Nakhoda Ragam Class Corvettes for the Pakistan Navy - A Proposition

[Penguin]

I am personally not in favour of these boats because in the same price we can get something new with attack anti ship missiles.At the moment era is coveting in to stealth technology.We should go for latest technology.Our recent purchase of Azmat class FAC is cool decision.If we go for milgem class corvette will be great decision.

Secondly, I am doubtful it would be carrying long range anti ship missile such as C-803.

It has 2x4 Exocet MM40 Block II missile launcher.
Block II (rocket powered) Exocets can be converted into Block III (air breathing jet powered) Exocets, which have arange of 180km, compared to about 75 for the original.

 

[Penguin]

Agree, F22p cost us 175 Million $. and new Type 54A will cost us around 250 Million $It must be mistake in quoting price of these corvettes.

You need to know what's included in that price e.g. munitions, spares, maintenance services, training etc.

 

[Aamir Hussain]

Furthermore, it seems to have a respectable air defence suit which I beleive is lacking in the OPV's/Missile craft being built by PN in Paksitan and China.

The only weak link is the lack of helo capability otherwise the three NR Corvettes seems to be a sound investment if we can negotitate the cost downwards.

 

[Penguin]

You need to know what's included in that price e.g. munitions, spares, maintenance services, training etc.

"BAE has never disclosed the financial terms of the contract but industry analysts estimate that each ship would be worth well in excess of £200m, making the total contract worth over £600m"
Merged: Brunei's Nakhoda Ragam OPVs - from court case to sale

 

[Penguin]

"BAE has never disclosed the financial terms of the contract but industry analysts estimate that each ship would be worth well in excess of £200m, making the total contract worth over £600m"
Merged: Brunei's Nakhoda Ragam OPVs - from court case to sale

Lekiu class - the high profile frigate
Article Abstract:

Yarrow Shipbuilders Ltd of Glasgow, Scotland, is the primary contractor and builder of two frigates that is soon to be commissioned by the Royal Malaysian Navy. The company, which started working on the RM1.8 bil fixed-price contract for the Lekiu class frigates in 1993, has already completed building the ships and is now conducting sea trials. The only remaining work to be accomplished prior to delivery will be the installation of the ships' Nautis combat management systems.

Publisher: N & A Military Publishing Services
Publication Name: Naval Forces
Subject: Military and naval science
ISSN: 0722-8880
Year: 1997

Read more: Lekiu class - the high profile frigate. Laksamana class corvettes. South Africa considering extra corvettes

The Malaysian Lekius are a larger hangar equipped version of the F2000 that is also the basis for the Nakhoda Ragam class

1.8 billion RM = 0.57 billoin USD for 2 ships i.e. 285 million USD per vessel
Convert Malaysian Ringgit (MYR) and United States Dollars (USD): Currency Exchange Rate Conversion Calculator (nb today's exchange rate. in 1997 USD was perhaps stronger relative to Malaysia's RM than it is today, I don 't know, but if so that would lower the USD price)

In the Brunei case, the contract was awarded to GEC-Marconi in 1995. That's just 2 years after the order bij Malaysia for the Lekiu's. So, I can't imagine why the smaller, but otherwise similarly equipped Brunei ships would be 'well over' 300 million USD each. The only thing I can think of that could make some difference is a diffference in the degree/level of automation (i.e. crew reduction > 79 p core) if this was at the customers' discretion.

CHARACTERISTICS Nakhoda Ragam (Lekiu, when different)

GENERAL
Type: F2000 Corvette (Light Frigate)
Displacement: 1,940 tonnes (2.270 tonnes)
Length o.a.: 95 m (106 m)
Length w.l.: 89.9 m (97.5 m)
Beam: 12.8 m
Draught: 3.6 m
Propulsion: CODAD 4x MAN B&W/Ruston diesel, total 30.2 MW on 2 shafts (4x MTU 20V 1163 TB93 diesel, total 24.5 MW)
Top Speed: 30 knots (28 knots)
Range: 5,000 nautical miles at 12 knots
Complement: 79+24spare=103 (146)

ARMAMENT:
2x4 MBDA (Aerospatiale) Exocet MM40 Block II missile launcher, Mach 0.9 to 70km.
16x MBDA (BAE Systems) Seawolf VL surface-to-air missile, Mach 2.5 to 11km.
1x Oto Melara 76mm gun, 110 rpm to 16-20km. (1x Bofors 57mm gun, 220 rpm to 17km)
2 x MSI Defence DS 30B REMSIG 30mm guns, 650 rpm to 10km
2 x triple BAE Systems 324mm torpedo tubes. (2x triple Whithead 324mm torpedo tubes)
Aviation facilities: SH-60 capable 285m² flightdeck, no hangar, no organic heli (dito 310m² flightdeck, with hangar, organic SuperLynx 300)

EW EQUIPMENT
ESM: Thales Sensors Cutlass 242 (BAE Systems Mentor-A )
ECM: Scorpion radar jammer (Thales Defence Scimitar)
Chaff/flares/Decoy launchers: 2x Wallop Defence Super Barricade
Torpedo decoy: none (BAE Systems Sea Siren towed torpedo decoy).

