British engineering giant Rolls-Royce has confirmed its MT30 marine gas turbines will power the Republic of Korea Navy’s latest generation of Ulsan-class frigates, in a move that deepens defence ties between the UK and South Korea.
The company announced that its high-performance MT30 turbine has been selected for the FFX Batch IV programme, alongside controllable pitch propellers and mtu-powered diesel generator sets. The first two of the eight planned vessels will be constructed by Hanwha Ocean, continuing a long-standing collaboration between British industry and South Korea’s naval forces.
Already in active service with the US Navy, Royal Navy, and Italian Navy, the MT30 is derived from the Rolls-Royce Trent 800 aero engine. South Korea first adopted the turbine in 2018 for its Daegu-class frigates, and its continued use signals strong confidence in the platform’s performance and reliability.
“Our MT30 marine gas turbine is a reliable, efficient and proven capability,” said Jay Lee, Vice President for Naval Business Development in Korea at Rolls-Royce. “This partnership will ensure our customers can retain their military advantage through future technology insertion, without having to endure costly upgrades to legacy power generation capability.”
Rolls-Royce noted that the MT30 has already been successfully integrated into FFX Batch II and III frigates, using a hybrid propulsion system that combines gas turbines for high-speed operations with electric motors for more efficient cruising.
The accompanying diesel generators, powered by the mtu 12V4000 M43 engine, will once again be assembled under licence in South Korea by STX-Engines. This approach is expected to streamline logistics, training, and maintenance across the expanding fleet, with 20 MT30 turbines now committed across three separate frigate batches.
Rolls-Royce also highlighted ongoing work with HD Hyundai Heavy Industries, which will manufacture the specialised enclosures that house the powerful turbines on board.
“We are a long-term partner together with STX-Engines for the Korean Navy,” said Knut Müller, Senior Vice President at Rolls-Royce Power Systems. “We are proud that we are, together with our colleagues, supplying mission-critical components for the propulsion of the new frigate.”
This latest deal underscores the UK’s continued role as a leading defence supplier to key allies in the Indo-Pacific region.
