yasin_khan
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Chile has shelved plans to build three multipurpose frigates in favour of acquiring four second-hand frigates surplus to the Royal Netherlands Navy (RNLN), Chilean Defence Minister Michelle Bachelet announced last week.
Bachelet confirmed that negotiations are under way with the Netherlands to procure two Jacob van Heemskerck L-class air-defence frigates and two Karel Doorman L-class multipurpose frigates under a deal valued at $350 million.
The estimated cost of the cancelled shipbuilding project was set at around $850 million.
Bachelet explained that buying the used RNLN frigates was a more cost-effective, faster way to renew the fleet. She said the new frigates will replace older vessels, some of them already retired or set to be phased out. "In no way," she said, will they "represent an expansion of Chile's fleet size."
The negotiations are expected to be concluded late in March or early in April, with HrMs Abraham van der Hultst - the first M-class frigate - joining the Chilean fleet in June 2005. The first L-class frigate, Jacob van Heemskerck, will be delivered in December 2005, with HrMs Witte de With (L-class) and HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (M-class) following in August 2006 and April 2007.
Admin: Enter the links for your articles in future or they will be deleted! People have been told numerous times about this. :mad
Bachelet confirmed that negotiations are under way with the Netherlands to procure two Jacob van Heemskerck L-class air-defence frigates and two Karel Doorman L-class multipurpose frigates under a deal valued at $350 million.
The estimated cost of the cancelled shipbuilding project was set at around $850 million.
Bachelet explained that buying the used RNLN frigates was a more cost-effective, faster way to renew the fleet. She said the new frigates will replace older vessels, some of them already retired or set to be phased out. "In no way," she said, will they "represent an expansion of Chile's fleet size."
The negotiations are expected to be concluded late in March or early in April, with HrMs Abraham van der Hultst - the first M-class frigate - joining the Chilean fleet in June 2005. The first L-class frigate, Jacob van Heemskerck, will be delivered in December 2005, with HrMs Witte de With (L-class) and HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (M-class) following in August 2006 and April 2007.
Admin: Enter the links for your articles in future or they will be deleted! People have been told numerous times about this. :mad