MAIN SENSORS
Air & Surface Search: BAE Systems AWS-9 3D E/F-band radar. (Signaal / Thales Netherlands DA08 E/F-band radar)
Surface search: Thales Nederland Scout LPI radar. (Ericsson / Saab Microwave Systems Sea Giraffe, G/H-band radar)
Navigation: Kelvin Hughes Type 1007 radar. (Thales Defence I-band)
Thales Underwater Systems TMS 4130C1 hull-mounted sonar. (dito TSM 2633 LF Spherion hull-mounted sonar)

WEAPONS CONTROL:
2x BAE Systems 1802SW I/J-band radar trackers.
1x Radamec 2500 electro-optic weapons director with laser rf, TV and thermal imager (Radamec Series 2000 optronic weapon director, additional BAE SYstems Type V 3001 thermal imager).

PROCESSING SYSTEMS
Alenia Marconi / BAE systems Nautis II command and weapons control system (Nautis F combat data system)

 

[Penguin]

Nakhoda Ragam class

---------- Post added at 04:17 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:16 PM ----------

Lekiu class

 

[Cool_Soldier]

PN should try for stealthy boats and frigates.I think we are already on the way to get such pieces.

 

[SeaToby]

The problem the British have selling these three Brunei corvettes is they don't have the range of an OPV. Most navies wishing to buy a ship this size want an OPV with range and economical diesels, not a short range fast corvette. Otherwise these ships would have sold by now after eleven years.

Their lack of a helicopter hangar doesn't help to sell them either. Although the ship are very well armed otherwise, maybe a bit too much for an OPV.

The ideal buyer would be a small oil producing nation, such as Brunei or Algeria. Brunei doesn't have the support infrastructure for gas turbines, therefore the cancellation. Algeria chose to buy a larger, better frigate.

Malaysia, the Philippines, Iraq, and even Pakistan would love to get a good deal for these ships. But their lack of range and a hangar kills the deals.

Pretty much the same respective from a Pakistan point of view. No hangar and short range despite being well armed otherwise.

I believe Iraq or another Persian Gulf oil state would make a good buyer for these ships eventually. Especially if Iran ever closes the Straits of Hormuz...

 

[AZADPAKISTAN2009]

Well if all three were up for grab for 300 Million I would have hoped we take these these could be good as a "Introductory" Sailor boats and most of coast guard or Patrol role perhaps could be great to tag along our F22P Frigates in missions in formation

Not a bad consideration but I think we should pay 150 Million for all 3 ships

With all the Piracy in Gulf waters, perhaps we should not send in F22P by itself

1 F22P and 2 of these smaller boats would be great team to send in international waters

 

[Aamir Hussain]

You must be joking AP2009. When one does not have enough money to take care of basic needs of our navy -- we should not indulge in over equipped training vessels (3)!!!

Be realistic and try not to jump on each and everythnig that comes out new or up for sale.

 

[acetophenol]

Since these boats are basically british,they may be sanction prone

 

[Aamir Hussain]

I think Sea Toby has said it all in his analysis of the boats.

I do not think that we had such a major problems with sanctions from UK. Low key sales of equipment were going on even during difficult times. Even in the case of US, we were supporting the F-16 through other means. Having said this -- the fact does come into play when deciding on procuring large weapon systems.

 

[AZADPAKISTAN2009]

I think , for a fast purchase , its worth while to purchase these ships because otherwise these ship will take 2-3 years to build

Such a low sum , is a good idea for Pakistan few Patrol ships , and support ship to F22P frigates

Would look fantastic , 1 F22P and 3 escorts of these smaller ships

Price is a bit high but if all three can be bought for 150-200 mil why not

Other possible usage would be perhaps patrols across Pakistani coastal areas for drug trafficking and potential smuggling

 

[Imran Khan]

lolz man stop it we can make our own as we make 2 already Jalalat II class

 

[AZADPAKISTAN2009]

lolz man stop it we can make our own as we make 2 already Jalalat II class

The Jalalat class looks tiny compared the ones being sold ... 25% of the ones on sale big difference

The ones being sold are almost like a frigate , just missing the helicopter landing areas could be useful