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PFG - NEWCON Frigates

By the late 1990s discussions were bening held in Chile on the best way to expand the Fleet. The Chilean Navy had stated a need for 8 of those frigates to be starting service early next century. They should replace the current main combatants of the Chilean Navy. The program was opened to international participation. Local construction of the next frigates was a stated whish of the Navy, but the budget restrictions made the cheap offers of used ships quite attractive. The Type 22 Batch II HMS Beaver and Brave and the Italian DDH Vittorio Veneto were talked about as possible future acquisitions. Within a few years Chile had acquired one Type 22 and three Type 23 frigates from the Royal Navy, and a pair each of Type L and Type M frigates from the Netherlands.

By 2020 the Navy maintained the number of units in the Squad at 8, which is made up of 3 class 23, 1 class 22-2 (these four are British-built), 2 class M and the two Adelaide class. The replacement of the remaining units had not yet been defined, although it was estimated that it would not be before the end of the 2020s, ideally in principle with newly built units, which could extend the renovation process well into the 2030s. Only the frigate "Admiral Williams" (class 22-2) could be replaced earlier, although this has yet to be determined.

Prior to these acquisitions, the design process for a new class of frigates to be locally built had started with the help of Fincantieri of Italy. The Chilean Navy had stated that they are searching for partners in Latin America for this program which may become the first joint naval design and building program in the region. Chile obviously sees itself has the natural leader of such a design given its strong naval tradition. After 2025 Chile would once again be faced with the need for new frigates, possibly locally built, for delivery by around the year 2030.