Tamandaré-class frigate

Artist's rendering of the future Tamandaré class
Class overview
NameTamandaré class
BuildersThyssenKrupp Marine Systems, Itajaí
OperatorsFuture operators
 Brazilian Navy
Cost 500 million per boat[1]
Built2022-present
In service2026[1]
Planned4
Building2
General characteristics
TypeGuided-missile frigate
Displacement3,360 t (3,310 long tons; 3,700 short tons)
Length107.2 m (351 ft 8 in)
Beam16 m (52 ft 6 in)
Draught5.2 m (17 ft 1 in)
Installed power
PropulsionCODAD configuration
Speed25.5 knots (47.2 km/h; 29.3 mph) maximum speed
Range5,000 nmi (9,300 km; 5,800 mi)
Complement130
Sensors and
processing systems
  • Combat management:
    • Embraer Atlas-ANCS
  • Integrated platform management:
    • Embraer L3 Mapps
  • Surveillance radar:
    • Hensoldt TRS-4D AESA
    • Raytheon X-band
  • Fire control system:
    • Thales STIR 1.2 EO Mk2
  • Sonar:
    • Atlas Elektronik ASO 713
  • Optronic system:
    • Safran PASEO XLR
Electronic warfare
& decoys
  • EW system:
    • Omnisys MAGE Defensor Mk3
  • Decoy launchers:
    • Terma C-Guard
Armament
  • Anti-air missiles:
    • VLS (12 cells): MBDA CAMM missiles (range 1–25+ km)
  • Anti-ship missiles:
  • Anti-submarine torpedoes:
    • 2 × triple 533 mm (21 in) SEA TLS-TT Mark 46 torpedo launchers
  • Guns:
Aircraft carried
NotesSources:[2][3][4][5][6][7][8]

The Tamandaré class are a class of future stealth guided-missile frigates for the Brazilian Navy, based on the MEKO family of ships. The project is being developed by the Ministry of Defence and the Águas Azuis consortium, composed of ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems (TKMS) and Embraer Defense & Security. The construction of the four planned frigates started in 2022 and are scheduled to be delivered between 2024 and 2028.[1][9]

History[edit]

The program called "Construction of the Naval Power Nucleus" was created in 2017 with the main purpose of replacing the Niterói-class frigates in operation since 1975 and the Type 22s acquired second-hand from the UK in the 1990s.[10][11]

Several companies from seventeen countries entered in the competition opened by the Ministry of Defence, offering different types of projects and offset packages.[12] On 16 May 2017, the list of all participating companies was released.[12]

On 15 October 2018, after more than a year of studies by the Directorate of Program Management of the Navy (DGePM) and the Naval Projects Management Company (EMGEPRON), the short-list of the finalist projects was released, the selected projects were:[13]

  • Águas Azuis consortium, composed of TKMS, Embraer Defense and Security, Atech and the Oceana shipyard, with a proposed MEKO A-100-class corvette, extended and rearmed;
  • Damen-Saab Tamandaré consortium composed of Damen Schelde, Saab AB, Consub Defense and Technology and the Wilson Sons shipyard, with the Sigma-class corvette;
  • FLV consortium with Fincantieri, Leonardo and Vard Promar shipyard, proposing a version of EMGEPRON's indigenous project;
  • Villegagnon consortium with Naval Group, Mectron and Enseada Indústria Naval shipyard, with Gowind-class corvette.

On 28 March 2019, the winning project was presented, the Águas Azuis consortium led by TKMS with a project of the 3,500-ton MEKO A-100-class corvette.[14] In April of the same year, the class was reassigned from corvette to frigate.[15]

The contract of 2 billion,[1] was signed between the Brazilian government and the winning consortium on 6 March 2020, with the start of construction of the first of the four frigates planned for 2021.[16] The Brazilian Navy plans to order two more class frigates, extending the total to six boats.[17]

In January 2021, TKMS confirmed the acquisition of the Oceana shipyard in Itajaí, becoming the company's first shipyard in Latin America, with the objective of building the new Brazilian frigates, and future sales to other navies in the region.[18] The construction of the first frigate, Tamandaré (F200) started on 5 September 2022,[19] with the second boat, Jerônimo de Albuquerque (F201), on 1 November 2023.[20] The first boat, Tamandaré, is planned to be launched on August 2024.[21]

Characteristics[edit]

The class was designed as multi-mission frigates, able to fulfill the anti-aircraft warfare role with surface-to-air missiles, anti-surface warfare with the Brazilian MANSUP missiles, and anti-submarine warfare. The combat management system (CMS) and the integrated platform management system (IPMS), designed by Atech, a subsidiary of Embraer, are a version derived from the Atlas ANCS and L3 Mapps, exclusively designed to meet the Brazilian requirements. Several of the technologies used in the design, construction and the systems of the class, are the result of technology transfer agreements signed between the Brazilian government and the winning consortium.[4][22]

Weapons, countermeasures, capabilities and sensors[edit]

Anti-air warfare[edit]

Anti-ship warfare (missiles)[edit]

Anti-submarine warfare[edit]

Guns[edit]

Optronic and fire control systems[edit]

  • Thales STIR 1.2 EO Mk2 fire control system[23]
  • Safran PASEO XLR optronic system[23]

Countermeasures and electronic systems[edit]

