Chile, U.K. Complete Type 23 Frigate Purchase, Refit Deal

By AMI INTERNATIONAL INC.

The United Kingdom and Chilean governments signed an agreement Sept. 8 for the sale of three used Type 23-class frigates from the Royal Navy to the Chilean Navy (CN). It is believed the total package cost is around $350 million for the vessels and refit, to be completed in the United Kingdom.

Following the government-to-government contract signing, BAE Systems Customer Solutions & Support was awarded a $243 million contract to lead the preparation for transfer of the three units. Fleet Support Ltd., a joint venture of BAE Systems and the VT Group, was selected to perform the dockyard elements of the program, which will focus on extensive maintenance of the power plants and main gear wheels. The transfer package is expected to include fully equipped vessels, with the exception of the Harpoon antiship missile.

The HMS Norfolk will depart for Chile in early 2006, followed by the HMS Marlborough in early 2007 and the HMS Grafton in 2008. The three vessels will be paid for in installments over the next 10 years.

The delivery of the three Type 23-class frigates will complete the CN’s transition to a modern surface force solely through the used ship market. The CN will be operating a surface force built in the late 1980s and 1990s, pushing back any plans for new-construction surface combatants until at least 2016.

Anzac Missile Defense Upgrade Approved

The Australian Department of Defence announced Sept. 9 that it was moving forward with the Anzac-class frigate modernization programs intended to upgrade the combat capabilities of the class. CEA Technologies was selected to provide the Antiship Missile Defense (ASMD) solution.

The ASMD solution is expected to provide for sustained protection against an antiship missile attack. CEA Technologies will provide and integrate a lightweight Active Phased Array Radar system. The major components of the system include a search and track radar and phased array illuminator. The ASMD solution will be added to all eight units of the Anzac class, costing around $538 million.

In addition to providing self-protection, the Anzac’s ASMD system will be able to protect closely escorted vessels such as amphibious and auxiliary support ships as well as merchant ships.

India OKs Scorpene Deal, Orders Russian Frigates

The Indian government Sept. 8 formally approved the purchase of six Scorpene-class submarines from France’s Armaris. The transaction, valued at $1.8 billion, involves the construction of six submarines at India’s Mazagon Dock Ltd.

Construction is expected to begin on the first unit by mid-2006, with commissioning expected by 2010. Units two through six are likely to begin at one-year intervals, with the sixth unit of the batch being commissioned by 2015.

The Scorpene program calls for options for up to 24 additional units, although the Indian Navy is expected to build only 12 of the optional units for a total class of 18.

In mid-September, the Indian Navy reportedly also signed a contract worth more than $1 billion for three additional Talwar-class frigates from Russia. The first unit’s construction at the Northern Shipyard in St. Petersburg is anticipated by mid-2006, followed by unit two in 2007 and unit three in 2008. All three units are expected to enter service by 2012, bringing the Talwar class to six units.

UAE Lays Keel for First Al Baynunah Corvette

The keel laying for the first structural block of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Navy Al Baynunah-class corvette took place Sept. 8 at CMN’s facility in Cherbourg, France. The design of the vessels and construction of the first platform are being performed by CMN as the main subcontractor to Abu Dhabi Shipbuilding (ADSB) in the UAE.

The second unit will begin construction at ADSB by early 2006 and be followed by units three through six at ADSB in five- to six-month intervals. The UAE Navy anticipates that the entire class will be commissioned by 2010.

Pakistan Takes Delivery Of Eight P-3 MPA Aircraft

In early September, the Pakistani Navy took delivery of eight used P-3C Orion maritime patrol aircraft (MPA) from the United States. The delivery is part of a larger $1.2 billion military assistance package, of which $970 million was for the acquisition, upgrading and associated programs on the aircraft, as well as upgrades to Pakistan’s two existing P-3 aircraft.

The deal includes upgrades to the communications equipment and avionics systems as well as provisions for training devices, support and test equipment, engineering technical services, supply support, operation and maintenance training, logistics and other related support elements. The P-3Cs are able to launch Harpoon, Exocet and Chinese C-802 antiship missiles, and can deploy the A244 torpedoes.

AMI International Inc., Bremerton, Wash., is an international consulting and naval intelligence company located on the web at www.amiinter.com.