Development of FT9 Marine Gas Turbine

The FT9 Marine Gas Turbine development program was initiated in August 1973 by the Naval Sea Systems Command to fulfill, in part, the requirement for a family of gas turbine engines ranging in power from 1000 to 30,000 hp. The FT9 satisfied the requirement to develop a 30,000 hp class marine gas turbine. The FT9 is a derivative of the Pratt & Whitney Aircraft JT9D engine, which powers Boeing 747, DC-10 and A300 aircraft, and of the FT4 industrial gas turbine engine. The FT9 specification also required development of an on-line engine condition monitoring system. A rigorous development test program showed the FT9 has met all specified U.S. Navy requirements and demonstrated its suitability for use in U.S. Navy combatant ships.