At the Euronaval 2022 international naval exhibition held from October 18 to 21, 2022 in Le Bourget (Paris, France), BAE Systems Corporation presented a new project of the Adaptable Strike Frigate multipurpose frigate, primarily proposed by the British Navy as a candidate for a promising British Type 32 frigate.
Conceptual image of the project of the prospective frigate BAE Systems Adaptive Strike Frigate (c) BAE SystemsRecall that the program for the construction of five frigates of the new type 32 was first announced by the then British Prime Minister Boris Johnson in November 2020 in order to increase the number of escort ships of the British Navy in the 2030s from the current full-time 19 units (six type 45 destroyers and 13 type 23 frigates) to 24 units (six type destroyers 45, eight new type 26 frigates, five new type 31 frigates and five more type 32 frigates).
The requirements for Type 32 frigates were set out in the Integrated Review (IR) and the Defense Command Paper (DCP) "Defense in a Competitive Era", published in March 2021, as well as in the Maritime Operating Concept (MarOpC), published in September 2022. The requirements of the Ministry of Defense of the United Kingdom for the ships of Project 32 characterize them as relatively inexpensive new-generation warships that must be "reconfigurable" modular /containerized with the ability to carry a target load for various tasks, with special emphasis on mine action. The ships should be made according to the concept of a "digital highway", have a high degree of automation, the ability to use onboard autonomous and unmanned systems, provide an advanced presence and actions in support of the so-called Littoral Response Group.
The Type 32 frigate program was officially launched with the launch of the concept development stage on September 21, 2022, during which a general feasibility study necessary to move to the concept evaluation stage should be developed. It is planned to build five ships with the beginning of their commissioning from the beginning of the 2030s.
Initially, it was expected that the Type 32 would be a development of the Type 31 frigates under construction (five units) of the Arrowhead 140 project of the Babcock group, however, apparently, the British Navy is set to consider other proposals, which led to the promotion of the Adaptive Strike Frigate (ASF) project by BAE Systems.
It is reported that the ASF should have a total displacement of about 6000 tons and a length of 130 m. BAE Systems states that the price of the platform for ASF will be approximately 250-300 million pounds, while the integration of weapons and radioelectronic equipment and modular capabilities will be selected by the customer for an additional fee.
ASF has an extensive reconfigurable load compartment in the aft part, which allows accommodating more than 20 standard 20-foot containers, and is also equipped with a stern ramp for launching motor boats and underwater vehicles and two aft A-shaped lifts. Containers can be moved from the aft compartment to the middle of the ship, where they can be lifted to the upper deck by a special lift. The main crew of the frigate will be only 60 people, excluding operators of target loads.
The ship's armament on the model exhibited at Euronaval 2022 was represented by systems already selected for the Type 31 frigate, and included an eight-container universal vertical launcher for anti-ship and cruise missiles placed in the nose, 24 vertical Sea Ceptor air defense missile launchers with SAMM anti-aircraft missiles, a 57-mm BAE Systems Bofors Mk 3 artillery launcher and two 40 mm side-mounted artillery BAE Systems Bofors Mk 4. In the stern there is an extensive hangar for a Merlin class helicopter and helicopter UAVs. It is possible to receive a Chinook class transport helicopter on the helicopter deck.
Details about the main ASF power plant are not disclosed, but at the moment the concept provides for a combined diesel-electric and diesel (CODED scheme) installation. The central propeller shaft with a direct-drive screw from diesel engines is complemented by two screw steering columns from ABB with electric propulsion. For the power supply of additional loads, new solutions are being considered - in particular, an additional 10 MW gas turbine generator loaded on board in a container.
Conceptual image of the project of the prospective frigate BAE Systems Adaptive Strike Frigate (c) BAE Systems
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A model of the promising frigate BAE Systems Adaptive Strike Frigate at the Euronaval 2022 exhibition in Le Bourget, October 2022 (c) www.navylookout.comVideo:
