GE Aerospace Engine Orders Feed Two Navy Destroyers
Naval propulsion suppliers and shipbuilders see steady component demand from the Flight III destroyer program.
Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Manufacturing
GE Aerospace received orders to supply eight LM2500 marine gas turbine engines for two Flight III Arleigh Burke-class destroyers, USS Ray Mabus (DDG 147) and USS Robert R. Ingram (DDG 149). The orders matter to manufacturers and suppliers in the naval propulsion supply chain as the Navy's destroyer program continues.
Why it matters
The destroyers are designed to replace cruisers and counter integrated air and missile defense threats, which keeps demand for proven, high-output propulsion components steady. For operators in defense manufacturing, the orders show how a single engine supplier can anchor work across two different shipbuilders.
The order covers eight engines across two ships, with each destroyer powered by four LM2500 units estimated at $15 million to $18 million apiece. The Navy has ordered up to 25 ships of the Arleigh Burke class to date, and neither vessel has a set construction or launch date.
The players
GE Aerospace
GE Aerospace is a major aerospace engine manufacturer headquartered in the United States, supplying gas turbine propulsion for military and commercial aviation and naval vessels.
Huntington Ingalls Industries
Huntington Ingalls Industries is a large U.S. shipbuilder that builds naval warships, including destroyers and aircraft carriers, for the U.S. Navy.
General Dynamics Electric Boat
General Dynamics Electric Boat is a shipbuilding division of General Dynamics focused on submarine and surface combatant construction for the U.S. Navy.
U.S. Navy
The U.S. Navy is the federal military service responsible for procuring and operating the Arleigh Burke-class destroyer fleet.
The details
The LM2500 is an aeroderivative gas turbine, a type of engine adapted from aircraft technology, designed and built by GE Aerospace in Evendale, Ohio. Each destroyer uses four of these engines, which allow the ship to exceed 30 knots. Because the engines are built to a single design, a supplier that already produces them can serve multiple shipyards building different hulls.
Timeline
2023: The first Flight III Arleigh Burke-class vessel was commissioned.
May 2026: The construction contract for DDG 149 was awarded.
November 3, 2026: The article reporting the engine orders was published.
Market Landscape
The Arleigh Burke-class program has now reached up to 25 ships ordered, and the Flight III variant is replacing older cruisers in the Navy's fleet. Engine orders tied to this program continue to flow through established suppliers rather than new entrants.
Manufacturers in naval propulsion and shipbuilding supply chains should expect steady component demand tied to the Flight III program. Operators weighing defense work should review how multi-shipyard contracts affect scheduling and cash flow, and consult a qualified accountant on any contract-specific financial exposure.
The takeaway
Watch for a formal construction or launch date for DDG 147 and DDG 149, since those milestones will set the production timeline for the engines. Operators in the naval supply chain should track Navy contract awards for additional Arleigh Burke-class ships as a signal of sustained demand.
Further reading
For more on how defense contracts shape factory output, see the Manufacturing section.
