SCHAAF wins large order for powertrain connections for two aircraft carriers.

In October Thales UK signed the contract with Rolls Royce, Converteam and L-3 Marine Systems for the supply of the power and drive management for the two largest and most powerful new Royal Navy aircraft carriers.

The main priorities to be met by the Integrated Full Electric Propulsion (IFEP) drive were robustness, effectiveness, availability and reliability as well as good response characteristics.

Beating competition, SCHAAF won the contract to supply the complete powertrain connection as a full package solution.
This meant that orders were placed with SCHAAF both by Rolls Royce and Converteam.

The revolutionary electric powertrain system for the two aircraft carriers consists of 2 gas turbine generators and 4 diesel engine generators that can generate a total power of 108 MW with 11 kV. This enables speeds of 27 knots to be achieved. Furthermore, all low voltage applications on the vessel will be supplied via the powertrain.

The two aircraft carriers HMS Queen Elisabeth and HMS Prince of Wales will be commissioned in 2014 and 2016 respectively and will be the largest warships ever built in Europe. Technical data: length: 284 m, beam: 73 m, displacement 65,000 tons, max. no. aircraft - 46.

The fact that SCHAAF has been contracted to supply the connections for this revolutionary powertrain system fills us with pride, because we have been entrusted with delivering what is the most powerful package to date. After all, these ships costing billions of Euros and a crew of 1,450 will be relying on the powertrain to perform even in the most difficult conditions. We thank the Ministry of Defence along with Rolls Royce and Converteam for this display of faith in us. Our perfect overall performance will prove that this trust was placed in the right company.