I wanted to discuss the 'appropriateness' of the Meko 200 AN class as delivered to Algeria for our new indigenous frigate program. Let's discuss if there is any interest. 3500 tons displacement.
Please see the link below first:
https://defence.pk/pdf/threads/bangladesh-navy.168818/page-141#post-7778034
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Powerful German built MEKO A-200 AN Frigate for Algerian Navy to Start Sea Trials
Naval Industry News - Germany, Algeria
Powerful German built MEKO A-200 AN Frigate for Algerian Navy to Start Sea Trials
The first of two MEKO Frigates built by Germany's ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems (TKMS) in Kiel appears ready to start her first sea trials according to ship spotter pictures. The vessel, designated MEKO A-200 AN Frigate, was launched in early December 2014. Algeria ordered two frigates (with an option for two more) in March 2012. The weapons fit selected by the Algerian Navy is quite powerfull for this type of vessel.
Picture showing the first MEKO A-200 AN frigate for Algeria with most of its systems fitted (except for the anti-ship missiles) and ready to start sea trials. Picture taken on 18/07/2015. Via BMPD/Forcesdz
The deal also included 6 AgustaWestland Super Lynx 300 maritime helicopters.
Navy Recognition learned during a visit at a Thales Underwater Systems site last year that three of the Lynx helicopters will be fitted with Compact FLASH dipping sonars. According to various sources, the Lynx will be fitted with MU90 torpedoes and Denel Mokopa air to surface missiles. These helicopters will be dedicated to the MEKO frigates.
File picture of a MEKO 200 frigate (Valour class MEKO A-200SAN of the South African Navy)
Various types of MEKO 200 frigates have been sold by Blohm + Voss/TKMS since the mid-eighties. Algeria would follow the navies of Australia, New Zealand, Greece, Turkey, South Africa and Portugal who all operate the MEKO 200 family.
The MEKO A-200 AN appears to be based on the South African Navy Valour class (MEKO A-200 SAN). The A-200SAN design received some improvements compared to older MEKO 200 vessels including new signature reduction measures.
Scale model of the MEKO A-200 AN frigate on display on the CMN/Privinvest booth during Euronaval 2014.
According to TKMS, the MEKO A-200 is capable of full 4-dimensional warfare (AAW, ASW and ASuW, BCW) and is also designed for sustained operations across the full spectrum of general missions and tasks: patrol and interdiction, support of special force operations, SAR and humanitarian operations. The MEKO A-200 has greatly reduced radar, IR, acoustic and magnetic signatures:
» The X-Form shell design; extensive bulwark screening of exposed equipment; flush-closing shell doors and RCS-net screening of all shell openings, give the vessel very low radar cross section.
» Without a funnel, and with all combustion engines exhaust horizontally on or below the waterline with active cooling, plus a shell cooling system, this ship has exceptionally low IR signatures.
» The small, light propellers and the aft-sighting of propulsion machinery allowed by CODAG-WARP combined with a forefoot skeg make for exceptionally quiet signatures.
The MEKO A-200 AN will be fitted with 16x anti-ship missiles which is not common for a frigate.
Based on a scale model of the MEKO A-200 AN frigate on display on the CMN/Privinvest booth during Euronaval 2014, the new class of frigate is set be heavily armed:
» 1x Oto Melara 127/64 LW 127mm main gun (possibly with VULCANO ammunition)
» 2x MSI 30mm guns (possibly SEAHAWK A2 model)
» 16x SAAB RBS 15 Mk3 anti-ship missiles
» 32x VLS for Denel Umkhonto-IR surface to air missiles
» 2x MU90 torpedo launchers
» 4x Rheinmetall MASS decoy launchers
» Possibly 2x Sagem NGDS decoy launchers (on each side of the VLS cells, this seems unlikely however with the MASS system already in place)
Based on the model, sensor suite includes:
» SAAB Sea Giraffe AMB 3-D surveillance radar
» Thales UMS4132 Kingklip hull mounted sonar
» SAAB CEROS 200 optronic/fire control radar
It is unclear at this time who will provide the combat management system but it will likely be SAAB's 9LV or Thales' TACTICOS.
