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Kerry Herschelmann, San Francisco - IHS Jane's Defence Weekly
20 August 2014
The first of three C-28A corvettes that are being built for Algeria by the China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC) was launched on 15 August. Source: via .cjdby
The first of the three C-28A corvettes being built for Algeria was launched by the Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding Company in Shanghai on 15 August.
The C28A contract was signed in early 2012 with China Shipbuilding Trading Co (CSTC). Contrary to an earlier report, Hudong-Zhonghua won the bid to build these ships against Guangzhou-based shipyards in January 2013.
At the launch ceremony, Wu Yongjie, deputy general manager of the China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC) - owner of Hudong-Zhonghua - said that this was the first time that a warship project had been built in China to Lloyd's Register naval classification rules under the supervision of Lloyd's.
This required various Chinese design bureaus to adopt new standards for the corvettes' design and construction. Wu also noted that the project required extensive use of construction technology and equipment, from design and planning to project management.
While there had been challenges, Wu said, the launch marked the successful culmination of two years of effort. He added that CSSC would "redouble" its efforts to ensure the successful completion of the project within scheduled delivery timelines.
CSTC officials at the Defence Services Asia (DSA) show, held in Malaysia in April, said the first corvette was scheduled for delivery in May 2015. Another largely completed C28A is visible in the CSSC's pictures of the launch of the first C28A.
Chinese and Algerian sources said that negotiations were continuing over building three more C28A in Algeria in addition to the three already on order.
The first corvette (902) was launched without its bow-mounted sonar, sheathed in degaussing cables, and with almost all its major sensors and weapons under wraps.
However, it is known that Thales is supplying the Smart-S Mk 2 radar and command, control, and communication systems for installation on the Algerian corvettes under a EUR21 million (USD28 million) deal. To mitigate concerns about possible industrial espionage in China, Thales will install sensitive components and software only after the vessels have been delivered to Algeria.
Mysteriously, a few days after the corvette's launch, the Smart-S radar had been removed from its foremast at the fitting-out berth.
Details and a near-definitive model of the C28A first emerged during the DSA show. According to CSTC officials, the ship is about 120 m in length, with a beam of 14.4 m, a draft of 3.87 m, a standard displacement of about 2,880 tons, and a full-load displacement of more than 3,000 tons.
According to a 30 May 2014 press release from CSSC, it was designed by the 708 Institute, which is also known as the Marine Design and Research Institute of China (MARIC).
Chinese sources suggest it is an evolution of Pakistan's F-22P on the basis that Algerian naval teams visited Pakistan to see that frigate's operations first-hand. The C28A also appears to borrow design elements from the Type 054A frigate of the Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy.
The C-28A's combat system is largely Chinese with the exception of the Thales Smart-S Mk 2, associated multifunction operator consoles (MOC)/Tacticos cluster, Link Y datalinks, and associated consoles. Four or so MOC for the Smart-S are integrated with a CSTC-supplied combat management system (CMS).
Weapons include a single 76 mm gun - the export variant of which is known as NG-16-1 - two quad launchers for C-802 or C-802A anti-ship missiles mounted transversely amidships, an octuple FM-90N launcher for short-range HQ-7 surface-to-air missiles, two 30 mm Type 730B close-in weapons systems (CIWS) similar to the ones on the F-22P, two triple-tube torpedo launchers that fire through an opening in the hull, and four 24-barreled decoy launchers.
As well as the Smart-S Mk 2, sensors include two navigation radars - an I-band (X-band) set and an E/F-band (S-band) set - that are thought to be Kelvin Hughes SharpEye radars. The C28A also has a radome for what is likely to be a Type 364 radar, two fire control radars (FCR) from the Type 47 family, and what looks like a Type 343G FCR with a combined radar and electro-optic system that is identical to the sets mounted on the F-22P.
The electronic warfare (EW) suite appears to be similar to the F-22P's. Speculation that its sonar will be of Chinese origin has yet to be confirmed.
The propulsion system consists of four MTU diesels. In a departure from existing designs, there is no funnel stack. Instead, the diesels exhaust near the waterline as they do on MEKO-type frigates to minimise infrared signatures. Top speed is expected to be around 30 kts. The hull has two sets of fin stabilisers as well as bilge keels.
The ship has hangars for boats and a helicopter. The latter will presumably be able to accommodate one of the AgustaWestland AW-159 Wildcat helicopters in service with the Algerian Navy.
