Tuesday, January 21, 2014

DND evaluates prospective frigate designs, specifications in Feb.

From the Philippine News Agency (Jan 21): DND evaluates prospective frigate designs, specifications in Feb.

Starting this February, the four shipbuilders deemed qualified to participate in the next stage of the bidding for the Department of National Defense (DND)'s P18-billion frigate program will be given a week to present their respective designs and technical specifications.

This was revealed by Commodore Roland Mercado, Philippine Navy (PN) technical working group head for the frigate program, during an interview.

He added that the frigate specifications presented by each company, will be evaluated and assessed by Navy personnel and private consultants well versed in warship design.

The presentation will be conducted in the Navy's Sangley Point Base in Cavite.

Most of these experts will be naval architects, Mercado stated.

The four shipbuilders who qualified for the next round of bidding are Navantia Sepi (RTR Ventures) of Spain and South Korean firms STX Offshore & Shipbuilding, Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering Co. Ltd. and Hyundai Heavy Industries, Inc.

The former successfully passed the first stage of the bidding process, which involved the inspection of company documents.

Relatedly, the PN official said that they have already submitted a request for P25 million which will be used to pay the private consultants who will evaluate the frigate designs.

He added that they will be using the same group of experts who have scrutinized the designs submitted for the strategic sealift vessels program of the PN.

The latter contract was eventually awarded to PT Pal Indonesia (Persero) in August last year.

The project is worth P3.8 billion.

Some technical specifications of the DND's P18-billion frigate program have been revealed by MaxDefense: Philippines, a blogsite for Philippine defense related matters.

This includes a capability to conduct air-to-air warfare (AAW),anti-surface warfare (ASuW), anti-wubmarine warfare (ASW), and electronic warfare (EW).

Aside from this, these naval vessels should be able to do extended maritime patrol with an embarked helicopter and operating up to Sea State 6.

It must also have a range 4,500 nautical miles at 15 knots, endurance of 30 days in tropical condition and capable of running up to 25 knots of continuous speed.

The frigates must be also able to carry two rigid hull inflatable boats (RHIB) aside from having the ability to operate at Sea State 6, non-degradation of warfare mission at Sea State 5, helicopter operation at Sea State 4; and RHIB operations at Sea State 3

Propulsion systems, at a minimum, should consist of two engines and two propellers with reduction gear box; power supply: minimum of three diesel generators; and capable of replenishment at sea capable.

Navigation equipment of the two ships, at a minimum, must consist of two navigation radars (X and S-band) with at least one in solid state design, capable of automatic radar plotting aid (ARPA), automatic identification system (AIS) and automatic tracking aid (ATA).

The frigates must be also be equipped with GPS; depth sounding set; vessel tracking system compatible to PN's existing system.

Communications:

- Standard VHF AM/FM and UHF radios;

- Satellite Communications (SATCOM) system;

- Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) system;-

- "Fitted for but not with" Tactical Data Link (NATO standard), still to be determined which type, supplied by PN;

- Local Area Network (LAN);

-Connectivity to the PN's Littoral Observation Stations and Maritime Research Information Center.

The frigates sensors, at a minimum should consist of:

- Combat Management System (CMS), readily upgradable;

- Fire Control System integrated to CMS, can track and engage surface, air and missile targets simultaneously;

- Fire Control Radar and/or Electro-Optical targeting system;

- Electronic Support Measures (ESM) with Radio Detection and Finding (RDF);

- 2D air search radar for air surveillance and target acquisition, minimum range of 80nmi, can detect sea-skimming missiles with maximum altitude of 10ft., integrated to ESM and CMS;

- 2D surface search radar, can detect anti-ship missile threats minimum range of 40nmi, integrated to ESM and CMS;

- Passive and active sonar systems;

- Decoy launcher minimum six tubes per side or centrally rotating launcher

The frigates' weapon system, at a minimum, should consist of:

- 76mm gun at forward section with target tracking radar and/or electro-optical target acquisition and fire control computer;

- one stabilized secondary gun;

- four . 50-caliber machine guns;

- primary and secondary guns shall be integrated to combat management system;

four surface-to-surface missile launchers, minimum 50km range, active homing seeker and ECCM capability;

- surface-to-air missile launching system, minimum quadruple launcher, minimum 6km range, IR or semi-active homing seeker, with ECCM and/or IR CCM capability;

- anti-submarine torpedoes, minimum range 2km, minimum depth 500m, with acoustic countermeasures capability, two triple launchers (one on each side).

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=607464

No comments:

Post a Comment

Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.