Halifax-class frigate

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HMCS Calgary (FFH 335)
HMCS Calgary (FFH 335)
Class overview
Name: Halifax class
Builders:
Operators:  Royal Canadian Navy
Preceded by: Annapolis class
Succeeded by: Single Class Surface Combatant
In commission: 29 June 1992-Present
Completed: 12
Active: 12
General characteristics
Type: Guided missile frigate
Displacement: 4,770 t (4,770.0 t)
Length: 134.1 m (439.96 ft)
Beam: 16.4 m (53.81 ft)
Draught: 4.9 m (16.08 ft)
Propulsion:
Speed: 29 kn (54 km/h; 33 mph)
Range: 9,500 nmi (17,600 km; 10,900 mi)
Complement: 225
Sensors and
processing systems:
Electronic warfare
& decoys:		 TKWA/MASS (Multi Ammunition Softkill System)
Armament:

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8× MK 141 Harpoon SSM
Aircraft carried: 1 × CH-124 Sea King helicopter

The Halifax-class frigate (hull designation FFH) is a class of multi-role patrol frigates that have served the Royal Canadian Navy since 1992.[1] The class is the product of the Canadian Patrol Frigate Project, which dates to the mid-1970s.

HMCS Halifax was the first of an eventual twelve Canadian-designed and -built vessels which combine traditional anti-submarine capabilities with systems to deal with surface and air threats as well. The Halifax class are the work horses of the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) which deploys them extensively in task groups. All ships of the class are named after major Canadian cities, with at least one from each province (Ontario and Quebec, the most populous provinces, have two each). They are sometimes referred to as City-class frigates, a term left over from the preconstruction period when names had not been assigned to the hulls.

In 2007 the Canadian government announced a planned refit of the Halifax class which will be known as the Halifax Class Modernization Project (HCMP) or alternately as the Frigate Life Extension (FELEX). In November 2008, a Lockheed Martin-led team including Saab AB, Elisra, IBM Canada, CAE Professional Services, L-3 Electronic Systems and xwave, was awarded the contract.

In October 2011 the Canadian government announced in the National Shipbuilding Procurement Strategy that it would be ordering 15 warships under the Single Class Surface Combatant Project to replace the 3 Iroquois-class destroyers and 12 Halifax-class frigates, beginning in 2016.

Description

Weapons systems

One of the primary weapon systems deployed by Halifax-class vessels is the CH-124 Sea King helicopter, which acts in concert with shipboard sensors to seek out and destroy submarines at long distances from the ships. The ships have a helicopter deck fitted with a "bear trap" system allowing the launch and recovery of helicopters in up to sea state 6. It is anticipated that Royal Canadian Air Force's new maritime helicopter, the CH-148 Cyclone, which is slated to replace the Sea King, will be deployed on board the frigates with only minimal alterations to the ships' structure required. The Halifax class also carries a close-in anti-submarine weapon in the form of the Mark 46 torpedo, launched from Mark 32 Mod 9 torpedo tubes in launcher compartments either side of the forward end of the helicopter hangar.

The anti-shipping role is supported by the RGM-84 Harpoon Block 1C surface-to-surface missile, mounted in two quadruple launch tubes at the main deck level between the funnel and the helicopter hangar. For anti-aircraft self-defence the ships are armed with the Sea Sparrow vertical launch surface-to-air missile in two Mk-48 Mod 0 eight-cell launchers placed to port and starboard of the funnel. A Raytheon/General Dynamics Phalanx Mark 15 Mod 21 Close-In Weapon System (CIWS) is mounted on top of the helicopter hangar for "last-ditch" defence against targets that evade the Sea Sparrow. The CIWS includes a thermal imaging camera which provides a surface capability, improved Ku-band radar and optimized gun barrels with a dual firing rate of 3000 or 4500 rounds/min.

The main gun on the forecastle is a 57 mm 70 Mark 3 gun from Bofors. The gun is capable of firing 2.4 kg shells at a rate of 220 rounds/min at a range of more than 17 km. The Bofors is a multi-purpose weapon usable against surface and air targets. The 57 mm main gun has limited ship-to-shore bombardment capability.

Countermeasures

The decoy system comprises Two BAE Systems Shield Mark 2 decoy launchers which fire chaff to 2 km and infrared rockets to 169 m in distraction, confusion and centroid seduction modes. The torpedo decoy is the AN/SLQ-25A Nixie towed acoustic decoy from Argon ST. The ship's radar warning receiver, the CANEWS (Canadian Electronic Warfare System), SLQ-501, and the radar jammer, SLQ-505, were developed by Thorn and Lockheed Martin Canada.

Sensors

Two Thales Nederland (formerly Signaal) SPG-503 (STIR 1.8) fire control radars are installed one on the roof of the bridge and one on the raised radar platform immediately forward of the helicopter hangar. The ship is also fitted with Raytheon AN/SPS-49(V)5 long-range active air search radar operating at C and D bands, Ericsson HC150 Sea Giraffe medium-range air and surface search radar operating at G and H bands, and Kelvin Hughes Type 1007 I-band navigation radar.

The sonar suite includes the CANTASS Canadian Towed Array supplied by General Dynamics – Canada (GD-C), formerly Computing Devices of Canada and GD-C AN/SQS-510 hull mounted sonar and incorporates an acoustic range prediction system. The sonobuoy processing system is the GD-C AN/UYS-503.

