Defensora in 2023
| |
Class overview | |
---|---|
Name | Niterói class, Mk10 |
Builders | Vosper Thornycroft, Arsenal de Marinha do Rio de Janeiro |
Operators | Brazilian Navy |
Succeeded by | Tamandaré-class |
Built | 1975–1986 |
Completed | 7 |
Active | 6 |
Retired | 1 |
General characteristics | |
Type | Frigate |
Displacement |
|
Length | 129.2 m (423 ft 11 in) |
Beam | 13.5 m (44 ft 3 in) |
Draught | 5.5 m (18 ft 1 in) |
Installed power |
|
Propulsion | Combined diesel or gas, two shafts |
Speed |
|
Range |
|
Endurance | 45 days |
Complement | 217 |
Sensors and processing systems |
|
Electronic warfare & decoys | |
Armament |
|
Aircraft carried |
|
Aviation facilities | Helipad and hangar |
The Niterói-class frigates are a class of frigates of the Brazilian Navy.
The Niterói class were designed and built by the British shipyard Vosper Thornycroft (VT) in the 1970s. These frigates were designated the Mk 10 by Vosper Thornycroft and are the largest of a series of ships built by that shipyard for both foreign buyers and the Royal Navy.
All of them were extensively modernized between 1996 and 2005 under the 'ModFrag' program. The projected completion was 2001, but due to lack of funds and sea trials to verify the new software, the entire program had been slipped to 2005.
A total of six ships were built. Two of the anti-submarines (ASW) and both of the general purpose (GP) version were built in England. The remaining two ASW ships were built at the Arsenal da Marinha in Rio de Janeiro with assistance from VT. The ASW ships had an Ikara missile launcher in Y position aft of the flight deck. This was removed as part of the modernisation programme. The GP ships had a second 4.5-inch (114 mm) gun in "Y" position. A seventh ship was built as the navy's main training unit. The ship is identical to the other ships of the class, but is not fitted with weapons or sensors.
From 2025, the class will be gradualy replaced in "first-rank" roles by the newest Tamandaré-class frigates, the survivors will be revitalized and transferred to patrol duties in the fleet.[1]
No. | Name | Type[2] | Laid down[2] | Launched[2] | Commissioned[2] | Status |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
F40 | Niterói | ASW | 8 June 1972 | 8 February 1974 | 20 November 1976 | Decommissioned 28 June 2019[3] |
F41 | Defensora | ASW | 14 December 1972 | 27 March 1975 | 3 March 1977 | In service |
F42 | Constituição | GP | 13 March 1974 | 15 April 1976 | 31 March 1978 | In service |
F43 | Liberal | GP | 2 May 1975 | 7 February 1977 | 18 November 1978 | In service |
F44 | Independência | ASW | 11 June 1972 | 2 September 1974 | 3 September 1979 | In service |
F45 | União | ASW | 11 June 1972 | 14 March 1975 | 12 September 1980 | In service |
U27 | Brasil | Training | 18 September 1981[4] | 2 September 1983[4] | 21 August 1986[4] | In service |