Rolls-Royce Waterjets Selected For US Navy's X-Craft

Thursday, 27 February 2003

Rolls-Royce announced today that its Kamewa waterjets have been selected for X-Craft, an experimental high-speed aluminum catamaran. The X-Craft is a demonstrator, which may be used to prove technologies for use in the US Navy's Littoral Combat Ship (LCS).

Under the contract, awarded by prime contractor The Titan Corporation (NYSE: TTN), four high-efficiency Rolls-Royce Kamewa 125 SII waterjets will accommodate 50.4MW of power driving the vessel to speeds of up to 50 knots while offering greater maneuverability. The installation of two or more independent units makes sideways movement possible, simplifying operations and berthing. Mixed-flow type pumps used in Rolls-Royce Kamewa waterjets provide higher than 90 percent efficiency ratings.

Designed by United Kingdom-based Nigel Gee and Associates Ltd, the X-Craft will be built by Nichols Brothers Boat Builders, Whidbey Island, WA, for the US Navy's Office of Naval Research (ONR), and will be evaluated for advanced hydrodynamic performance, structural behavior and propulsion systems efficiency of high-speed hull form technologies. The vessel measures approximately 73 meters in length and 22 meters in breadth.

"Rolls-Royce is the foremost leader in the research, development and manufacture of high-power waterjets. We are pleased to have the opportunity to showcase large waterjets to the US Navy," said Patrick J. Marolda, President - Rolls-Royce Naval Marine Inc.

The waterjets will be built at Rolls-Royce AB, in Kristinehamn, Sweden, the sole industry facility equipped with a full marine laboratory to support ongoing research and product development.

Currently, over 180 Rolls-Royce Kamewa waterjets are used by the US Navy on vessels such as the MK V class and the eleven metre Ridged Inflatable Boat (RIB), used extensively by the Special Operations Command (SOCOM). More than 1,550 units in 20 different classes of naval vessels are installed worldwide. Three different Kamewa waterjet families, providing power from 40kW to 50MW, manufactured in aluminium and stainless steel are available for a variety of applications.

In addition, Rolls-Royce is also developing and testing the underwater discharge AWJ 21 under a contract with ONR. This advanced waterjet development has promise for future naval vessels requiring reduced signatures and improved maneuverability.