Both of ANZAC's frigates are currently over in Canada getting an extensive midlife upgrade. So what are the upgrades our frigates are actually getting?
Yes both, there was a delay with HMNZS Te Kaha, due to a mix up with cables, however this has been rectified and Te Kaha is on track to be back home November/December 2020 and HMNZS Te Mana is still on track to be delivered back on the original schedule.
First off let's look back and see what our frigates already had and could do. Our ANZAC's are classed as a multi-role frigate meaning they can fit in anywhere as part of the fleet, from air support to ASW to fleet support. However, the frigates were built in the late 1990s and based on late 1980's designs. So they are getting on in age. HMNZS Te Kaha was laid down in 1994 and launched in 1995 commissioned in 1997. So from commission date to now (time of article), she is 22 years old. The tech on board is old and outdated. The wear and tear means the are getting harder to maintain.
Due to this, most navies have maintenance schedules and mid-life refits, etc and the RNZN is no different. The problem is since when are now down to only two frigates it makes it very difficult to have a decent refit period because you run the risk of the 2nd frigate needing some maintenance and therefore have no frigates on standby.
Below are their current stats;
Displacement:
3,600 tonnes full load
Length:
118 m (387 ft)
Beam:
15 m (49 ft)
Draught:
4 m (13 ft)
Propulsion:
1 × General Electric LM2500+ gas turbine providing 30,000 hp (22.5 mW)
2 × MTU 12V1163 TB83 diesel engines providing 8,840 hp (6.5 mW)
two shafts with controllable pitch propellers in CODOG configuration
Speed:
27 knots (50 km/h; 31 mph)
Range:
6,000 nautical miles (11,000 km; 6,900 mi) at 18 knots (33 km/h; 21 mph)
Complement:
178 Officers and ratings (25 Officers, 153 ratings)
Sensors and processing systems:
Sonars: Thomson Sintra Spherion B Mod 5; hull-mounted; active search and attack; medium frequency. Provision for towed array
Air search radar: Raytheon AN/SPS-49(V)8 ANZ (C/D-band)
Surface search radar: CelsiusTech 9LV 453 TIR (Ericsson Tx/Rx) (G-band)
Countermeasures: Decoys: G & D Aircraft SRBOC Mk 36 Mod 1 decoy launchers for SRBOC
Armament:
Guns and missiles:
1 × 5 in/54 (127 mm) Mk 45 Mod 2 gun,
1 × Phalanx CIWS,
6 × M2 .50 Cal Browning machine guns
2 x M2 .50 Cal Browning machine guns Mini Typhoon
8 × Mk 41 Mod 5 VLS for Sea Sparrow.
AGM-119 Mk 2 Mod 7 Penguin Missile launched from SH-2G(I) Super Seasprite.
Torpedoes:
2 × triple 324 mm Mk 32 Mod 5 tubes or launched from SH-2G(I) Super Seasprite.
Fire control:
CelsiusTech 9LV 453 (J-band)
Toplite EO-Sensor for the mini typhoons
Combat data systems:
CelsiusTech 9LV 453 Mk 3.Link 11
Weapons control:
CelsiusTech 9LV 453 optronic director with Raytheon CW Mk 73 Mod 1
Aircraft carried:
One Kaman SH-2G(I) Super Seasprite helicopter
Upgrades
These upgrades are the final phase of the upgrades that have been ongoing, they have already had the engines, ventilation and various other systems upgraded over the years. They are now getting Sensors and weapons upgrades.
Sensors and processing systems:
Sonars: Upgraded Spherion B (BSAPS) hull-mounted sonar active search and attack; medium frequency. Provision for towed array.
TUUM-6 multi-channel Digital Underwater Communication System (DUWCS)
