Andrzej Jeziorski/SINGAPORE
Singapore has begun to equip its recently ordered La Fayette-class frigates, with the award of a surface-to-surface missile deal. Helicopter and air defence requirements are expected to be resolved over the next few months .
The Ministry of Defence is declining to comment on French reports which name Singapore as the client in a $700 million purchase of Aerospace Matra Missiles (AMM)Exocets.
The surface-to-surface missiles, understood to be the MM40 variant fitted on French Navy La Fayette-class vessels, are to equip six frigates ordered by Singapore in March. AMM competed against Israel Aircraft Industries and Rafael.
Singapore has yet to define many of the other on-board systems required for the stealthy 3,000t frigates, which are regarded as a quantum leap in its naval capability. Contracts for an air defence missile system and a shipborne helicopter, probably with anti-submarine capabilities, are outstanding.
According to sources close to the programme, a request for proposals for an initial batch of 9-12 helicopters is expected towards the beginning of next year, with a possible selection towards the end of 2001.
Bidders are expected to include: Agusta Westland, offering the EH101 naval version and smaller Super Lynx 300; Eurocopter, offering the naval version of the NH Industries NH 90; Kaman with the SH-2G Super Seasprite and Sikorsky with the SH-60 Seahawk.
Defence analysts say the Rafael Barak and Raytheon's Evolved Sea Sparrow - both vertical-launch systems - are leading candidates for the air defence missile requirement. Other likely candidates are: the Eurosam Aster; Matra BAe Dynamics' Vertical Launch Mica and Vertical Launch Sea Wolf and the Thomson-CSF Crotale CN-2, which is fitted to French La Fayette vessels.
Frigate deliveries are set to begin in 2005 with completion due by 2009.
Source: Flight International