You would think that all sides were equal. And spin on the centre axle. It doesJust had a look, does look more than a little like it's spinning out of control.
+1 for surprised it's not an AESA
Didn't sound that way from the story, that stated that the contract for 8 covered both ASW and FREDA?Unless they've decided to go 8 ASW plus 2 FREDA after all.
I would like to know where the other 2 are going to come from, I would have thought that a couple more FREMM or the new 'intermediate' class would be announced instead of a public statement with a 2 warship hole in it.They already do I think, I think i'm right in saying that Italy have 10 FREMM split 4/4/2 split between GP/ASW/AAW. Italian ships are FFBNW their 16 A70 silos except the AAW versions (yet to be laid down), supposedly.
But yeah Kev you're right, I was just thinking out loud. So they've got 6 ASW + 2 Horizon + 2 FREDA + 3 'intermediate' = 2 short of the 15 front line frigate target.
DCNS could do well with their intermediate design though, i'd imagine that'd be a neat selling point. France has shown with their Polish sub tender they'll offer MdCN as part of a naval strike package, however off the top of my head I don't remember if that was an export variant similar to what Black Shaheen is to SCALP. It could be.
For ASW role around the Brest naval base, wouldn't GoWind 2500 with towed sonar be enough instead of FREMM ?But yeah Kev you're right, I was just thinking out loud. So they've got 6 ASW + 2 Horizon + 2 FREDA + 3 'intermediate' = 2 short of the 15 front line frigate target.
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Italy's building 10 FREMM (8 laid down so far, 2 more scheduled in the next 2 years), despite suggestions in the past that numbers would be cut to 8, but France has gone from 17 to 11 officially planned - & now looks as if it might only be 8.They already do I think, I think i'm right in saying that Italy have 10 FREMM ....
FTI will be larger than LafayettesFrench cut FREMM numbers in favour of FTI.
This is old news, but it's newer than the latest post here. Back in May, Jean-Yves Le Drian, French MoD, announced that the total numbers of FREMM to be bought would only be eight (confirming suspicions), including two with enhanced AAW abilities (FREDA), & the new FTI frigate programme would be accelerated.
FREMM is going to replace the F70s (both ASW & AA variants) one for one, & FTI the smaller & less capable Lafayettes.
That would've been an Intersting sight to see, as to the anti-French bias is more to do with past experience and getting our fingers burnt in the process on more than one occasion.Any DT members in Perth please note that FS Tonnerre (LHD) and FS Guepratte (FF) are on their way, as part of INDOPAC Op JEAN D'ARC 2016.
Unclear at time of writing if they'll berth in FTL or FBW.
No doubt their run ashore is part of some so-called "WA mafia" and French "tossers" conspiracy.
The latter is amusing, considering the the Kawasaki engines in the Soryu boats are just licence-built MAN diesels that were actually designed in that company's French engineering works.
I see the Germans are also focusing more on WA. I imagine being an election year, the idea of spreading the work around has some appeal. Certainly parts of Collins were made all round Australia and the globe.OT for a moment.
Just to add some clarity - the term "WA mafia" is not some form of DT epithet.