Similar to the Valour class, the MEKO A-200 AN seems to be fitted with the unusual CODAG-WARP system (COmbined Diesel And Gas turbine-WAter jet and Refined Propellers) which consists in a water-jet drive, in addition to two propellers.
According to several sources, the first MEKO A-200 AN should be delivered to the Algerian Navy at the end of 2015/early 2016.
Picture showing the first MEKO A-200 AN frigate for Algeria with most of its systems fitted (except for the anti-ship missiles) and ready to start sea trials. Picture taken on 18/07/2015. Via BMPD/Forcesdz
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Second Algerian Meko frigate arrives home
Written by defenceWeb, Monday, 22 May 2017
The Algerian Navy’s newest frigate, the Meko 200AN class vessel El Moudamir, has arrived in Algeria after leaving Germany on 15 May.
El Moudamir (911) arrived home on 21 May, and was escorted into Algerian waters by the tug El Mounjid, a Kebir class patrol boat and two Alusafe 2000 rescue and patrol vessels while an AW101 from the Navy flew overhead, according to Mena Defense.
El Moudamir was built by ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems (TKMS) at Kiel in Germany, and was seen passing through the Kiel Canal on 15 May, and then past the United Kingdom on 17 May. The vessel was launched on 11 December 2015 and began sea trials in August last year.
Algeria’s two Meko frigates were ordered in March 2012, with options for two more. The first, Erradii (910) was launched on 5 December 2014 and arrived in the port of Algiers on 19 April 2016.
Algeria’s Meko frigates are equipped with the Saab Sea Giraffe AMB (Agile Multi-Beam) 3D surveillance radar; Saab CEROS 200 radar/electro-optical (EO) fire control directors; Thales UMS4132 Kingklip sonar; OTO Melara 127/64 LW (Lightweight) 127 mm naval gun; MSI-Defence 30 mm cannons; Rheinmetall Defence MASS softkill decoy launchers; Denel Dynamics Umkhonto-IR missiles; MU90 torpedoes and Saab/Diehl Defence RBS 15 Mk3 anti-ship missiles.
Algeria also ordered six AgustaWestland Super Lynx 300 maritime helicopters for the vessels and these are being fitted with Thales Compact FLASH dipping sonars, MU90 torpedoes and Mokopa missiles.
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NAVY
FIRST ALGERIAN FRIGATE
APRIL 27, 2016 LEAVE A COMMENT
According to Jens Kastner, IHS Jane’s Navy International correspondent, Algeria’s first MEKO A-200 frigate was commissioned in Algiers on 21 April in a ceremony attended by Lieutenant General Ahmed Gaid Salah, who serves as both the chief-of-staff of the military and deputy defence minister.
Algeria commissioned Erradii (910), the first of its MEKO A-200 frigates, on 21 April (Algerian Ministry of Defence)
The Ministry of Defence said the arrival of Erradii (910) marked an important step in Algeria’s naval modernisation programme.
Built at the German Naval Yards in Kiel, Erradii (910) is the first of two MEKO A-200 frigates being built for Algeria by ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems (TKMS) under a contract first reported in April 2012.
Photographs have been released on the internet showing the second vessel, which will reportedly be commissioned as Herrad (911), and was in the water by 11 December 2015.
Blohm+Voss MEKO A-200 Class Frigate
Workhorses of the sea, the Blohm+Voss MEKO A-200, follows the famous Blohm+Voss MEKO 200 series in a long line of general purpose frigates.
MEKO A-200 is designed for sustained operations across the full spectrum of general missions and tasks
A fighting ship capable of full 4-dimensional warfare (AAW – Anti-Air Warfare, ASW – Anti-Submarine Warfare, ASuW – Anti-Surface Warfare, BCW – Biological and Chemical Warfare), the Blohm+Voss Class MEKO A-200 is also designed for sustained operations across the full spectrum of general missions and tasks: patrol and interdiction, support of special force operations, SAR (Search and Rescue) and humanitarian operations.
