EVENDALE, Ohio - GE Marine Engines has received a contract from Ishikawajima-Harima Heavy Industries Co. Ltd. (IHI) to supply two LM2500 aeroderivative gas turbines. The units will be used to power a single 11DD Murasame-class destroyer being built for the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF). Over the past year, GE has announced similar orders from IHI for eight LM2500 gas turbines to power two 09DD and two 10DD Murasame-class destroyers. These vessels are scheduled for full commissioning in 2002 and 2003, respectively. The 11DD project brings the total number of LM2500s in the JMSDF fleet to 49, including all engines on order, operational and spares. The JMSDF will have a total of 17 LM2500-powered ships: Twelve Murasame-class and four Kongou-class destroyers, as well as one Asuka-class experimental test ship. Three LM500 gas turbines also power JMSDF patrol hydrofoils. There are currently more than 1,000 LM2500 gas turbines operating worldwide in a wide range of military and commercial marine propulsion applications such as fast ferries, destroyers, frigates and corvettes. The LM2500 has been qualified for ratings up to 32,000 horsepower. The LM2500 gas turbine kits for the 11DD destroyers will be manufactured at GE's Evendale, Ohio facility. IHI will assemble and test the gas turbines and modules at its Kure No.2 plant. The 11DD destroyer will be fully commissioned in 2004. IHI is a GE Marine Systems Supplier, and is headquartered in Tokyo. To date, IHI has packaged 39 LM gas turbines for marine propulsion, and 70 LMs for various power generation applications throughout the world. GE Marine Engines is part of GE Aircraft Engines and is headquartered in Evendale, OH. GE Marine Engines is the world's largest designer, developer and manufacturer of aeroderivative gas turbines for a variety of commercial and military marine propulsion applications.