Valour-class frigate (MEKO A-200SAN)

Basic information

Type:

Frigate

Parent class:

MEKO 200 frigate

Operators:

South African Navy

Country of build:

Germany

Builder:

Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft (HDW) Blohm + Voss

Planned:

Cancelled:

Completed:

In service:

2006 – present (18 years)

Ship measurements

Displacement:

3,759 t

Length:

121 m

Beam:

16.34 m

Machine

Propulsion system:

CODAG WARP

Propulsion:

2 * MTU 16V 1163 TB93 diesel engines, 5,920 kilowatts (7,940 hp) each
1 * General Electric LM2500, 20,000 kilowatts (27,000 hp) gas turbine
2 * shafts for cruise
1 * waterjet

Speed:

30 knots

Range:

8,000 nautical miles (15,000 km) at 16 knots (30 km/h; 18 mph)

Personnel

Complement:

152

Combat assets

Armor:

Welded GL-D36 steel

Electronics:

Thales Naval France MRR-3D NG G-band multi-role radar
2 * Reutech RTS 6400 monopulse X-band (I/J bands) combined radar and optronics trackers
Reutech Electro-optical tracker
Tellumat Integrated Naval IFF system
M-Tek Target Designation Sights
Thales UMS4132 Kingklip sonar
MDS 3060 obstacle avoidance sonar
Saab Grintek Avitronics SME 100/200 ESM (Intercept and Jammer) & ELINT
2 * Saab Grintek Avitronics MRL Super Barricade chaff launchers (96 decoys)

Armament:

2 * 4 MBDA MM 40 Exocet Block 2 surface-to-surface missiles
16 * Umkhonto surface-to-air missiles in a 16 cell Vertical launching system, can be increased to 32
1 * Otobreda 76 mm gun
1 * Denel 35mm Dual Purpose Gun (CIWS)
2 * Mk1 Oerlikon 20 mm cannon
2 * 12.7 mm Rogue remotely operated guns
4 * 324 mm (12.8 in) torpedo tubes

Aircraft:

2 * SuperLynx 300
or 1 * Atlas Oryx
or 2 * AgustaWestland AW109
or 1 * Denel Rooivalk
or various UAVs
Helipad
Hangar

The South African Valour-class frigates are the major surface ships of the South African Navy. Their German manufacturer designates these warships as the MEKO A-200SAN type, member of its MEKO family of naval ships. They were designed and built using principles of stealthy design, including the extensive use of «X-form» structure design in which right angles and vertical surfaces are avoided, and techniques to reduce the infrared signature, such as expelling pre-cooled exhaust gasses just above the waterline. Blohm + Voss, the designers, claim that this class has the radar signature of a vessel one-half her size, 75% less infrared emissions than previous designs, as well as a 20% lower life-cycle cost, 25% lower displacement, and 30% fewer crewmen.