20 August 2014
The first of three C-28A corvettes that are being built for Algeria by the China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC) was launched on 15 August. Source: via .cjdby
The first of the three C-28A corvettes being built for Algeria was launched by the Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding Company in Shanghai on 15 August.
The C28A contract was signed in early 2012 with China Shipbuilding Trading Co (CSTC). Contrary to an earlier report, Hudong-Zhonghua won the bid to build these ships against Guangzhou-based shipyards in January 2013.
At the launch ceremony, Wu Yongjie, deputy general manager of the China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC) - owner of Hudong-Zhonghua - said that this was the first time that a warship project had been built in China to Lloyd's Register naval classification rules under the supervision of Lloyd's.
This required various Chinese design bureaus to adopt new standards for the corvettes' design and construction. Wu also noted that the project required extensive use of construction technology and equipment, from design and planning to project management.
While there had been challenges, Wu said, the launch marked the successful culmination of two years of effort. He added that CSSC would "redouble" its efforts to ensure the successful completion of the project within scheduled delivery timelines.
CSTC officials at the Defence Services Asia (DSA) show, held in Malaysia in April, said the first corvette was scheduled for delivery in May 2015. Another largely completed C28A is visible in the CSSC's pictures of the launch of the first C28A.
Chinese and Algerian sources said that negotiations were continuing over building three more C28A in Algeria in addition to the three already on order.
The first corvette (902) was launched without its bow-mounted sonar, sheathed in degaussing cables, and with almost all its major sensors and weapons under wraps.
However, it is known that Thales is supplying the Smart-S Mk 2 radar and command, control, and communication systems for installation on the Algerian corvettes under a EUR21 million (USD28 million) deal. To mitigate concerns about possible industrial espionage in China, Thales will install sensitive components and software only after the vessels have been delivered to Algeria.
Mysteriously, a few days after the corvette's launch, the Smart-S radar had been removed from its foremast at the fitting-out berth.
Details and a near-definitive model of the C28A first emerged during the DSA show. According to CSTC officials, the ship is about 120 m in length, with a beam of 14.4 m, a draft of 3.87 m, a standard displacement of about 2,880 tons, and a full-load displacement of more than 3,000 tons.
According to a 30 May 2014 press release from CSSC, it was designed by the 708 Institute, which is also known as the Marine Design and Research Institute of China (MARIC).
Chinese sources suggest it is an evolution of Pakistan's F-22P on the basis that Algerian naval teams visited Pakistan to see that frigate's operations first-hand. The C28A also appears to borrow design elements from the Type 054A frigate of the Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy.
The C-28A's combat system is largely Chinese with the exception of the Thales Smart-S Mk 2, associated multifunction operator consoles (MOC)/Tacticos cluster, Link Y datalinks, and associated consoles. Four or so MOC for the Smart-S are integrated with a CSTC-supplied combat management system (CMS).
Weapons include a single 76 mm gun - the export variant of which is known as NG-16-1 - two quad launchers for C-802 or C-802A anti-ship missiles mounted transversely amidships, an octuple FM-90N launcher for short-range HQ-7 surface-to-air missiles, two 30 mm Type 730B close-in weapons systems (CIWS) similar to the ones on the F-22P, two triple-tube torpedo launchers that fire through an opening in the hull, and four 24-barreled decoy launchers.
As well as the Smart-S Mk 2, sensors include two navigation radars - an I-band (X-band) set and an E/F-band (S-band) set - that are thought to be Kelvin Hughes SharpEye radars. The C28A also has a radome for what is likely to be a Type 364 radar, two fire control radars (FCR) from the Type 47 family, and what looks like a Type 343G FCR with a combined radar and electro-optic system that is identical to the sets mounted on the F-22P.
The electronic warfare (EW) suite appears to be similar to the F-22P's. Speculation that its sonar will be of Chinese origin has yet to be confirmed.
The propulsion system consists of four MTU diesels. In a departure from existing designs, there is no funnel stack. Instead, the diesels exhaust near the waterline as they do on MEKO-type frigates to minimise infrared signatures. Top speed is expected to be around 30 kts. The hull has two sets of fin stabilisers as well as bilge keels.
The ship has hangars for boats and a helicopter. The latter will presumably be able to accommodate one of the AgustaWestland AW-159 Wildcat helicopters in service with the Algerian Navy.
Elle dureront le temps de la distance entre la chine et le port algérien!
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