The move is part of an agreement between Rolls Royce business unit Power Systems and the UK Ministry of Defence, Defence Equipment & Support organisation.
The new deal covers mtu generator sets of Series 183, 396 and 4000 fitted or to be fitted into a range of surface vessels and submarines, including Daring Class (Type 45) destroyers, Duke Class (Type 23) and City Class (Type 26) frigates, Hunt Class mine hunters and Astute Class submarines. Rolls Royce will provide maintenance and repair support both on and off the vessels, provide spare parts, assist with diagnostics and commissioning, and will also deliver design solutions for the modification and improvement of components if necessary. The contract includes the sharing of engine data between the Royal Navy and Rolls Royce. Based on its digital analysis of this data, Rolls-Royce will be able to suggest through-life efficiency improvements and deliver cost savings by optimising deployment and maintenance of the vessels.
Cdr Michael Thomson, marine diesel equipment group leader, at Defence Equipment and Support, said: “It is our duty to deliver the optimum level of equipment availability to the Royal Navy to enable our forces to fulfil their important missions at all times. We are delighted to have placed this support contract with Rolls Royce which will capitalise on the use of data analysis to continually improve availability and support efficiencies for our fleet of mtu engines.”
Knut Müller, vice president global governmental at Power Systems, said: “With our maintenance know-how and growing digital skills we will help the Royal Navy optimize the operation of their vessels, ensuring highest availability at lower costs.”
Rolls Royce has been a partner of the Royal Navy for decades, with power and propulsion solutions from both the Rolls-Royce and mtu brands. Several vessel types of the Royal Navy combine Rolls-Royce and mtu brand products as a complete solution. Rolls Royce is setting up a mtu NautIQ portfolio of ship automation solutions. It includes the Equipment Health Management System mtu NautIQ Foresight, which enables preventive maintenance and was recently ordered for the new F126 frigates of the German Navy. This system could become relevant for the Royal Navy as part of the growing cooperation with Rolls Royce.