engine failure far from support facilities can halt a mission.
TechRadar reported the approval, citing information relayed via The Drone Front. The Navy has not published a separate statement on the certification.