NFR-90 ( eng. NATO Frigate Replacement for 90s , "replacing the NATO frigate for the 1990s") is an international program to develop a single frigate for a number of NATO countries. Differences in the requirements of different countries for the designed ship led to the fact that the project was discontinued in the early 1990s [1] [2] .
History
The project was aimed at saving money due to the construction of a large series of new generation ships. Preliminary development began in 1985 [2] . The program began officially on January 25, 1988 with the signing of a memorandum of understanding by the participating countries. The final configuration of the frigate and its combat capabilities became the subject of wide discussion. The widespread use of stealth technology was proposed, which included a special form of superstructure and the use of radar absorbing coatings; improved means of demagnetization; reduction of acoustic noise through soundproofing of engines and mechanical devices. Modular construction made it easy to reconfigure the ship to perform various types of operations and coordinate the conflicting requirements of the participating countries to the frigate's characteristics [3] .
Armament
At the initial stage of design, the main contradictions arose on the issue of anti-ship weapons. France lobbied the Exocet rocket of its own production, while other participating countries preferred the Harpoon [2] . Great Britain, based on its experience of the Falkland War, was concerned about the lack of a self-defense air defense system on the ship [2] .
In 1988, according to the results of the selection tour, in which 57 military industry companies were invited to take part, Westinghouse and RCA corporations each received an order for the development and manufacture of dimensional models of the new NAAWS air defense and missile defense systems for frigates of the NFR-90 series, with the prospect of obtaining contracts for testing prototypes.
Project Completion
The termination of the project was caused by the exit from it of two main participants - the United States and Great Britain. The United States was not satisfied with the narrow specialization of the ship, preferring multipurpose ships of the Arly Burke type [2] . Britain intended to leave the project in 1988, but continued to work, waiting for large orders for shipbuilding enterprises and suppliers of military equipment. Nevertheless, in 1989, Great Britain left the project, believing that the new frigate could not become a full replacement for type 42 destroyers [2] .
In 1992, France, Italy and the United Kingdom took part in the Horizon joint project, which was another attempt at cooperation in the field of military shipbuilding. This project was more successful, despite the fact that the UK abandoned it in favor of its own type 45 destroyer [2] . France and Italy continued to work, creating a joint frigate of the Horizon type, however, the number of units built (4) was significantly less than originally planned [2] .
Member Countries
- Great Britain
- Germany
- Italy
- Spain
- Canada
- Netherlands
- USA
- France
Alternative Programs
A similar project to develop a joint frigate ( Eng. Trilateral Frigate Program ) was carried out on a trilateral basis by the Netherlands , Spain and Germany [3] .
Notes
- ↑ Historia de la F-100 (Spanish)
- ↑ 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 “El último vástago del programa NFR-90” Revista Ejércitos Nº 5, Pág. 30-35 (Spanish)
- ↑ 1 2 NFR-90 NATO Frigate Replacement (Federation of American Scientists)
Links
- NFR-90 NATO Frigate Replacement - Federation of American Scientists.
- NFR90 Frigate - www.historyofwar.org.
- Shevchenko I. Financing the program for the creation of NATO frigates of the 90s . Foreign Military Review, 1990, No. 1.
- Ian Anthony. The naval arms trade . - Oxford University Press, 1990 .-- 221 p. - (Strategic issue papers). - ISBN 019829137X , 9780198291374 ..
- UK shipbuilder proposes 'super frigate' to replace NFR-90 . Defense Daily, March 8, 1990.