Rolls-Royce has signed a contract with BAE Systems to provide in-service support for the UK Royal Navy Type 45 Daring Class destroyers.

The six-year £20m contract has options for extensions that cover the entire life of the vessels – over 30 years.

The contract will ensure high levels of guaranteed operational availability of the WR-21 engines to support the ships’ demanding operational schedules.

Rolls-Royce Type 45 support head Matt Nadin said, “The WR-21 is the world’s most technically advanced marine gas turbine, incorporating a modular design for ease of maintenance and innovative fuel efficiency features.”

The WR-21 marine gas turbine is fitted with recuperators to recover energy from the exhaust, which is used to preheat combustion air, which in turn reduces fuel consumption by a third.