Valour-class frigate
South African navy frigates / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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The Valour class is a class of frigates built for the South African Navy. Part of the MEKO family of warships, the German shipbuilder Blohm+Voss officially designate the class as the MEKO A-200SAN.[3]
SAS Spioenkop during Exercise IBSAMAR | |
Class overview | |
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Name | Valour class |
Builders | Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft, Kiel and Blohm+Voss, Hamburg |
Operators | ![]() |
Preceded by | President class |
Cost | |
Built | 2001–2002 |
In commission | 2006–present |
Planned | 5 |
Completed | 4 |
Cancelled | 1 |
Active | 4 |
General characteristics | |
Type | Guided-missile frigate |
Displacement | 3,700 tons |
Length |
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Beam | 16.34 m (53 ft 7 in) |
Draught | 5.95 m (19 ft 6 in) |
Propulsion |
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Speed | 28 knots (52 km/h; 32 mph) |
Range | 8,000 nmi (15,000 km; 9,200 mi) at 16 knots (30 km/h; 18 mph) |
Endurance | 28 days |
Complement | 152[1] (incl aircrew) |
Sensors and processing systems |
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Electronic warfare & decoys |
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Armament |
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Armour | Welded GL-D36 steel[2] |
Aircraft carried | 2 SuperLynx 300, 1 Atlas Oryx, 2 AgustaWestland AW109, 1 Denel Rooivalk or various UAVs (Planned) |
Aviation facilities |
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Designed as a multiple purpose, multi capable frigate, the Valour class encompasses the general guided-missile anti-surface and anti-air role forming the core of the South African surface fleet. The Valour class frigates employ the use of stealth technology to avoid enemy radar and infra-red detection.[4]
Four Valour class frigates were constructed for the South African Navy as part of the Strategic Defence Package 1999. The first, SAS Amatola, was commissioned in 2006, with the fourth and final, SAS Mendi, commissioned in March 2007. The frigates have a service life of 30–40 years.[5] However, in May 2023, Rear Admiral B.K. Mhlana, Deputy Chief of the Navy, reported to the Joint Standing Committee on Defence that Mendi was the only frigate of her class still effectively operational, given cancellations and delays in refits for her sister ships.[6]
The Valour-class vessels are named in honor of acts of distinguished bravery in South African military history.