Aeronautica & Difesa - Gennaio 2011 - ELT

Date Posted: 21-Jul-2011
Carlo Bergamini is now fitted with its Oto Melara 127 mm/64 main gun, 76 mm/62 Super
Rapid secondary gun (with Strales lnner-Layer Defence System) and two 25 mm manned
guns. Also installed is the SAAM-ESD (Surface-to-Air Anti-Missile Extended Self-Defence)
system, which consists of an EMPAR multifunction active phased array air search radar
(from Selex-SI), Sylver A50 launchers (from DCNS), Aster 15/3 0 missiles (MBDA), a New
Generation IFF system, SPS-791 (RAN-30X/I) surface/air search and tracking radar, and two
NA-25XP gun fire-control systems (the last three items from Selex-SI).
Other mast-mounted sensors include a radar electronic support measures system and a
jammer suite from the SIGEN consortium (Eiettronica/Thales), a GEM Elettronica navigation
radar, and a Silent Acquisition and Surveillance System infrared search and track sensor
turret (Selex Galileo).
Selex-SI is the CMS prime contractor and systems supplier wh ile Selex Elsag is providing the
communications package, both of which are derived fro m the Cavour aircraft carrier and
Franco-Italian Horizon destroyer programmes.
The underwater warfare suite in Carlo Bergamini and the other GP frigates includes a Thales
Underwater Systems 411 OCL bow-mounted sonar, two triple launchers for MU90 lightweight
torpedos, two anti-torpedo decoy launchers and a W ASS SNA2000 mine avoidance system.
The GP ships will also carry MBDA Otomat Block IV surface-to-surface missiles, a
stern-launched 11 m rigid-hull inflatable boat (RHIB) and a side-launched 7 m RHIB.
The ASW variant has two 76 mm Super Rapid mounts (one ofthem replacing the 127 mm
gun in the GP frigates) while its underwater warfare capability is enhanced by the addition of
a Thales Underwater Systems 4249 (Captas-4) low-frequency active/passive towed variable
depth sonar (in piace ofthe 11 m RHIB) and MILAS ASW missiles.
The combined diesel-electric and gas propulsion system features an A vio-General Electric
LM2500+G4 gas turbine (rated at 34 MW), two electric motors (each rated at 2.1 MW), four
Isotta Fraschini diesels and two controllable pitch propellers. Maximum design speed is in
excess of27 kt and range is 6,000 n miles at 15 kt. Seastema (ajoint venture ofFincantieri
and ABB) is providing the integrated platform management system and associated
subsystems.
France's originai requirement for 17 frigates under the FREMM programme has been reduced
to 11 ships, with first-of-class Aquitaine launched by DCNS in Aprii 201 O. Morocco is also
acquiring a single DCNS-built FREMM unit.