The Blohm+Voss MEKO A-200 is a perfect example of the innovative propulsion, stealth and survivability design, robust sea-keeping and all-weather boat and helicopter operability that characterises frigates from ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems. Fully proven with four units operational in the demanding Southern Ocean, further units are now being built for the Mediterranean, demonstrating the world-wide operating flexibility of these versatile ships.
The Blohm+Voss MEKO A-200 features the revolutionary CODAG-WARP (Water jet and Refined Propellers) propulsion system: two CPP (Controllable Pitch Propeller) propeller shafts driven by cross-connectable diesel engines plus a centre-line gas turbine-driven water jet, combining the power of each drive in the water without the need of a combining gearbox. This arrangement allows for extremely quiet acoustic signatures, a high degree of propulsion redundancy and damage survivability. The propulsion arrangement also provides, in the diesel only mode, an extremely economic solution, whereby a single engine can drive both shafts for a ship speed of 18 knots/20.7 mph/33.3 km/h, meaning that the ship will spend most of its life on a single engine.
MEKO A-200 has greatly reduced radar, IR, acoustic and magnetic signatures
The Blohm+Voss MEKO A-200 has greatly reduced radar, IR (Infrared), acoustic and magnetic signatures:
- The X-Form shell design; extensive bulwark screening of exposed equipment; flush-closing shell doors and RCS-net screening of all shell openings, give the vessel very low radar cross section.
- Without a funnel, and with all combustion engines exhaust horizontally on or below the waterline with active cooling, plus a shell cooling system, this ship has exceptionally low IR signatures.
- The small, light propellers and the aft-sighting of propulsion machinery allowed by CODAG-WARP combined with a forefoot skeg make for exceptionally quiet signatures.
The Blohm+Voss MEKO A-200 has outstanding sea-keeping and tactical mobility. The fast mono-hull features a forefoot skeg for greatly reduced yawing and directional stability in a seaway. The >16 m/52.5 feet beam and active fin stabilisers provide platform stability such that helicopter and boat operations can be conducted in sea state 6. A covered fo’c’sle and high freeboard provide for additional buoyancy and reduced deck wettnesses and slamming, allowing high speed transit in heavy seas.
With a tactical diameter of less than four ship lengths and a stopping distance from full speed using the reversing water jet (crash-stop manoeuvre) of less than two ship lengths, the Blohm+Voss MEKO A-200 outperforms all frigates in the same tonnage class.
MEKO A-200 outperforms all frigates in the same tonnage class
TECHNICAL DATA
MAIN DIMENSIONS
Length o.a. (overall) 121 m/397 feet
Beam maximum 16.3 m/53.5 feet
Draught 4.4 m/14.4 feet
Displacement (approximately) 3,700 t
Speed maximum >29 knots/33.3 mph/53.7 km/h
Range 7,200 NM/8,285.6 miles/13,334.4 km
PROPULSION PLANT
CODAG WARP 2 × CPP + 1 × water jet
CODAG (COmbined Diesel And Gas) 2 × MTU 16V 1163 TB93
WARP 1 × GE (General Electric) LM 2500 GT
COMPLEMENT
Crew 100-120
Supernumerary 50
WEAPONS
127-mm or 76-mm Main Gun 1
30-mm or 40-mm Secondary Guns 2
12.7-mm or 20-mm Cannons 2
Surface to Surface Missiles 8
Surface to Air Missile VL Cells 32
ASW Torpedo Tubes 2
Sea Mines
AIRCRAFT
5 t helicopters 2
UAVs (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles) 2
SENSORS
S-Band Navigation 1
X-Band Navigation 1
Helicopter Control Radar 1
3D Surveillance/Targeting Radar 1
Fire Control Radars 2
Electro-Optical Tracker 1
Hull Mounted Sonar 1
Towed Array Sonar 1
Anti-Diver Sonar 1
ESM (Electronic Support Measures) System 1
COUNTERMEASURES
Torpedo Decoy Launchers 2
EM/IR Decoy Launchers 2
TB
