from the model I looked at on naval-technology, I would say Formidable actually looks more stealthy than La Fayette, but that's just my opinion.

just curious, does any one know the cost of one formidable class frigate?

I would have to agree with certain aspects of your statement. Yes, they are certainly more than a match to the Lekiu's & Laksamana's.

But it would be unfair to compare them, as the Formidable class Frigates are nearer the weight of a DDG (weighing in at more than 4,000 GRT). The Lekiu's are less than 2,500 GRT.

Additionally, technologically, because the Lekiu's have been in service since 1999, they will have "older" equipment.

That aside, IMO, I think you would find them pretty equal. The RMN is a well oiled, well drilled Navy, with a good fleet, and as said earlier, the fact that they have sonar & other systems that the Formidable's don't, it would be a hard fight to split them.

But that is just MY opinion......

Systems Adict

Urmm, the Formidable class does in fact has sonar. She uses an `Active Low Frequency Towed Array Sonar'. I agree that it is unfair to compare the larger Formidable class to the Lekius. They are hardly `equals.' The Lekiu frigates are good frigates for her size. Currently, no other ship in south east asian navies comes close to the Formidable in terms of capability, weaponry and sophistication of systems; Herakles phased array radar, Aster missile system, NGDS, etc. The incorporated stealth design also increases the deadliness.

The Laksamana class is a corvette and comparable to singapore`s Victory class corvette;

http://www.naval-technology.com/proj...ages/laks2.jpg
Laksamana class

http://img103.imageshack.us/img103/6...ory11omnv8.jpg
Victory class

I agree. The Formidable class really is the envy of South East Asian navies. Also having 6 ships of this class IMHO makes the RSN the most "formidable" navy in ASEAN. hehe, :p: sorry for the pun.

Anyways tiny's question remains unanswered, how much are the Formidables costing the Singaporean tax payer? :unknown

Probably around 300 mln USD each at current €/$ exchange rates.
A French FREMM (larger but with most weapons systems in common) costs 365 mln USD each.

I agree the Delta/Formidable FFGs are the most powerful ships south of China, east of India and north of Australia.

cheers

really?
http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/...gain/index.php
7 billion for 17 FREMM, 417 million Euro = 535 million USD

I think 1-2 billion USD with all the weaponry, technology transfers and systems. Newspaper reports mentioned 1 billion but I think it is just the empty ships minus weapons and systems.

I read a commentary by Janes 1-2 years ago on the Formidable and it was revealed that the Formidables can be easily upgraded in the future with newer systems. The 76mm gun, for example, can be replaced by a 127 mm one. The gun emplacement which is a squarish depression on the hull to preserve the stealth effect is built to accomodate the larger gun.

It has also been reported that the Slyver launchers will be upgraded to the
A70 vls launchers when the latter is ready sometime in the near futute or the A45 vls launchers. The Herakles radar can operate both Aster 15s and Aster30s.

I also read that the installation of illumuninators would allow the Herakles to guide the ESSMs and standard missiles. I have always preferred MK41s but I guess the cooperation with DCN makes it incumbent for us to buy Asters. The Asters are great missiles however; just that the missile load-out will be lesser(as compared to ESSMs and standards combined) though the formidable carries 32 Aster missiles. Maybe there will be a new block for Aster 15s which are smaller and can accomodate more missiles per silo. I think it is just the booster which needs to be miniturized. It would be the same size as the ESSMs otherwise.

Realistically, i doubt any SEA navy would need so many anti-air missiles currently. Im not sure about the future though.

Sorry but your quoted article dates back to Oct 2005 ;) Back then we weren't even sure FREMM programme would survive after all !!
Since then unitary costs for Italian FREMM have been renegotiated at 320-350 mln euro (difference depends on Sylver A43 or A50) and 280 mln euro for French FREMM.
The rest of the cost is R&D for platform, weapons systems and sensors. I doubt such costs would be charged to international customers buying the shps off the shelf from France or Italy.

cheers

The cost of R&D should definitely be included in the unit price of these ships. Otherwise, F-22 would be 120 million per unit instead of 350 million. As for international customers, I really doubt that they would be charged any less. Normally, the domestic orders get the lowest pricing.

"But it would be unfair to compare them, as the Formidable class Frigates are nearer the weight of a DDG (weighing in at more than 4,000 GRT). The Lekiu's are less than 2,500 GRT."

More than 4000 GRT ? Do you have a link for that figure?

Hmmm... The link I looked at shows the full load displacement of the Singapore Formidables as 3,200 tonnes.

http://www.naval-technology.com/proj...ble/specs.html

The following link shows the Lekiu class as having a full load displacement of 2,270 tonnes, so the point made by Systems Addict that it is unfair to compare them is valid IMO:

http://www.naval-technology.com/proj...kiu/specs.html

Cheers

Yeah.They`re 3200 tons each.

Hey, I found this from the thales web-site on the Herakles;

Performance Data
• Two axis mono pulse phased array radar
• 60 rpm rotation
• 3D air domain: 250 km
• Surface domain: 80 km
• Track capacity > 500 air + surface
• Monopulse + dedicated tracking for all air targets
• Splash spotting function for fire control on floating targets
• Fully compatible with Aster 15/30 missiles.

http://www.thales-naval.com/naval/pdf/herakles1.pdf

It's strange that the Herakles range has increased to 250 km.
Up to a few years ago it claimed 150km maximum, hence the compatibility issue with Aster 30 (range 120km).
Hmm Thales could have improved it of course, but I'm sceptical about such an improvement - may be the 250km refers to a big target such as a P3C ?

cheers