Airborne is working with the Royal Netherlands Navy on the development of composite main ship propellers, with a diameter of 2.5 meter, for their mine hunter program. The main reason for the use of composites in this application is the reduced magnetic and acoustic signature compared to the existing low magnetic bronze propeller. Furthermore reduced maintenance and reduced noise levels are additional benefits of this new type of thruster. Because the product is a controlled pitch propeller, special attention is given to the highly loaded composite-metal interface with the center hub. This summer the first prototype will be made by Airborne and delivered to the RNN. After successful testing and evaluation of the propeller on one of the navy vessels for one year the whole mine hunting fleet will be equipped with these advanced products. In the pictures below the current metal propeller and a CAD model of the new CFRP propeller are shown.