Formidable-class frigate: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 14:22, 6 May 2025

Revision as of 03:47, 15 May 2025

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===Armament===

The frigates are equipped with [[Boeing Harpoon]] missiles and [[OTO Melara 76 mm|Oto Melara 76 mm guns]] for surface defence. The Harpoon missile has a range of {{convert|130|km|nmi|abbr=on}} and uses active radar guidance. It is armed with a {{convert|227|kg|lb|abbr=on|adj=on}} warhead. There is space for as many as 24 Harpoon missiles at the center of ship making it the most well armed ship of its class.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Boey |first1=David |title=Republic of Singapore Navy Formidable-class stealth frigates display upgraded capabilities at Navy Open House 2013 |url=http://kementah.blogspot.com/2013/05/republic-of-singapore-navy-formidable_19.html |website=Senang Diri|date=19 May 2013 }}</ref> The gun fires {{convert|6|kg|lb|abbr=on|adj=on}} shells to a maximum range of {{convert|30|km|yd|abbr=on}} at a firing rate of up to 120 rounds per minute. ItThe was revealed during an interview with Commander First Flotilla, Colonel Ng Kok Yeng Daniel that the Frigatesfrigates will be equipped with the [[Blue Spear|Blue Spear SSM]] codeveloped by [[Israel Aerospace Industries|IAI]] and [[ST Engineering]] as part of the Formidable's ongoing MLU program, replacing the aging Harpoon missiles and giving the Frigates additional beyond-line-of-sight(BLOS) as well as sea and land attack capabilities.<ref>{{cite news |title=IMDEX 2023: Singapore to deploy Blue Spear missile on Formidable class |url=https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/imdex-2023-singapore-to-deploy-blue-spear-missile-on-formidable-class |access-date=6 May 2023 |agency=Janes |publisher=Janes}}</ref>

The frigates are also equipped with the [[EDO Corporation]] active low frequency towed sonar to enable long range submarine detection and classification, as well as [[EuroTorp]] [[A244-S|A244/S Mod 3]] lightweight torpedoes fired from two B515 triple-tube launchers hidden behind the bulwark.

The frigates are equipped with [[Sikorsky S-70]]B naval helicopters, an international derivative of the [[United States Navy]] [[Sikorsky SH-60B Seahawk]]. The Ministry of Defence signed a contract with [[Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation]] in January 2005 to acquire six of these helicopters, which will be organic to the frigates.<ref>{{cite web|title=Republic of Singapore Navy Acquires Six New Naval Helicopters|work=Sikorsky Corporation|url=http://www.sikorsky.com/vgn-ext-templating-SIK/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=00de6eb78fa78110VgnVCM1000001382000aRCRD&vgnextchannel=96d99a93bc298110VgnVCM1000001382000aRCRD&vgnextfmt=default&pressvcmid=9fbda96c2e289110VgnVCM1000001382000aRCRD&keyword=Singapore&dateFrom=null&dateTo=null&model=null&business=null&matchCriteria=null&matchKeyword=any&fromSearchPage=true&businessIndex=null&=modelIndex=null#|access-date=2010-11-22|archive-date=26 May 2024|archive-url=https://archive.today/20240526050253/https://www.webcitation.org/6AGcVc4vF?url=http://www.sikorsky.com/vgn-ext-templating-SIK/v/index.jsp%3Fvgnextoid=00de6eb78fa78110VgnVCM1000001382000aRCRD|url-status=dead}}</ref> Each of these naval helicopters are equipped with a [http://www.telephonics.com/ Telephonics] [[List of radars#AN/APS Series|AN/APS-143 ''Ocean Eye'']] [[X-band]] maritime surveillance and tracking radar,<ref name="APS">{{Cite web |url=http://www.designation-systems.net/usmilav/jetds/an-apr2aps.html |title=Designation-Systems.net: AN/APR to AN/APS - Equipment Listing |access-date=3 May 2010 |archive-date=12 June 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100612031233/http://designation-systems.net/usmilav/jetds/an-apr2aps.html |url-status=live }}</ref> a [[L-3 Communications]] Helicopter Long Range Active Sonar ([[HELRAS]]) dipping sonar, EuroTorp A244/S Mod 3 torpedoes and a [[Raytheon]] AAS-44 electro-optic system to provide infrared detection and tracking.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Moss|first=Trefor|date=March 2010|title=Helicopters return to Singapore following integration training|journal=Jane's Navy International}}</ref> The naval helicopters will be raised as a squadron in the Republic of Singapore Air Force and piloted by air force pilots, but the system operators will be from the Navy.

==Mid-life upgrades==

On 5 May 2023, the Ministry of Defence of Singapore announced plans to update the capabilities of the Formidable class frigates in order to maintain technological edge. <ref>{{cite web |title=Fact Sheet: Mid-life Upgrades to Formidable-class Frigates |url=https://www.mindef.gov.sg/web/portal/mindef/news-and-events/latest-releases/article-detail/2022/March/02mar22_fs2 |access-date=29 Jun 2024}}</ref> On 14 December 2023, ST Engineering announced a contract was received for the upgrade which it expects to complete by 2028.<ref>{{cite web |title=Fact ST Engineering Awarded Contract for Mid-Life Upgrade of Formidable-class Frigates |url=https://www.stengg.com/en/newsroom/news-releases/st-engineering-awarded-contract-for-mid-life-upgrade-of-formidable-class-frigates/ |access-date=29 Jun 2024}}</ref> A related contract was announced by [[Naval Group]] on 2 May 2024 to support the upgrade as partners of ST Marine.<ref>{{cite web |title=Naval Group signed a contract with ST Engineering Marine Ltd for the upgrade of the Formidable class frigates |url=https://www.naval-group.com/en/naval-group-signed-contract-st-engineering-marine-ltd-upgrade-formidable-class-frigates/ |access-date=29 Jun 2024}}</ref>