Chile set to choose from four bids for Type 23 upgrade

[Zarvan]

The Type 23 frigate Admirante Cochrane at sea. The Armada de Chile is expected to select an upgrade package later in 2016. Source: US Navy
Rival combat system integrators bidding to upgrade the Chilean Navy's three Type 23 frigates have presented the service with combat system modernisation solutions using either the Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) Barak-8 or the MBDA Sea Ceptor anti-air guided weapon systems, IHS Jane's has learned.

A third missile option - in the form of the Raytheon RIM-162 Evolved SeaSparrow Missile (ESSM) - appears to have dropped out of contention despite the US government approving a prospective sale.

BAE Systems (teamed with QinetiQ), IAI's MBT Division, Lockheed Martin Canada, and Thales Nederland are vying to modernise the three former UK Royal Navy (RN) ships Almirante Cochrane (ex-HMS Norfolk ), Almirante Condell (ex-HMSMarlborough ), and Almirante Lynch (ex-HMS Grafton ). The four companies were shortlisted in 2015 to bid for the upgrade or replacement of the ships' combat management system (CMS) and surveillance/target indication radar, and the replacement of the GWS 26 Mod 1 VL Seawolf command-to-line-of-sight point-defence missile system with an active radar or semi-active radar guided weapon system.

A formal request for proposals was released in mid-March, with responses submitted in early July. A decision on the preferred supplier is expected during the fourth quarter of 2016.

BAE Systems' proposal effectively mirrors the upgrade being introduced to RN service under the Type 23 Capability Sustainment Programme (CSP), encompassing the Outfit DNA(2) CMS (replacing the legacy Outfit DNA[1]), the ARTISAN 3D (RN designation Radar Type 997) medium-range radar (replacing Radar Type 996), and the MBDA Sea Ceptor local area anti-air weapon system. Sea Ceptor is founded on MBDA's new 'soft-launch' Common Anti-Air Modular Missile, which uses active radar homing (supported by mid-course guidance updates) to deliver an all-weather engagement capability.

MBDA argues that selection of Sea Ceptor would enable the Chilean Navy to maintain commonality with the RN. Furthermore, the ship installation would be de-risked by the prior RN Type 23 retrofits; Sea Ceptor is being introduced on board the RN's 13 remaining Type 23 frigates, replacing GWS 26 Mod 1, with HMS Argyll the first ship to receive the system.

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http://www.janes.com/article/63496/chile-set-to-choose-from-four-bids-for-type-23-upgrade

 

[Penguin]

Using ESSM - being a semi-active radar homing missile - would require installation of radar illuminator(s). E.g. at least 2 STIR or APAR. I can see how that might be a more comprehensive project than e.g. SeaCeptor or Barak-8, which rely on 2-way datalink, autopilot/inertial navigation system and active radar seeker head on the missile (i.e. allows for removal rather than replacement of the Type 23s two BAE Systems Type 911 fire control radars associated with the Seawolf missile system, which is command to line of sight). In principal, for SeaCeptor and Barak-8, installation of a good 3-D radar would suffice.

Wonder what radar option is offered for the package with the Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) Barak-8. Any word on that?
BAE Systems Insyte clearly offers the Artisan 3D E/F-band radar. Does the Israeli offer include e.g. the Elta Systems EL/M-2238 STAR E/F-band or rather the lighter and newer ELM-2258 - ALPHA?

http://www.iai.co.il/2013/36565-36667-en/ELTA - Systems by Product Lines.aspx
http://www.iai.co.il/2013/36565-36669-en/ELTA - Systems by Product Lines.aspx

Between SeaCeptor and Barak-8, a factor could be whether the former could use the existing launchers for SeaWolf (only if not would there not be a difference in terms of requirement for a new launch installation). If both would require a new launch installation, question could be which would be offered. Both have either their own launcher or could use US's Mk41.

Barak-8 is a longer and 'fatter' missile than SeaCeptor (SeaCeptor ER is about equally long to Barak-8), so there will likely be fewer Barak-8 than SeaCeptor in a given area or volume. Selecting SeaCeptor, which can be quadpacket in Mk41, could allow for other Mk41 compatible missiles for a given number of cells (e.g. Scalp, LRASM, VL-Asroc, or RIM-174 Standard Extended Range Active Missile (ERAM), aka Standard Missile 6 [SM-6]). Two eight cell Mk41 Tactical could carry 32 SeaCeptor or SeaCeptor-ER plus 8 other missiles versus 16 Barak-8.

SeaCeptor

http://www.mbda-systems.com/?action=force-download-attachment&attachment_id=12852

Barak-8

According to the Israel Navy, Barak-8 will [also] be compatible with the Lockheed Martin Mk 41 tactical-length vertical launcher system.
http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/israel/barak-ng.htm

 

[Incog_nito]

As UK is breaking a part and it won't need many ships as of now. So, it's better for them to bid for the remaining Type-23 Frigates..