GE Marine to equip South Korea PKX-B Batch II patrol boats with LM500 gas turbines.

According to a PR published by GE Marine on March 20, 2023, the Republic of Korea’s Navy has selected GE Marine’s LM500 gas turbines to power the first four PKX-B Batch-II ships.
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Artist rendering of the future PKX-B patrol boat. (Picture source: GE Marine)

Two LM500s, each rated at approximately 4.6 MW, will help propel one of the fastest and most technologically advanced vessels in the ROKN fleet with a top speed of 40 knots.

A total of 32 LM500 gas turbines are aboard 16 PKX-B Batch-I ships, which have all been delivered. Batch-II includes an additional 18 ships, with the first four officially contracted for construction in late 2022.

The gas turbine hardware will be manufactured in GE’s Lynn, MA facility, and delivered to Hanwha Aerospace, a GE marine system partner, who will assemble and test the engines before delivering them to HJ Shipbuilding & Construction for installation.

The LM500 is derived from GE’s TF34/CF34 turbofan aircraft engines and has 90% commonality with the CF34 engine that powers the popular CRJ100/200 regional jet with more than 14 million hours of operation.

The simple cycle LM500 is a two-shaft gas turbine consisting of a gas generator, a free power turbine and cold-end drive capabilities. The 14-stage axial flow compressor offers a 14.5:1 pressure ratio.

The LM500 gas turbine engine is a perfect fit for the PKX-B patrol boats because it incorporates the latest in proven design technology and corrosion-resistant materials to provide a mature design with maximum reliability and component life.

About the Yoon Youngha-class patrol vessels

The Yoon Youngha-class patrol vessel, also known as the PKG-class patrol vessel, is a type of patrol boat used by the Republic of Korea Navy. The class includes two variants, one of which is currently in active service, while the other is still in the planning phase.

The first variant is known as the PKX-A or Yoon Youngha-class missile patrol ship, and the second variant is the PKX-B class patrol boat (also known as the Chamsuri-211-class patrol boat or the Gumdoksuri-class patrol vessel).

The PKX-B class patrol boat has a displacement of 200 tonnes (197 long tons), measures 44 meters (144 ft 4 in) in length, and has a beam of 7 meters (23 ft 0 in). She is powered by a combined diesel and gas (CODAG) propulsion system, which allows it to reach a top speed of 40 knots (74 km/h; 46 mph).