Budget cuts in European Navies

[contedicavour]

I was under the impression when the last two Mk13 SM-1MR equipped destroyers were paid off, France would order two more Horizon destroyers. I cannot imagine a second aircraft carrier without another two Forbins for escorts. France may be able to configure another smaller AWD design from the new frigates, much like they did before. But this design will not be able to carry the number of missiles the Forbins do.

It appears the United Kingdom is rethinking its fleet too. They have been stuck at 6 Darings for a long while now. While I doubt whether any of their new frigates will be designed as smaller AWDs, the bulk of the new frigates will have general purpose capabilities. For economic reasons, it might not be a bad idea to configure a few of these for air warfare duties.

No more Horizons (Forbin/Doria) will be built beyond the current 2 for each Navy. However let's not forget the FREMMs are only marginally smaller than the Horizons (6,000 tonns vs 7,800, 140 meters vs 153), and can take the same 48-cell VLS Sylver A43/50/70 that the Horizons have. Maximum number of VLS cells in theory would be 64 on the Horizons (but only 48 will be installed so far) and 48 on FREMMs (but only 32 will be installed).
Radar-wise, the Italian FREMMs carry the same EMPAR of the Horizons. What the FREMMs lack is the S-1850 long range air search radar, tough the latest RAN40L has more than 2/3 the range of the S-1850. French FREMMs are a bit handicapped by the choice of the Herakles instead of EMPAR (much shorter range & n° of targets that can be tracked).
Hence all that it takes to add area defence assets to the 4 existing Horizons is 4 FREMMs with EMPAR and Sylver 50/70 to launch Aster 30s. The French just need to change the radar on some of their planned ships, and we need to confirm presence of Sylver 50 or 70 (vs the basic 43 for Aster-15).
So both France and Italy will have 2 DDG-AAW and 2 FFG-AAW in service to escort each country's 2 carriers (Garibaldi/Cavour, De Gaulle/CVF).

cheers

 

[Sea Toby]

Networking is the key in today's world. Being able to shoot missiles at different targets is better than shooting at the same targets. I suspect a Horizon destroyer with its better sensors could guide and shoot an Aster 30 missile from another warship similar to American cruisers and destroyers. Is this so?

Thanks for more information on the FREEM, the information I have on them is very limited. At their size, it shouldn't be too difficult to make them Air Warfare frigates. Either they lose their helicopter facility or they lose some missile cells. Frankly, I would rather have more smaller ships than too few large ships.

 

[contedicavour]

Networking is the key in today's world. Being able to shoot missiles at different targets is better than shooting at the same targets. I suspect a Horizon destroyer with its better sensors could guide and shoot an Aster 30 missile from another warship similar to American cruisers and destroyers. Is this so?

Thanks for more information on the FREEM, the information I have on them is very limited. At their size, it shouldn't be too difficult to make them Air Warfare frigates. Either they lose their helicopter facility or they lose some missile cells. Frankly, I would rather have more smaller ships than too few large ships.

Yes, the Horizon's CIC can control Aster launches from other ships.
Though the objective would be to have the AAW FREMMs operating independently as task force leaders in lesser overseas missions.

Vs FREMMs, no need to reduce hangar & helo pad sizes, there is enough empty space both fore and aft to reach 48 VLS cells (32 fore, 16 aft), which is quite enough.

cheers