Defense contractor Rolls-Royce Corp. has secured a $54.7 million contract modification to supply 12 MT7 turboshaft engines, along with parts and installation kits, for the U.S. Navy’s Ship to Shore Connector (SSC) program.
The engines will power the Navy’s LCAC 100-class air cushion craft, which are replacing the older LCAC fleet. Each vessel uses four MT7 engines for propulsion and lift, enabling rapid transport of equipment and personnel from ships to shore.
According to the Department of Defense (DOD), the work will be carried out at Rolls-Royce’s facility in Indianapolis, Indiana, with completion expected by June 2029. Naval Sea Systems Command is managing the Rolls-Royce contract.
Funding for the project comes from the Navy’s Fiscal Year 2025 shipbuilding and conversion budget. The funds will be fully obligated at the time of the award and will remain available throughout the program, according to DOD.
The SSC program is designed to transport heavy payloads across open seas and onto shorelines without port facilities. The Navy plans to procure up to 73 SSC craft as part of its modernization efforts.
Textron Systems, the prime contractor for the SSC, recently received a separate $353.9 million contract to build three additional LCAC 100-class vessels, with manufacturing centered in New Orleans and other locations.
