The U.S. Navy has awarded Rolls-Royce a $54.7 million contract to deliver engines for the LCAC 100-class hovercraft, part of the Ship to Shore Connector (SSC) program. The agreement includes the production of 12 MT7 turboshaft engines, along with supporting components and installation kits. Work will take place in Indianapolis, Indiana, and is scheduled for completion by June 2029.
This contract follows a recent award to Textron Systems for the construction of three additional hovercraft, extending the SSC fleet beyond the primary order from August 2023 for up to 73 vessels. The SSC program is replacing the aging LCAC fleet, providing rapid deployment capabilities for the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps across diverse mission environments.
Each LCAC 100-class vessel is powered by four MT7 engines, delivering up to 4.6 megawatts (about 6,160 shaft horsepower) per engine. These hovercraft can travel at speeds of around 35 knots (65 km/h or 40 mph) and carry payloads of up to 75 tons, supporting operations such as amphibious assaults, humanitarian missions, and disaster relief. The MT7 is derived from the Rolls-Royce T406 engine, also used in the V-22 Osprey tiltrotor aircraft.
