New Venezuelan Frigates

[rickusn]

Am told Venezuela has ordered four new frigates from Izar on January 25th.

I received a picture of the ship by e-mail but it wont paste here.

Will fwd on request. Leave e-mail address in my private message box.

Looks to have a version of the U.S. SPY/AEGIS syytem with two illuminators.
Helo hanger.
RAM
127mm gun
some type of VLS ?

Have requested details/confirmation.

It had been known something was in the works for the last five years or more but first news Ive heard that a decision had been made.

Anyone know more on this?

[rickusn]

New Corvettes for Venezuela
By Antoni Casinos
Barcelona February 20, 2005 - Venezuela will buy four corvettes from the Izar Shipyard in a contract valued between 600 & 800 million EUROs. The corvettes are believed to have the following specifications:
Length overall 102.0 m, Maximum breadth 14.0 m, Depth to the main deck 7.0 m, Full load displacement 2,600 t, Draught 3.75 m, Maximum speed + 27 kn., Cruise speed 15 kn., Cruising speed range 4000 NM, Supplies 30 days, Crew 62 persons, Helicopter staff 8 persons, Margin 10 persons

This contract was closed with the discreet visit that Spanish Minister of Defense Jose Bono made 25 January to Caracas.
In addition to the corvette order, six C-295 cargo planes made by the Spanish branch of European partnership EADS. This second contract is valued at 150 million EUROs.

[Orcaborealis]

From these specs I guess it is the so called Aegis corvette with SPY-1K radar?
If so, AFCON have got another sale.

At 2600 tons it's more like a light frigate, in my mind.
Corvette might be more "politically correct", although I am not sure how this works in Venezuela.

I wonder what helo they will use?


Regards
Orca

[rickusn]

They are approx. the same size as the Itaian-built LUPO frigates they now operate.

The drawing I have lead me to believe they were larger.

Maybe the radar isnt SPY because I dont think even the "K" would fit on so small a ship.

As for helos: I think they will continue to operate the AB 212's they have now.

[Orcaborealis]

Maybe the radar isnt SPY because I dont think even the "K" would fit on so small a ship.

I checked the AFCON webpage, and the AEGIS corvette is exactly this size - 2600 tons, 103m long.
Off course, they might still have opted for a different radar/ CMS, but my money still is on the SPY-1K if this sale actually is a done deal.

- SPY-1K (1.65m, 912 elements) is smaller than
- SPY-1F (2.44m, 1856 elements), which is smaller than
- SPY-1D (3.65m, ca 4300 elements).

Still, AFCON claims the SPY-1K can support the SM-2MR.

This really tells something about how big and powerfull the SPY-1D radar is!


Regards
Orca

[Orcaborealis]

Here is a link providing a lot of information about the so called Aegis corvette from AFCON:

Click here


Regards
Orca

[Orcaborealis]

From AFCON

Here is a link providing a lot of information about the so called Aegis corvette from AFCON:

Click here


Regards,
Orca

[rickusn]

Thanks for the info and the links.