The La Fayette-class frigates (FL-3800 for "Frégate Légère de 3,800 tonnes", "3,800-tonnes light frigates", or "FLF" or Frégate Légère Furtive", "Light Stealth Frigate") are light multi-mission frigates built by DCNS and operated by French Marine Nationale. Derivatives of the type are in service in Arabia and the Republic of China.
These frigates were referred to as "stealth" frigates. Their reduced radar cross section is achieved by a very clean superstructure compared to conventional designs, angled sides and radar absorbent material, a composite material of wood and glass fiber as hard as steel, light, and resistant to fire. Most modern fighting ships built around the world since the introduction of the La Fayette have followed the same principles of stealth.
All information gathered by the onboard sensors is managed by the Information Processing System, the electronic brain of the operation centre of the ship. It is completed by an electronic command aid system.
The La Fayette-class also has weapons such as the Aster 15 AAMs. The ships are designed to accommodate a 10 tonne helicopter in the Panther or NH90 range (though they are also capable of operating the Super Frelon and similar heavy helicopters). These helicopters can carry anti-ship AM39 or AS15 missiles, and can be launched during sea state 5 or 6 due to the Samahé helicopter handling system. France ordered six ships of the La Fayette-class in 1988, the last of which entered service in 2002.
Specifications[]
- Type: Stealth Frigate
- Service Period: 1996-Present
- Characteristics:
- Length: 440 feet (134.11 meters)
- Beam: 56 feet (17.07 meters)
- Draft: 16 feet (4.88 meters)
- Displacement: 4,160 tons (Standard); 4,670 tons (Full Load)
- Crew: 141
- Endurance: 50 days of food
- Propulsion: 4 x SEMT Pielstick 12PA6V280 STC2 diesel engines, 21,000 hp (15,400 kW)
- Range: 7,000 nautical miles (12,964 kilometers) at 15 knots (27.78 km/h)
- Speed: 27 knots
- Sensor Suite:
- 1 x DRBV 15C Air/Surface sentry RDF
- 1 × Fire Control RDF for the 100mm gun
- 1 × DRBN34 navigation RDF
- 1 × DRBN34 landing RDF
- Countermeasures:
- 1 × Saïgon ARBG 1 radio interceptor
- 1 × ARBR 21 RDF interceptor
- 2 × Dagaie Mk2 chaff launcher
- 1 × AN/SLQ-25 Nixie tugged noise maker
- 1 × Prairie-Masker noise reduction system
- 1 × Syracuse II
- 1 × Inmarsat
- Armament:
- 1 x 100mm/55-caliber Modele 1968-II naval gun
- 1 x 32-cell VLS (fires Aster 15 and Aster 30 AAMs)
- 1 × Crotale CN2 launcher (8 missiles on the launcher with 16 reloads)
- 8 x MM40 Exocet anti-ship missiles
- 2 × 20mm/90-caliber GIAT M693 CN-MIT-20F2 autocannons
- Aircraft Carried: 1 x helicopter (Eurocopter Panther or NHIndustries NH90)
- Boats Carried: 2 x ETN boats
Unit Run[]
France[]
- MN La Fayette (F710)
- MN Surcouf (F711)
- MN Courbet (F712)
- MN Aconit (F713)
- MN Guépratte (F714)
- MN Jauréguiberry (F715)
Arabia[]
- Al Riyadh
- Makkah
- Al Damman