Horizon class frigate
Encyclopedia : H : HO : HOR : Horizon class frigate
| Career |
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|---|---|
| Displacement: | 5600 tons (6635 tons full load) |
| Length: | 152,87 m |
| Beam: | 20,3 m |
| Draught: | 5,4 m |
| Propulsion: |
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| Speed: | 29 knots (18 on diesel) |
| Range: | 7000 nm at 18 knts, 3500 nm at 25 knots |
| Complement: |
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| Armament: |
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| Planes | 1 NH90 helicopter (radar ENR, sonar Flash, LADT 11, Marte missiles or MU90 Impact torpedoes) |
History
France, Italy and the UK issued a joint requirement in 1992 after the failure of the NATO Frigate Replacement (NFR-90) project. The resulting CNGF program consisted of the Horizon frigate and its Principal Anti Air Missile System (PAAMS).Problems emerged almost immediately: the primary problem was that of differing requirements: France wanted Anti-Air Warfare (AAW) escorts for its aircraft carriers, but only a limited range was necessary due to the self-defence capability of the Charles De Gaulle. Italy too required only close range capabilities, as in its home waters of the Mediterranean Sea the ships would operate under Italian Air Force cover. The Royal Navy, however, required more capable ships which could throw a large defensive "bubble" over a fleet operating in hostile areas. The compromise which largely solved this problem was the adoption of a standard radar interface which allowed France and Italy to install the EMPAR multi-function radar and the UK to install the more capable SAMPSON radar.
1995 saw the establishment of an International Joint Venture Company (IJVC) compromising the national prime contractors, DCN (France,) GEC-Marconi (UK) and Orizzonte (Italy). In the period 1995-1996 significant arguments, changing requirements and technological problems led to the slippage of the in-service-date of the frigates to around 2006.
In early 1997 a disagreement emerged as to the choice of Vertical Launch System (VLS) for the PAAMS' MBDA Aster missiles. France and Italy favored the European SYLVER launcher, while the UK was leaning toward the American Mk 41 - capable of firing the Tomahawk Land Attack Missile. This issue was eventually resolved when the SYLVER launcher was selected by the PAAMS development team.
UK withdrawal
In 1999, with the overall programme in difficulties and the Horizon frigate itself effectively stalled, the UK announced that it was withdrawing from the CNGF project to pursue its own national design. Summing up the changes from the original specification the UK's Chief of Defence Procurement is reported to have said "it's not common and it's not a frigate!". The resulting Type 45 destroyer will be armed with the PAAMS missile system and has benefited from investment in the Horizon project. A major sticking point was the disproportionate control the French had over the project compared to their actual ship requirements (2 or 4 compared to up to 12 for the Royal Navy). With the recent French decision to join the British CVF program, the UK has left them absolutely no role in the decision making process so as to avoid the problems encountered in the Horizon project.France and Italy have continued their collaboration under the Horizon project, ordering two ships each which will also deploy the PAAMS missile system. The first ship of the series, the French Forbin, was launched on March the 10th 2005.
The French Navy has already ordered two units (Forbin and Chevalier Paul, it plans to order two other units around 2007.
The Marina Militare also ordered two units, Andrea Doria and Caio Duilio, to replace Audace and Ardito.
France and Italy have launched a new generation of multimission ships, the FREMM multipurpose frigates, using the same company structure as the Horizon project.
See also
External links
- () [Frégates type Horizon] - Marine Nationale link to PDF file with specifications and pictures including construction
- () [Programma Orizzonte] - Marina Militare specifications and pictures
Photographs
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