MEKO® A-200 Frigate
The MEKO® A-200 follows the famous MEKO® 200 series in a long line of general-purpose frigates. A fighting ship capable of full 4-dimensional warfare (AAW, ASW and ASuW, BCW), the 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, and humanitarian operations.
The 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 characterize frigates from thyssenkrupp Marine Systems. Fully proven with four units operational in the demanding Southern Ocean, additional units are now being built for the Mediterranean, demonstrating the worldwide operating flexibility of these versatile ships.
This frigate features the revolutionary CODAG-WARP (water jet and refined propellers) propulsion system: two CPP propeller shafts driven by cross-connectable diesel engines plus a center-line, gas turbine-driven water jet, combining the power of each drive in the water with no need for a combining gearbox. This arrangement allows for extremely quiet acoustic signatures, a high degree of propulsion redundancy, and damage survivability.
In the diesel-only mode this propulsion arrangement is also an extremely economic solution, as a single engine can drive both shafts for speeds of up to 18 knots. In other words, these frigates will spend most of their service lives running on just one engine.
Other outstanding features include the greatly reduced radar, IR, acoustic and magnetic signatures:
- Very low radar cross-section thanks to X-Form shell design, extensive bulwark screening of exposed equipment, flush-closing shell doors, and RCS-net screening of all shell openings
- Exceptionally low IR signatures through the lack of a funnel, all combustion engines exhausting horizontally on or below the waterline with active cooling, and a shell cooling system
- Ultra-quiet signatures thanks to small, light propellers and aft-sighting of propulsion machinery combined with a forefoot skeg
The outstanding sea-keeping and tactical mobility qualities are based on the fast mono-hull design featuring a forefoot skeg for greatly reduced yawing and directional stability in a seaway. The >16 m beam and active fin stabilizers for their part ensure platform stability so that helicopter and boat operations can be conducted in sea state 6. Moreover, the covered forecastle and high freeboard provide for additional buoyancy and reduced deck wetness and slamming to allow high speeds in heavy seas. With a tactical diameter of less than four ship lengths and a stopping distance from full speed of less than two lengths, the MEKO® A-200 outperforms all frigates in the same tonnage class.
Technical Data
Main dimensions
Length o.a.
121.0 m
Beam max.
16.3 m
Draught
4.4 m
Displacement (approx.)
3,700 t
Speed max.
>29 kn
Range
7,200 nm/16 kn
Propulsion plant
CODAG WARP
2 x CPP + 1 x water jet
CODAG (COmbined Diesel And Gas)
2 x MTU 16V 1163 TB93
WARP
1 x GE LM 2500 GT
Complement
Crew
100-120
Supernumerary
50
Weapons
127 or 76 mm Main Gun
1
30 - 40 mm Secondary Guns
2
12.7 - 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
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 System
1
Countermeasures
Torpedo Decoy Launchers
2
EM/IR Decoy Launchers
2
https://www.thyssenkrupp-marinesystems.com/en/meko(R)-a-200-frigate.html
