Naresuan-class frigate
 HTMS Naresuan (FFG 421)
| |
| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Operators |  Royal Thai Navy |
| Preceded by | Type 053 frigate |
| Completed | 2 |
| Active | 2 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | Frigate |
| Displacement | 2,985 tons full load |
| Length | 120.5 m |
| Beam | 13.7 m |
| Draught | 6 m |
| Propulsion | 1 × General Electric LM2500+ gas turbine and 2 × MTU 20V1163 TB83 diesel engines, driving two shafts with controllable pitch propellers in CODOG configuration. |
| Speed | 32 knots (59 km/h) max |
| Range | 4000 nmi(7408 km) at 18 kn |
| Complement | 150 |
| Sensors & processing systems | list error: <br /> list (help) Saab Sea Giraffe AMD 3D surveillance radar Thales LW08 long range search radar Raytheon AN/SPS-64 Navigation radar Selex IFF SIT422CI&M425 Saab 9LV Mk.4 with Saab TIDLS combat management system 2 x Saab Ceros 200 fire control radar Atlas DSQS-24d sonar |
| Electronic warfare & decoys | list error: <br /> list (help) ESM ITT ES-3601 (AN/SLQ-4) ECM Type 984-1 noise jammer&Type 981-3 deception jammer Decoys Terma SKWS (C-Guard) |
| Armament | list error: <br /> list (help) 1 × 5 in/54 (127 mm) Mk-45 Mod 2 naval artillery gun 2 x 30mm MSI-DSL DS30MR automated small calibre gun 8 cell Mk.41 vertical launch system for 32 x RIM-162 ESSM 8 x RGM-84 Harpoon SSM launcher 2 x triple 324 mm Mk-32 Mod.5 tubes |
| Aircraft carried | 1 x Super Lynx 300 |
Naresuan class Frigates, (Thai: นเรศวร) is a modified version of the Chinese-made Type 053 frigate, corporate designed between Royal Thai Navy and China but built by the China State Shipbuilding Corporation in Shanghai. The ships came at 2 billion baht each, much less than the 8 billion baht price tag for Western-built frigates.
When Thailand ordered four new 053 frigates in 1990, China built them to the (then) latest 053H2 (Jianghu III) standard. Two were modified with helicopter decks in the back. Although the price was excellent (2 billion baht each, compared to 8 billion baht for western ships), the Thai Navy complained of quality issues. The interior wiring was exposed and had to be re-wired. The ship's battle damage control system was very limited, with poor fire-suppression system and water-tight locks. It's said that if the ship's hull was breached, rapid flooding would lead to loss of ship. The Thai Navy had to spent considerable time and effort to correct some of these issues.[1]
The harsh criticisms lead to many improvements in China's shipbuilding industry. By the mid-1990s, the Thai Navy was confident enough to order two enlarged 053 hulls (F25T), later named HTMS Naresuan and HTMS Taksin, to be fitted with western engines and weapon systems.
Upgrade
On 3 June 2011, Saab announced[2] that it was awarded a contract for the upgrading of the two Naresuan class frigates. The scope of the upgrade will include Saab's 9LV MK4 combat management system, Sea Giraffe AMB, CEROS 200 fire control radar, EOS 500 electro-optics system and data link systems for communications with the newly acquired Royal Thai Air Force Erieye surveillance aircraft.
References
- ^ "NARESUAN (TYPE 25T) (FFG)". GlobalSecurity.org.
- ^ "Saab receives order from Thailand regarding the upgrading of combat management system and fire control systems". Saab. 3 June 2011.
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