Chile ready to finalise frigate acquisitions

[Zarvan]

The Chilean Navy is set to finalise the procurement of two Adelaide-class frigates by the end of May.

HMAS Melbourne and HMAS Newcastle , built in Australia in the early 1990s, would be acquired as a stop-gap measure to replace two of three Dutch- and British-built frigates currently in service in Chile.

Melbourne and Newcastle underwent an extensive upgrade during the last decade, being fitted with new combat management systems and anti-aircraft, anti-submarine warfare, and anti-surface vessel systems. They can launch both RIM-66 Standard (SM-2MR) medium-range surface-to-air missiles and RIM-162 ESSM missiles for long- and medium-range air defence, as well as RGM-84 Harpoon anti-ship missiles.






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https://www.janes.com/article/88772/chile-ready-to-finalise-frigate-acquisitions

 

[Gryphon]

These are upgraded Perry class frigates, wonder if the PN ever made any efforts to acquire HMAS Melbourne and HMAS Newcastle.

 

[Bilal Khan (Quwa)]

These are upgraded Perry class frigates, wonder if the PN ever made any efforts to acquire HMAS Melbourne and HMAS Newcastle.

Though new ships are coming, it's curious the PN didn't even approach China for old Type 053H3s or H2s as stopgaps until the 054A and MILGEM.

 

[Gryphon]

Though new ships are coming, it's curious the PN didn't even approach China for old Type 053H3s or H2s as stopgaps until the 054A and MILGEM.

Early Type 053H3's have exhausted half of their life, and come with questionable AAW capability & radar/sensor suite just like the F-22P (Recall the PN selected a German sonar over Chinese).

If they are acquired, PN has to dole out more dollars for their MLU and these are going to serve only 10-15 years more. In comparison, F-22P's are newer hulls and if MLU'ed will serve an extra 10 years.

A Damen OPV, with indigenous Harbah and Phalanx from one of the retiring Type 21s, offers more value for money. Add sonar and Plessey STWS-1 from Type 21s and you have ASW capability as well - that is going to last 30-40 years.