Future Carrier (Including Costs)

[Not_a_boffin]

Originally Posted by ORAC

Oops......

Refitting Royal Navy’s combat ship engine to cost tens of millions That's an Integrated electric propulsion (IEP) system - isn't that the same as fitted in the new carriers?

THE ELECTRIC WARSHIP - THEN, NOW AND LATER

Yes - but in all the important ways, no.

The issue is not so much the IEP system itself, rather the reliability of the complex cycle GT - WR21 - fitted to T45 combined with the rather small diesel generators fitted to the T45, assumed for harbour use only.

The QEC Gas Turbines are a very different beast, without the issues that affect WR21. The QEC DG are sized to be much more than harbour generator units.

To be fair to BAES, their original T45 offer used a completely different propulsion GT and arrangement, supplied by GE. A certain SoS whose constituency was not a million miles removed from the HQ of a large UK GT manufacturer apparently mandated the use of WR21. Allegedly......