Formidable class frigate
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Formidable class Frigate | |
|---|---|
 RSS Formidable at sea © MINDEF |
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| Class Overview | |
| Type: | Frigate |
| Name: | Formidable |
| Number of ships: | 6 |
| General characteristics | |
| Displacement: | 3200 tonnes |
| Length: | 114.8 metres |
| Beam: | 16.3 metres |
| Draught: | 6.0 metres |
| Propulsion: | 4x MTU 20V 8000 M90, 8200 kW (CODAD) |
| Speed: | 27 knots (maximum) 18 knots (cruising) |
| Range: | 4000 nautical miles |
| Complement: | 70, excluding air attachment of about 15 |
| Armament: | Surface: Harpoon missile Anti-missile: MBDA Aster Anti-submarine: Whitehead Alenia A.244/S torpedoes Guns: Oto Melara 76 mm |
| Sensors and processing systems: | Search radar: Thales Herakles multi-function radar Navigation radar: Terma Electronic navigation radar Sonar: EDO active low frequency towed sonar |
| Aircraft: | Sikorsky S-70B naval helicopter |
| Ships of the class | |
| RSS Formidable (68) RSS Intrepid (69) RSS Steadfast (70) RSS Tenacious (71) RSS Stalwart (72) RSS Supreme (73) |
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The Formidable class are frigates in the Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN). In March 2000, the Singapore Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) signed a contract with DCN for the construction of six frigates. The design of the frigates are based on the French Navy’s La Fayette class frigate. The frigates are very stealthy platforms and are shaped to reduce their radar cross-section. They are also highly capable multi-mission platforms, with significant anti-air, anti-surface and anti-submarine warfare capability [1], augmented by a 10-tonne class helicopter.
In January 2005, the MINDEF announced that it has signed a contract with Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation of the United States to acquire six new Sikorsky S-70B naval helicopters (an international derivative of the United States Navy (USN) SH-60B Seahawk) which will operate off these frigates. The acquisition of these naval helicopters, equipped with advanced anti-surface and anti-submarine warfare sensors and weapons, is a significant milestone in the RSN's force development. The naval helicopters are projected for delivery between 2008 and 2010 [2].
The first frigate was launched in France while the remaining five are built locally by Singapore Technologies Marine under a technology transfer agreement with DCN. The six new frigates will be fully operational starting from 2007 and will replace the missile gunboats of the RSN, which have been in service for more than 30 years. The six frigates will form the 185 Squadron of the RSN.
[edit] References
- Republic of Singapore Navy Frigate. MINDEF website. Retrieved on September 26, 2004.
- S-70B International SEAHAWK. Sikorsky Corporation website. Retrieved on January 26, 2005.
