Rolls-Royce has secured a $54.7 million contract from the US Navy to provide engines for the LCAC 100-class hovercraft. The UK-based engineering company will deliver 12 MT7 turboshaft engines along with supporting components and installation equipment for the Navy’s Ship to Shore Connector program vessels.
Production will take place in Indianapolis, Indiana, with completion targeted for June 2029. This contract follows the Navy’s recent agreement with Textron Systems to construct three additional hovercraft by 2031, supplementing an earlier August 2023 order for up to 73 units.
The SSC initiative aims to modernize the aging LCAC fleet, which serves as a critical link for Navy and Marine Corps operations, transporting troops, vehicles, gear, and materials from vessels to beaches across diverse operational settings. These 75-ton capacity craft support various missions ranging from amphibious operations to humanitarian relief efforts.
The LCAC 100 utilizes four MT7 engines, each generating 4.6 megawatts (approximately 6,160 shaft horsepower), propelling the craft to speeds near 35 knots while maintaining extended operational range. These marine turbines are adapted from Rolls-Royce’s T406 powerplant found in the Navy’s V-22 Osprey tiltrotor aircraft.
