Originally Posted by vader4902

Hi!

Well, several reasons:

-Age/obsolence:
the OHPs that were supposed to come to Portugal were the FFG-12 and the FFG-14, the last 2 of the "short-hull" type.
They joined the USN in the early 80s and were decommisioned in 2003 being mouthballed since then in Bremerton, WA.
The 2 KDs are from 1993 and 1994(more than 10 years younger), are still in service with the Dutch Navy.
The transfer to Portugal will be a so-called "hot-transfer" as oposed to the OHPs which would be a "cold-transfer"
The Van Nes will still serve the Dutch Navy until end of 2007, then will be decommissioned from dutch service, will go for maintenance and service, shake-down and immediate transfer to Portugal. Same will happen with the Van Galen 11 monthes later.

-Cost:
the amount of money spent on 2 modern frigates like the KD (240 million Euro) would be more or less the same necessary to reactive both Perrys (US would sell them both by 80 million Euro, but then and aditional 160 million euro would have to be spent reactivating both)

Compability with current MEKO 200 Portuguese frigates (Vasco da Gama class):
Many of the sistems in terms of sensors , radars, and armament are similar, making it easier for cinergy.
Diference in armament is the CIWS (goakeeper in KD vs. Phalanx in VdG) and the gun (76mm in KD vs. creusot-loire 100mm in VdG), but Portuguese Navy personnel already trained for the 76mm (similar gun in the Perrys)

Maintenance/Repairs/Upgrades:
Belgium also bought 2 frigates of this type , Netherlands still has 2 (the remainder 2 were sold to Chile). Portugal, Belgium and the netherlands signed a joint agreement in terms of maintenace and upgrades.
If Portugal had gonne for the Perrys would be dependent of Spain (always a "tricky relationship") , sole european user of Perry frigates (Class F-80, Santa Maria)
Also the aomunt of spares for the OHPs is decrasing has the ships are being decommisioned from the USN, maintenance of the Mk-13 SM-1 AAM launcher is getting difficult , since the US Perry's are having their laucher removed.

In general terms the sole advantage for the Perrys would have been that they are dedicated more to AAW , and the KDs are multi-purpose warships, but the SM-1 sistem is becoming obsolete and most likely there would be no funds for an eventual upgrade.

Eventually the KDs can be upgraded to ESSM.

Also the investment in a plantform with 25 years might not be so justifiable has in 1 plantform with 10 years less.

Still to know is wherether the Portuguese Navy will acquire any additional helis (Lynx?) for the 2 KDs

Ideal would be at least 8 units (but we only have 5)

VdG can carry 2 Helis, but the KDs can only carry one (they were designed originally for the NH-90)