Breaking news
German built MEKO A-200 AN Frigate for Algerian Navy launched by TKMS in Kiel.
| 2014
Picture
showing the first MEKO A-200 AN frigate for Algeria in the water &
docked in Kiel, Germany. File
picture of a MEKO 200 frigate (Valour class MEKO A-200SAN of the South
African Navy) |
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Various
types of MEKO 200 frigates have been sold by Blohm + Voss/TKMS since the
mid-eighties. Algeria would follow the navies of Australia, New Zealand,
Greece, Turkey, South Africa and Portugal who all operate the MEKO 200
familiy. The MEKO A-200 AN appears to be based on the South African Navy Valour class (MEKO A-200 SAN). The A-200SAN design received some improvements compared to older MEKO 200 vessels including new signature reduction measures. According to TKMS, the MEKO A-200 is capable of full 4-dimensional warfare (AAW, ASW and ASuW, BCW) and is also designed for sustained operations across the full spectrum of general missions and tasks: patrol and interdiction, support of special force operations, SAR and humanitarian operations. The MEKO A-200 has greatly reduced radar, IR, acoustic and magnetic signatures: » The X-Form shell design; extensive bulwark screening of exposed equipment; flush-closing shell doors and RCS-net screening of all shell openings, give the vessel very low radar cross section. » Without a funnel, and with all combustion engines exhaust horizontally on or below the waterline with active cooling, plus a shell cooling system, this ship has exceptionally low IR signatures. » The small, light propellers and the aft-sighting of propulsion machinery allowed by CODAG-WARP combined with a forefoot skeg make for exceptionally quiet signatures. |
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 Scale
model of the MEKO A-200 AN frigate on display on the CMN/Privinvest booth
during Euronaval 2014. |
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The
deal signed by Algeria is reported to also includes 6 AgustaWestland Super
Lynx 300 maritime helicopters. Navy Recognition learned during
a recent visit at a Thales Underwater Systems site that three of the Lynx
helicopters will be fitted with Compact FLASH dipping sonars. These helicopters
will be dedicated to the MEKO frigates. |
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 The
MEKO A-200 AN will be fitted with 16x anti-ship missiles which is not
common for a frigate. |
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Based
on a scale model of the MEKO A-200 AN frigate on display on the CMN/Privinvest
booth during Euronaval 2014, the new class of frigate is set be heavily
armed: » 1x Oto Melara 127/64 LW 127mm main gun (possibly with VULCANO ammunition) » 2x MSI 30mm guns (possibly SEAHAWK A2 model) » 16x SAAB RBS 15 Mk3 anti-ship missiles » 32x VLS for Denel Umkhonto-IR surface to air missiles » 2x MU90 torpedo launchers » 4x Rheinmetall MASS decoy launchers » Possibly 2x Sagem NGDS decoy launchers (on each side of the VLS cells, this seems unlikely however with the MASS system already in place) Based on the model, sensor suite includes: » SAAB Sea Giraffe AMB 3-D surveillance radar » Thales UMS4132 Kingklip hull mounted sonar » SAAB CEROS 200 optronic/fire control radar It is unclear at this time who will provide the combat management system but it will likely be SAAB's 9LV or Thales' TACTICOS. Similar to the Valour class, the MEKO A-200 AN seems to be fitted with the unusual CODAG-WARP system (COmbined Diesel And Gas turbine-WAter jet and Refined Propellers) which consists in a water-jet drive, in addition to two propellers. According to several sources, the first MEKO A-200 AN should be delivered to the Algerian Navy at the end of 2015/early 2016. |
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 Scale
model of the MEKO A-200 AN frigate on display on the CMN/Privinvest booth
during Euronaval 2014. |
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