La Fayette
La Fayette-class frigates are the world's first operational warship designed from the keel up for stealth and survivability. These multimission vessels feature a modular design that can be readily adapted to the specific requirements of each client navy. Fourteen units have been ordered by France, Taiwan and Saudi Arabia. A number are already in service, the remainder under construction.
La Fayette-class frigates are designed to offer a decisive advantage when facing modern-day threats in hostile environ-ments. Features include: unique stealth design, excellent endurance, full provision for heavy shipboard helicopter, enhanced survivability, modular construction, and a powerful combat system.
Fourteen units have been ordered by France, Saudi Arabia and Taiwan. Eleven are at sea and three are under construction. Designed to operate with multinational task forces, La Fayette-class frigates give new meaning to the word "multipurpose". Saudi Arabia has chosen a multipurpose extended AAW version and Taiwan a multipurpose ASW version.
Unique design features make La Fayette-class frigates the stealthiest warships in service. Low observables (radar, sonar, IR, magnetic) allow them to elude hostile units while greatly improving the effectiveness of onboard jammers and decoys.
Multipurpose La Fayette-class frigate systems include: 2D medium-range radar, 8 SSMs, medium-range SAMs, and 4-ton helicopter (subsequently a 10-ton NH 90). Bravo (La Fayette- class) asw frigate systems include: bow sonar, towed-array sonar, shipborne and airborne torpedoes, and Seahawk helicopter. Sawari II (La Fayette- class) aaw frigate systems include: 32 Aster 15/30 missiles, Arabel 3D multifunction radar, and 2D long-range radar.
La Fayette-class frigates push survivability to new heights. State-of-the-art technologies help ensure the vessel remains combat capable even after a direct hit or underwater explosion. All essential systems incorporate both redundant and distributed elements. Redundancy, high-quality materials and the judicious use of armour plate ensure the survivability of the propulsion systems. Reinforced side passageways serve as crew safe havens while protecting equipment against splinters and small-calibre shells.
To accelerate construction and integration while at the same time improving flexibility and maintainability, La Fayette-class frigates are assembled from pre-outfitted hull blocks. All items making up each major system are housed in a single block or module, facilitating both transportation and maintenance.
In addition to simplifying upgrading, this level of modularity allows customers to choose propulsion options (CODAD or CODOG) and combat systems suiting their precise needs. Other benefits include improved coordination of multiple industrial partners and higher productivity.
La Fayette-class frigates can be safely operated by a reduced crew. All combat and platform systems are managed through integrated computer-based systems offering high-level automation. In automatic AAW mode, even the combat system requires only minimal supervision.
The computer-controlled fin-and-rudder stabilization system keeps the flight deck operational, for 10-ton class helicopters, up to sea state 6. Stabilization also greatly improves the effectiveness of all combat systems.
The ship's surface to surface missile is the Aerospatiale Exocet MM40. Two quadruple missile launchers are installed in a midship position between the two masts, one facing port and one facing starboard. The ship's surface-to-air missile system is the Crotale Naval CN2. The system employs the VT-1 missile with a range of 13 kilometres and speed of 1.19 kilometres per second (Mach 3.6). The guidance is by command line of sight with radar and infra-red homing. The 14 kilogram high explosive warhead is detonated by a proximity fuse. 24 missiles are carried. The frigates may be upgraded with the vertical launch system (VLS) and Aster 15 missile from Eurosam and the associated Thomson-CSF Arabel fire control radar. 16 missiles are carried.
The ship's main gun on the bow deck is the DCN 100 mm which fires a 13.5 kilogram shell to a maximum range of 16 kilometres. The gun is capable of a sustained firing rate of 80 rounds per minute. Two Giat 20 millimetre Model 20F2 guns are installed, one port and one on the starboard side about 5 metres aft of the bridge. The guns are capable of firing 720 rounds per minute to a maximum range of 10 kilometres. The frigate has a flight deck, approximately 430 square metres, at the stern with a single landing spot, designed for day and night use by 10 ton helicopters such as the AS 565 MA Panther, the SA 321G Super Frelon or NH 90. The flight deck can be used in high sea states up to sea-state 6. The La Fayette class frigates are of high tensile steel construction with a double skin hull from the waterline to the upper deck level. One centimetre armour plate is installed to protect the propulsion systems and reinforced side passageways protect the crew and equipment against splinters and small-calibre shells.
The La Fayette class incorporates a number of stealth features to ensure low detectability by hostile radar, sonar, infrared and magnetic sensors and to enhance the effectiveness of on board jammers and decoys. The sides of the vessel are sloped at 10 degrees to minimise the radar cross section. Surfaces have been coated in radar absorbent paint and the profiles of external features including missile launching systems have been reduced as far as possible. The propulsion system for the French Navy La Fayette is configured as a combined diesel and diesel (CODAD) arrangement. The CODAD system is based on four SEMT Pielstick 12 PA6 V 280 STC diesel engines. The engines are rated at 21,000 sustained horsepower. Two shafts drive controllable pitch propellers. The ship is fitted with a bow thruster. The CODAD propulsion system provides a maximum speed of 25 and, at an economical speed of 12 knots, the range is 9,000 nautical miles. The ships complement is 164.
"ACONIT" is the fourth of the "LA FAYETTE" stealth frigate class. She was inducted in the French Navy in 1999. Her complement is 15 officers, 85 petty officers and 53 sailors. Three sister ships have been ordered for the "Royal Saudi Naval Forces".
