Guardian of the
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New Strike Craft
In a $1.7 billion deal that was just announced in mid-March 2000, MINDEF announced a deal with French ship-builders Direction des Constructions Navales (DCN) to help build 6 stealth frigates for the RSN. The new ships will be based on French-designed La Fayette, the world's first operational stealth battleship and marks a major change for the RSN. At 110m in length and with a 3000 ton displacement, these new ships are significantly larger than the in-service 62m Victory class missile corvettes, the largest surface combatants in RSN service. It will have a speed of 27 kts, a range of 4000, and only requires 60 men to operate it. As with all modern warships, the frigate will be equipped to counter threats from the air,surface and subsurface. Part of its teeth and claws include a medium-calibre naval gun, surface-surface missiles, anti-missile missiles, torpedoes and a specialised naval helicopter (Kaman's SH2G Supersprite?). Along with such fire-power, the new ships will incorporate, for the first time in South Éast Asia, stealth technology which makes the vessels hard to detect increasing their ability to survive. Such stealthiness is achieved through the use of special paints, materials and design to absorb or reflect away radar beams. Another unique feature includes a smooth surface with no windows to deflect the radar beam. Parts of the ship such as the mast and funnel are made of composite materials and glassed-reinforced palstic rather than conventional steel to insulate the ship's heat signature from heat-seeking missiles. The bottomline is a large potent vessel with the radar/heat signature of a small harmless fishing boat. The first ship is expected to be delivered in 2005 and all 6 will be fully operational by 2009.
Platforms: Challenger/Sjoormen class submarines Victory class Missile Corvettes (MCVs) Sea Wolf class Missile Gunboats (MGBs) Fearless class Patrol Vessels (PVs) Sir Lancelot Class Landing Ship Logistic (LSL) County class Landing Ship Tank (LSTs) Endurance class Landing Ship Tanks (LSTs)/Landing Platform Docks (LPDs) Bedok class Mine Countermeasures Vessels (MCMVs) Landing/Fast Craft Utility (LCUs/FCUs)
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