Defence Turkey:Could you please inform us about your ongoing programmes in both local and global markets?

Earlier this year Rolls-Royce announced its largest ever marine surface naval ship contract – to supply MT30 gas turbines and waterjets to a further 10 Lockheed Martin Littoral Combat Ships [LCS] for the US Navy. Rolls-Royce is already supplying propulsion equipment to the first two Lockheed Martin vessels. The combination of two MT30s and four waterjets, gives this ship immense flexibility, acceleration and manoeuvrability. The first Lockheed Martin LCS USS Freedom, entered service with US Navy in 2010 following successful sea trials during which the ship achieved speeds in excess of 40 knots. The second LM LCS, USS Fort Worth is under construction and was launched in late 2010.
In addition to the LM LCS, MT30 has been selected to power the DDG 1000 advanced multi-mission destroyer for the US Navy. It has also been selected for the Royal Navy’s future aircraft carriers, the Queen Elizabeth Class. Rolls-Royce is talking to navies in the Americas and Asia about potential applications for the MT30 and other marine equipment ranging from diesel engines, propellers and water jets to sophisticated control equipment.

The UK Royal Navy’s Type 45 destroyer programme continues to progress with all six ships in the class now launched. For each ship, Rolls-Royce supplies two WR-21 marine gas turbines, adjustable bolted propellers, steering gear, stabilisation equipment and low voltage electrical systems. Rolls-Royce has just signed an innovative 6 year in-service support contract with BAE Systems, delivering guaranteed availability of the WR-21 gas turbines in accordance with the operational schedules of the ship.
Rolls-Royce Bergen diesels have been selected for the Royal Netherlands Navy’s new Joint Support Ship. The vessel will be equipped with four Bergen B32:40V12A generator sets and one B32:40L6A which will provide diesel electrical power and propulsion. We will also supply fixed bolted propellers, propeller shafts and steering gear.
Defence Turkey:What are the technological competences of Rolls Royce Marine Naval Propulsion system solutions? Could you please inform us in details?

Rolls-Royce offers the world’s largest portfolio of marine products and systems from a single supplier, ranging from gas turbines and diesel engines, through to propellers, stabilisers, replenishment and electrical systems.

Couple that with a total Group investment, last year, of £923 million in research and technology, and the fact that unlike many in the industry we can draw on our core gas turbine technology, Rolls-Royce has strong positions throughout the maritime industry.
Research is absolutely essential to a high value company like Rolls-Royce – it’s the lifeblood of the company. What our customers are relying on isn’t just our ability to invent and manufacture one remarkable component, or even one engine. It’s our capability to deliver innovation consistently, on a broad front throughout the propulsion system, year after year, continually making improvements.
We draw on expertise from across our Marine business working closely with colleagues in the merchant and offshore sectors, to develop advanced propulsion systems. We also have our own Hydrodynamic Research Centre in Sweden, where our research activity keeps at the forefront of the development of propellers and water jets, used extensively across the naval and other marine sectors. We are the only OEM with such a facility.
Rolls Royce has a history as supplier to Turkish Marine and Naval Market. Could you please inform us your activities in Turkey performed over the years?

Today, Turkey is seen as a strategic market for Rolls-Royce in all sectors of our business, be that civil or defence aerospace, marine or energy. The planned and projected Naval and Coast Guard programmes embarked on by the Turkish Government are of great interest to us.

Rolls-Royce Marine has been a supplier to the Turkish marine and naval market for many years, having built up an installed supply base of some 60 sets of Controllable Pitch Propellers [CPP] and the Fin Stabilisers on the G Class Frigates in the Turkish Armed Forces. We have always enjoyed a good relationship with the commercial yards within Turkey, some of which are now actively engaged in the forthcoming naval market.

We have also supplied Sonar Handling Systems fitted on 12-off Helicopters and 2-off Handling Systems for the Milgem Project supplied via the Sonar providers. This is a good example of our expanding portfolio and our growth strategy. In addition the current Coast Guard SAR Vessels under construction at RMK Marine have Rolls-Royce bow thrusters, which were commissioned locally by our office in Turkey; again this is an example of our ever growing local capability.
Rolls-Royce Marine established a dedicated local office in 2009 in the heart of the shipbuilding industry in Tuzla
Defence Turkey:Turkey has been a strategic and promising market for Global companies in naval field. How do you assess the developments in naval sector taken in Turkey recently?What are your strategies and plans regarding cooperation, joint production, R&D activities in Turkey to strengthen collaboration with the Turkish Authorities and Defence Industry?

If you look at the planned and projected naval platform build over the next 10 years plus, the mixture of platform requirements are wide ranging. These will require different approaches and solutions, each having its own set of requirements, operational profiles and roles. We are ideally placed to examine differing requirements and operational profiles and offer solutions to optimise the platform performance and capability.
Defence Turkey:As you are aware there are some ongoing naval programmes such as LPD, MoSHIP etc…How do you assess Rolls-Royce’s position in these naval programmes?

We continue to discuss these programmes with both SSM, the qualified Turkish Shipyards and Turkish Marine Industry. We are interested in all of the programmes, including the current Moship, Ku Yred, MTA Seismic, LPD and LCAC requirements. As an example the TF2000 and TF100 future Frigate programmes, provide opportunities amongst others for Power and Propulsion Systems and our MT30 Gas Turbine, the world’s most power dense marine gas turbine. The future replenishment vessel potentially provides ship design opportunities based around our family of replenishment vessel designs including ship systems, power and propulsion. For this type of vessel we should not forget that we are the world leading supplier of Replenishment and Fuel at Sea Systems offering an innovative all electric solution, a critical system for this type of vessel.
Defence Turkey:It is known that Turkey has an aim to manufacture indigenous and local engine systems. What about your assessment on this point?
We fully understand the requirement for localisation as a global supplier to the marine industry. We are currently evaluating the capabilities and actively seeking the interest of the Turkish Marine Industry in establishing a working relationship with us. Our procurement and Industrial Participation specialists have already engaged with local companies and are presently discussing potential cooperation.

As a global company, with an extensive global manufacturing footprint, we have a long track record of successful industrial participation. With such an ambitious shipbuilding programme, Turkey is of great interest to us. We are already in discussions with a number of partners about potential future opportunities, but we cannot give more details at this stage.
Defence Turkey:Could you please inform us your industrial cooperation with Turkish companies?

We are very proud that as a company, Rolls-Royce has always fulfilled Industrial Participation commitments. We should also point out that our strategy is for long term cooperation, not just programme specific and those companies selected will also become part of our international supply chain, for all our business sectors. This provides an excellent opportunity to be involved in export programmes as well as domestic opportunities. We are currently engaging with Turkish shipyards and Suppliers, forming working relationships for participation in the major Turkish Naval Projects.
Defence Turkey:Would you like to add something and give a message to our readers?

These are exciting times for Turkey’s maritime industry, and Rolls-Royce looks forward to working in partnership to help deliver one of the world’s most ambitious ship building programmes.