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Speed and Range – In terms of performance, the A2200C already exceeds some of the requirements, like for example it has maximum speed of 28 knots while the requirement is only 25 knots. It’s range of 9,000 km @ 15 knots also comfortably exceeds the requirement of 8,100 km @ 15 knots.
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Main Gun System – Its Oto Melara 76 mm main gun also fits in nicely with the requirement of 76 mm caliber minimum. The Guaiqueri class of ships have the newer
76/62 Super Rapid (SR)[3]which is better than the older model
76/62 Compact cannons we have on our Jacinto and Del Pilar-class ships as the SR has a higher rate of fire of 120 rounds per minute (rpm) compared to the 80 rpm on the older model cannon. It also has a “stealth profile”, designed to reduce the radar cross section of the gun; The ability to switch quickly between 2 different types of ammunition thru its multi-feed system; And a Muzzle Velocity Radar giving it better accuracy by inputting the actual velocity of the round when computing for ballistic trajectory.
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Torpedo Launchers – The ship has 2 triple Torpedo launchers, one on each side, probably the standard and ubiquitous
Mk 32 launcher with
Mk 46 Lightweight Torpedoes, and these will be kept as it fits the minimum requirements.
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Softkill System – The ship has an unnamed Radio Frequency (RF) and Infra-Red (IR) decoy launchers, and actually exceeds the requirement as it has 12 launchers, 6 on each side whereas the requirement only asks for 6 launchers, 3 on each side.
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Main Radar System – The requirement is for separate 2D Air and Surface search radars, but the Guaiqueri class Frigate has a Thales Smart-S Mk2 3D radar which does the function of both radars and actually exceeds the specs and I THINK this will be retained. Actually the radar was one of the things I forgot to ask about as my head was already spinning from all the other information I was getting, hence the omission. The Smart-S has an estimated detection range of at least 81 km for an aerial target with a Radar Cross Section (RCS) of 5 m^2, which is okay. Detection range for a surface target with an RCS of 30,000 m^2 is estimated to be at least 32 km, better than the AN/SPS-73 radar on the Del Pilar class ships which can only detect the same size target at around 22 km.
[4]
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Anti-Ship Missiles (AShMs) – The ship carries 2 quad launchers for AShMs, comfortably exceeding the 2 twin launchers of the requirements. The Navantia rep specifically mentioned the
RGM-84 Harpoon AShMs, although I forgot to ask if the 2 quad launcher configuration will be kept or they will change it to a 2 twin-launcher system.
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Helipad Capacity and Enclosed Hangar Space – The A2200C has an enclosed hangar space rated to have the weight and space to accommodate a 10-ton Helicopter which meets the bidding specifications.
‘Modifications’