Valour-class frigate (MEKO A-200SAN)

Valour-class frigate (MEKO A-200SAN) 0Valour-class frigate (MEKO A-200SAN) 1Valour-class frigate (MEKO A-200SAN) 2Valour-class frigate (MEKO A-200SAN) 3Valour-class frigate (MEKO A-200SAN) 4Valour-class frigate (MEKO A-200SAN) 5

Basic information

Type:
Parent class:
Operators:
Country of build:
Planned:
5
Cancelled:
1
Completed:
4
In service:
2006 – present (18 years)

Ship measurements

Displacement:
3,759 t
Length:
121 m
Beam:
16.34 m

Machine

Propulsion system:
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.

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