Defence

Cut the Fuel and Maintenance Tail of Deployed Power

Fuel convoys and forward maintenance are the expensive, exposed part of deployed power. A microturbine genset burns whatever grade arrives, needs one service visit per year, and the MTG12 runs at 60 dB LPA at 10 m, or 50 dB LPA at 10 m with the optional Silent Pack, and the MTP40 has a design target of 60 dB(A) at 7 m and 85 dB(A) at 1 m, not yet verified by test, so the logistics tail and the acoustic signature come down together.

The economic case

The cost of deployed power is the convoy and the crew

The purchase price of a tactical genset is the smallest number in the programme. Fuel delivered to a forward location costs a multiple of its price at the depot, and every maintenance visit is a movement that has to be planned, escorted and protected. Reducing the number of fuel and maintenance movements reduces exposure as well as cost.

Single-fuel dependency has its own price. A unit that only tolerates one grade constrains the resupply plan; one that runs what is available does not.

Fuel moved forward: 30 to 50 percent fuel cost saving against a like-for-like diesel genset, earned by running cheaper fuels such as kerosene instead of by burning fewer litres. Basis: brochure case studies. Switching a site from diesel to a kerosene and heating oil mix cut fuel cost by 35 percent, and a site with reduced fuel theft cut operating cost by 50 percent.
Forward maintenance: One service visit per year against once a month or 300 run hours for diesel, and up to 90% service cost saving on a like-for-like comparison. 1 moving part also means a smaller deployable spares kit.
Fuel flexibility: Runs JP-8, diesel, kerosene, paraffin, HVO, FAME biofuel and blends of these with no hardware change, so the genset adapts to the resupply chain rather than dictating it.
Signature: MTG12: 60 dB LPA at 10 m (50 dB LPA at 10 m with the optional Silent Pack). MTP40: 60 dB(A) at 7 m and 85 dB(A) at 1 m (design target, not yet verified by test). Measured at 10 m in free-field conditions, per the product datasheet. Thermal signature is lower signature than an equivalent diesel genset and minimal vibration. Detailed signature data is available under NDA.

Model these numbers for your own sites, or review the independent validation and field evidence behind them.

The defence power problem

Diesel gensets in tactical and expeditionary use are heavy on logistics: frequent service, dependence on a single fuel grade, and acoustic and thermal signatures that are hard to mask. Maintenance crews and fuel convoys both create exposure.

A power source that runs the available fuel - JP-8, diesel, kerosene - without reconfiguration, is serviced once a year, and runs quietly cuts both signature and logistics load.

If the technology is new to you, what a microturbine is and how it works covers the single moving part and the air bearing in plain terms, and the TCO calculator puts a number on the sustainment burden you remove.

Where the Bladon microturbine fits

Multi-fuel by design - runs JP-8, diesel, kerosene, and paraffin without hardware change.
Single moving part means fewer spares in the deployable kit and a longer mean time between failures.
Acoustic signature: MTG12: 60 dB LPA at 10 m (50 dB LPA at 10 m with the optional Silent Pack). MTP40: 60 dB(A) at 7 m and 85 dB(A) at 1 m (design target, not yet verified by test).
One service visit per year reduces forward-area maintenance presence.
Compact and container-mountable for rapid deployment.
Remote monitoring for unmanned and semi-attended sites.
Designed and manufactured in the UK - exportable from a NATO-aligned supply chain.

A note on engagement: defence specifications, UK export-control posture (UK Strategic Export Controls administered by the ECJU, with MOD Form 680 clearance where applicable), and ruggedisation status vary by programme. Talk to sales for a confidential briefing on current qualifications and integration options.

Proof from the field

Case study

Emergency Services Network, UK

Firm power at rural sites with no grid and difficult access.

Read case study

Case study

Remote site power provider, UK island

Continuous power where every service visit needs a boat.

Read case study

Frequently asked questions

Is the Bladon microturbine JP-8 compatible?

Yes - the microturbine runs JP-8 alongside diesel, kerosene, and paraffin. Switching fuels does not require hardware change.

What is the acoustic and thermal signature?

On acoustic signature, the MTG12 runs at 60 dB LPA at 10 m, or 50 dB LPA at 10 m with the optional Silent Pack, and the MTP40 has a design target of 60 dB(A) at 7 m and 85 dB(A) at 1 m, not yet verified by test, which is a marked reduction over equivalent diesel gensets. Thermal signature is also lower thanks to the air-bearing combustion design and lack of large radiator surfaces. Specific signature data for defence procurement is available on request under NDA.

Has it been qualified to defence standards?

Qualifications vary by programme and customer. Contact sales for a current statement of compliance, environmental qualification status, and any ongoing programme-specific testing.

Can it be ruggedised for forward deployment?

The microturbine operates across a -20°C to +50°C ambient range as standard. Subject to the Cold Pack or Hot Pack kit, with output de-rating for altitude and temperature above ISO 8528 standard reference conditions. Ruggedisation for forward deployment can be provided and specified to programme requirements.

What is the export-control posture?

Bladon operates from the UK under UK Strategic Export Controls, administered by the Export Control Joint Unit (ECJU). Where a programme involves the release of sensitive information to a foreign government or entity, MOD Form 680 clearance is handled case by case. US ITAR obligations apply only where US-origin controlled components are integrated. Export licences and end-user requirements are handled early in the procurement cycle - talk to sales.

What is the logistics footprint per unit?

920 kg, container-mountable, with one service visit per year and remote diagnostics. Compared to diesel, this typically reduces forward-area maintenance and fuel-convoy load substantially.

Can it support unmanned or remote sites?

Yes - remote monitoring is built in, and the long service interval makes the microturbine well suited to lightly-attended infrastructure power.

Specs at a glance

MTG12 (forward positions): 12 kVA / 12 kW prime, Single phase
MTP40 (camps, three phase): 40 kVA / 32 kW prime, 44 kVA standby, Three phase - now available for pre-order
Fuels: JP-8, diesel, kerosene, paraffin, HVO, FAME biofuel
Service interval: One service visit per year
Design life: 45,000 hours
Noise: MTG12: 60 dB LPA at 10 m (50 dB LPA at 10 m with the optional Silent Pack). MTP40: 60 dB(A) at 7 m and 85 dB(A) at 1 m (design target, not yet verified by test)
Origin: UK design and manufacture

Talk to our sales team

Tell us about your site, fuel availability, and load profile. We'll come back with a sizing and a deployment plan.