  • Omnisys MAGE Defensor Mk3 electronic warfare system[23]
  • Raytheon X-band navigation radar[23]
  • Terma C-Guard decoys[23]
  • Hensoldt Mode 5 identification friend or foe system[23]
  • SATCOM system[23]
  • Embraer version of Atlas ANCS combat management system[23]
  • Embraer version of L3 Mapps integrated platform management system[23]

UAVs[edit]

Ships[edit]

The names of the four boats were selected in 2014 to represent key people in the history of the Imperial Brazilian Navy:[11]

Name Hull Number Builder Laid Down Launched Commissioned Status
Tamandaré F200 ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems, Itajaí 24 March 2023[28] August 2024 (Planned)[21] 2026 Under construction; first steel cut 5 September 2022[19]
Jerônimo de Albuquerque F201 TBD TBD 2027 Under construction; first steel cut 1 November 2023[20]
Cunha Moreira F202 TBD TBD 2028 Awarded[1]
Mariz e Barros F203 TBD TBD 2029 Awarded[1]
TBC TBC Option[17]
TBC TBC Option[17]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e f "Marinha compra quatro fragatas por R$ 9,1 bilhões". UOL (in Portuguese). 4 March 2020.
  2. ^ "Brasil inicia construcción de fragatas clase Tamandaré". Pucara (in Spanish). 9 September 2022.
  3. ^ "Projeto Classe Tamandaré: Marinha do Brasil seleciona a melhor oferta". Poder Naval (in Portuguese). 28 March 2020.
  4. ^ a b "Fragatas Classe Tamandaré estão em fase avançada de configuração". Defesa Aerea e Naval (in Portuguese). 10 June 2021.
  5. ^ "Fragatas Classe Tamandaré estão em fase avançada de configuração". Defesa Aerea e Naval (in Portuguese). 10 June 2021.
  6. ^ "Brasil activa la unidad que desplegará los RPAS ScanEagle desde las fragatas Tamandaré". Infodefensa (in Spanish). 14 July 2022.
  7. ^ "Fragatas Classe Tamandaré estão em fase avançada de configuração". Defesa Aerea e Naval (in Portuguese). 10 June 2021.
  8. ^ "Classe Corveta Tamandaré - As corvetas podem virar fragatas". Defesa Net (in Portuguese). 10 January 2018.
  9. ^ "Batimento de quilha da Fragata 'Tamandaré' será em março de 2023". Defesa Aérea e Naval (in Portuguese). 11 September 2022.
  10. ^ "Projetos estratégicos da Marinha". Marinha do Brasil (in Portuguese).
  11. ^ a b "Segundo o site Alide, navios da classe Tamandaré já têm nome". Poder Naval (in Portuguese).
  12. ^ a b "Classe Tamandaré - Marinha do Brasil encerra a primeira etapa do projeto de obtenção". Defesa Net (in Portuguese). 16 May 2017.
  13. ^ "Marinha do Brasil divulga short-list do Projeto classe Tamandaré". Poder Naval (in Portuguese). 15 October 2018.
  14. ^ "Projeto Classe Tamandaré Marinha do Brasil seleciona a melhor oferta". Marinha do Brasil (in Portuguese). 28 March 2019.
  15. ^ "Corvetas classe Tamandaré serão redesignadas como Fragatas". Poder Naval (in Portuguese). 2 April 2019.
  16. ^ "Marinha realiza Cerimônia de Assinatura do Contrato de Construção das Fragatas Classe Tamandaré". Defesa Aérea e Naval (in Portuguese). 5 March 2020.
  17. ^ a b c "EXCLUSIVO: Marinha já planeja a quinta Tamandaré". Poder Naval (in Portuguese). 28 December 2019.
  18. ^ "Estaleiro responsável por construir as fragatas Classe Tamandaré agora é thyssenkrupp Estaleiro Brasil Sul". Defesa Aérea & Naval (in Portuguese). 12 January 2021.
  19. ^ a b "Brasil inicia construcción de fragatas clase Tamandaré". Pucará Defensa (in Spanish). 9 September 2022.
  20. ^ a b Storto, Margarete (1 November 2023). "Programa Fragatas Classe Tamandaré: primeiro corte de aço marca início da construção da segunda fragata". TKMS (in Portuguese). Retrieved 1 November 2023.
  21. ^ a b "La primer fragata Tamandaré de la Marina de Brasil será botada durante el próximo mes de agosto". Zona Militar (in Spanish). 9 March 2024.
  22. ^ [1]
  23. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r "Fragatas Classe Tamandaré estão em fase avançada de configuração". Defesa Aerea e Naval (in Portuguese). 10 June 2021.
  24. ^ "Helicóptero Multi-Missão H225M: Um Marco na História pela Soberania do Brasil". Defesa Aerea e Naval. 19 November 2022.
  25. ^ "Proposed Purchase of MK 54 Torpedoes by Brazil Approved". U.S. Embassy and Consulates in Brazil. 2 December 2019.
  26. ^ "Brazil - Mk 54 Lightweight Torpedoes". DSCA. 2 December 2019.
  27. ^ "Brasil activa la unidad que desplegará los RPAS ScanEagle desde las fragatas Tamandaré". Infodefensa (in Spanish). 14 July 2022.
  28. ^ "Inovação na construção naval militar no País marca Batimento de Quilha da Fragata Tamandaré" (PDF). Marinha do Brasil (in Portuguese). 24 March 2023.

External links[edit]