The manufacturer will boost production throughput of the Rolls-Royce AG9160RF gas turbine generator (GTG) set.
CINCINNATI—A recently completed expansion of its Cincinnati manufacturing facility will enable General Tool Company (GTC) to increase production throughput of the Rolls-Royce AG9160RF gas turbine generator (GTG) set for the U.S. Navy’s Arleigh Burke Class (DDG 51) destroyer program, according to a release from General Tool Company.
“The expansion enables GTC to scale production from supporting two ships annually to three ships annually, reinforcing the strength and scalability of the U.S. naval industrial base,” the release stated.
The AG9160RF is the class-standard generator set for Flight III destroyers, providing the electrical power needed to support advanced systems, including the SPY-6 radar. Rolls-Royce GTGs have powered every U.S. Navy destroyer and cruiser since the Spruance-class destroyer in 1975, including the Arleigh Burke, Zumwalt and Ticonderoga classes, GTC said in the release.
General Tool Company, the exclusive manufacturing and integration partner for the AG9160RF product line, said its latest expansion builds upon a longstanding partnership with Rolls-Royce dating back to the 1980s and the original DDG-51 program.
“The successful completion and full operation of our Evendale Naval Power Generation Facility reflects our continued investment in advanced manufacturing and our commitment to supporting critical defense programs,” said GTC President Bill Kramer III, in the release. “This achievement is the result of strong collaboration between General Tool Company, Rolls-Royce, and the U.S. Navy.”
Each Flight III destroyer includes three AG9160RF generator sets to power advanced combat systems and is built by General Dynamics Bath Iron Works and Huntington Ingalls Industries.
“This expansion highlights the industrial strength of the Midwest and our shared commitment to the U.S. Navy,” said Rolls-Royce Defense Director for Early Lifecycle & Naval Programs, Jen Schwerin, in the release. “By increasing throughput for the AG9160RF, we are helping ensure Flight III destroyers have the power needed to support the modern maritime mission.”
REDI Cincinnati and JobsOhio partnered to support the project, which added 47 new jobs and generated $4.1 million in payroll, the release said.
General Tool Company is a prominent supplier of complex hardware and systems for the defense and aerospace industries. Based in Cincinnati, GTC specializes in the manufacture, integration, and testing of critical power systems for the U.S. Navy. The company announced in February that it was acquired by Aeron Defense, a U.S.-based organization aiming to strengthen the domestic manufacturing and defense industrial base.
As part of Aeron Defense, GTC said it continues to invest in advanced manufacturing capabilities, workforce development, and industrial capacity to strengthen the domestic defense industrial base and support the evolving needs of national security customers.
Rolls-Royce Holdings plc is a global technology company that serves customers in the aerospace, defense, marine, and industrial industries.