La Fayette class frigate
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 French frigate Surcouf |
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| France |  |
|---|---|
| Operators: |  Marine nationale
 Republic of Singapore Navy |
| Subclasses: | Al Riyadh class (Saudi Arabia) Formidable class (Singapore) |
| Commissioned: | 22 March 1996 |
| Ships in Class | |
| Ships in class: | 20 |
| Ships in active service: | France: La Fayette (F710), Surcouf (F711), Courbet (F712), Aconit (F713), Guépratte (F714) Republic of China: Kang Ding (FFG-1202), Si Ning (FFG-1203), Wu Chang (FFG-1205), Di Hua (FFG-1206), Kun Ming (FFG-1207), Chen De (FFG-1208) |
| General Characteristics | |
| Class type: | frigate |
| Displacement: | 3200 tonnes, 3600 tonnes fully loaded |
| Length: | 125m (410.1ft) |
| Beam: | 15.4 m |
| Draught: | 4.1m (13.45ft) |
| Propulsion and power: | 4 diesel SEMT Pielstick 12PA6V280 STC2, 21000 HP (15 400 kW) |
| Speed: | 25 knots |
| Range: | 7000 nautical miles at 15 knots, 9000 at 12 knots |
| Endurance: | 50 days of food |
| Boats and landing craft carried: | 2 ETN boats |
| Capacity: | 350 tonnes of fuel, 80 m³ of kerosene, 60 tonnes of drinkable water |
| Complement: | 12 officers 68 petty officers |
| Armament: | 1 x 100 mm TR automatic gun 2 x 20 mm modèle F2 guns |
| Sensors: | 1 x Air/Surface DRBV 15C sentry radar 1 x firing control radar for the 100mm gun |
| Armour: | On sensitive areas (munition magazine and control centre) |
| Aircraft complement: | 1 x 10 tonne helicopter (Panther or NH90) |
The La Fayette class units are light multi-mission frigates built by DCN and operated by France (Marine Nationale), Saudi Arabia, Singapore (Republic of Singapore Navy) and Republic of China (Taiwan) (Republic of China Navy).
These frigates are referred to as "stealth" frigates. Their reduced radar cross section is achieved by a very clean superstructure compared to conventional designs, angled sides and Radar Absorbent Material (RAM), a composite material of wood and glass fiber as hard as steel, light, and resistant to fire.
All information gathered by the onboard sensors is managed by the Information Processing System, the electronic brain of the operation centre of the ship. It is completed by an electronic command aid system.
The La Fayette has space available for the future installation of the Aster 15 missile, the state-of-the-art anti-air European weapon, and currently carries the Crotale short-range defence system, and Exocet missile, mounted in two quad launchers.
The ships are designed to accommodate a 10 tonne helicopter in the Panther or NH90 range (they are capable of harbouring the Super Frelon and such heavy helicopters). These helicopters can carry anti-ship AM39 or AS15 missiles, and can be launched during a 5 or 6 sea state, thanks to the Samahé helicopter handling system.
France ordered five ships of the La Fayette class in 1988, the last of which entered service in 2002.
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[edit] Al Riyadh class: Saudi Arabia
The three Al Riyadh class ships are an expanded version of the French La Fayette class, displacing about 4 700 tonnes. The ships combat systems are produced by Armaris (a DCN/Thales joint venture) and are armed with the MBDA Aster 15 missile. The Aster missiles use the DCN SYLVER launcher. As with the La Fayette class the primary offensive weapon is the anti-surface MBDA Exocet.
Maximum speed is 24.5 kts with a maximum range of 7,000 nm.
[edit] Formidable class: Singapore
The Republic of Singapore Navy's six Formidable class frigates are of comparable size to the La Fayette class but differs from that class and the Saudi Al Riyadh class in the armament carried. In place of the Exocet is the Boeing Harpoon. The Formidable class also uses the SYLVER launcher/Aster missile combination.
The first ship, RSS Formidable, was built by DCN, while the remaining ships were constructed by Singapore Technologies Marine.
Maximum speed is 27 kts with a maximum range of 7,200 nm, making it the fastest and most mobile variant.
[edit] Kang Ding class: Republic of China (Taiwan)
As the Republic of China (Taiwan)'s defensive stance is aimed towards the Taiwan strait the Republic of China Navy is constantly seeking to upgrade its anti-submarine warfare capabilities. The agreement with France in the late 1980s is an example of the operation of this procurement strategy; the six ships are configured for both ASW and surface attack. The Exocet is replaced by a Taiwanese surface attack missile and the AAW weapon is the Chaparral. Some problems in the integration of Taiwanese and French systems have been reported.
The antiquated Chaparral SAM system is considered totally inadequate for even rudimentary self-defence. This, coupled with various other shortcomings, make the Taiwanese La Fayettes the least capable variant of the class currently in operation. However, an upgrade programme is currently under way, in which it is planned to replace the Chaparral system with an indigenous system based on the TC-2 Sky Sword II missile.[1].
The Taiwan frigate deal has led to a large political scandal, both in Taiwan and France. A former French foreign minister has claimed that up to $500,000 was paid by Thomson-CSF (now Thales), the prime contractor, as a "sweetener" as the ships did not strictly meet Taiwan's requirements. Eight deaths of people involved in the contract have died in unusual and possibly suspicious circumstances [2]. Six ROC naval officers have been indicted on corruption charges relating to the affair.
Maximum speed is 25 kts with a maximum range of 7,000 nm.
[edit] Trivia
- The lead ship, La Fayette (F710) was featured in the 17th James Bond film GoldenEye in 1995 as the site for the unveiling of the Eurocopter Tiger, which is subsequently stolen in the film.
[edit] External links
- (French) Frégate La Fayette on the site of the Ministry of Defence
- (French) NetMarine.net
- (French) Alabordache.com French Frigate "La Fayette" on Alabordache.com
[edit] See also
 Inside of the forward deck of Surcouf |
 Surcouf in Toulon; the helicopter is clearly visible on the aft |
 The helicopter pad; the Crotale missile launcher is well visible on the top of the helicopter hangar. |
 Stealth frigate Surcouf and Courbet |
 The stealth design of Surcouf and Courbet compare to the more traditional shape of Jean Bart |
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