Propulsion

Halifax-class vessels are powered by a CODOG (combined diesel or gas) system with two GE LM2500 gas turbines and one SEMT-Pielstick 20PA6 V280 diesel engine. CAE provided the Integrated Machinery Control System (IMCS). The Halifax class is the first to employ this degree of computer control for the machinery plant, and variants of the CAE system are also installed in other ship classes such as the United States Navy's Arleigh Burke class.

Refit

File:HMCS Toronto (FFH 333) in the Mediterranean Sea in October 2014.JPG
Toronto launches a helicopter during exercises in the Mediterranean in 2014

The Government of Canada announced on 5 July 2007 a $3.1 billion refit program for the Halifax class which will take place from 2010–2017 and extend the ships' service lives through 2030.[2] Faced with delays and restrictions from the International Traffic in Arms Regulations, the Navy has opted to modernize the Halifax class using as much non-American equipment as possible, including technology from Canada, Sweden, Germany, Netherlands and Israel. The International Traffic in Arms Regulations have also been blamed for the delay of the CH-148 Cyclone which is currently two years behind the original schedule.[3] The Halifax class will receive state of the art equipment able to handle modern threats through 2030. The modernization includes passive and active weapons, radars, and new combat architecture to meet the modern requirement of the Canadian Forces.

The Halifax class currently use the RIM-162 Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile, instead of the obsolete RIM-7 Sea Sparrow. The ESSM gives a greater range against anti-ship missiles, and enemy aircraft.

Thales Canada will provide the modern Sirius long-range Infrared Search and Track (IRST) for the Halifax class. The IRST is currently in use on board the Sachsen-class frigates.[4] The IRST is able to track low radar cross-section aircraft and ships.

The Halifax class will receive a modern combat architecture developed by Lockheed Martin Canada. The new combat architecture will provide a command, control, communications, computers, and intelligence (C4I) capability. Elements of the Saab 9LV Mk4 Combat Management System are incorporated in the “CanACCS-9LV”. The program includes a new combat system and a modernized operations room.[5]

Saab will provide 26 CEROS 200 Fire Control Director. The CEROS 200 is a Radar and Optronic Tracking system which interfaces with advanced anti-ship missiles and gun systems. It provides excellent defence against any modern threats including modern sea skimming anti-ship missiles or any asymmetric threats in littoral environments. The CEROS 200 is part of the 9LV Mk4.

BAE Systems received a contract to upgrade the Bofors 57 mm Mk 2 to Bofors 57 mm Mk 3 configuration. The upgrades will be performed at Karlskoga between 2010–2016, before being installed in Halifax and Victoria.

The Halifax class will be fitted with a modified Sea Giraffe SG-150 multi-function search radar. The SG-150 HC will be upgraded and will secure a high level of operational availability as well improved functions.[6]

The Halifax class will be fitted with the Multi Ammunition Softkill System (MASS) developed by Rheinmetall. MASS is a fully computerized countermeasure. It is connected to the ship's sensors and protects ships from attacks by advanced, sensor-guided missiles by launching decoys that operate in all relevant wavelengths. MASS is currently in use by 15 other navies worldwide.[7]

Elbit Systems received a contract to supply Electronic Warfare equipment for the Halifax class, including active jamming and tracking systems.[8]

Thales will provide 13 Smart-S Mk2 S-band radars, including one for training purposes. These radars are optimized for medium-to-long range search and target designation with a high degree of detection. The Smart-S Mk2 is a 3D multibeam radar which can detect hostile targets in near-shore environments. The deliveries will begin in the end of 2010 and will be completed in 2015.[9]

Raytheon Anschütz will provide at least 12 Pathfinder ST MK 2 Radar systems. The Pathfinder Mark II is designed to provide a modern and flexible navigation tool.[10] The Pathfinder ST Mk 2 radar system is part of the 9LV Mk4. In 2015, Canada acquired twelve sets of X and S-Band navigation radars from Raytheon Anschütz for the class. The new radars have advanced detection capability, new radiation control and pulse blanker interfaces and have improved interaction with the vessels' upgraded command and control system.[11]

Rheinmetall Waffe Munition GmbH received a contract to provide 14 Passive Electronic Countermeasures Systems (ECM).[12]

The Department of National Defence has requested a tender to provide a naval remote weapon system (NRWS) defence capability to the Halifax and Iroquois classes. The Halifax class will be fitted with a new close-in weapon system to replace the 12.7mm M2HB heavy machine gun.[13]

Although not part of the refit, Raytheon Canada Limited was awarded a contract of $180 million for 8 years to overhaul, convert and repair all Canadian CIWS to a Block 1B Baseline 1 configuration.[14] It was announced by the Department of National Defence that Hewitt Equipment was chosen to replace the diesel generators aboard the Halifax-class vessels in June 2015. The contract was awarded for 10 years, with options to extend it out to 22 years and covers ships on assigned to either coast.[15]

Specifications

  • Type: Guided missile frigate with helicopter (FFH)
  • Displacement: 4,770 tonnes (full load)
  • Dimensions: 134.1 metres length x 16.4 metres width x 4.9 metres draft
  • Armament:
  • Sensors (pre HCM/FELEX):
    • Air/Surface Search: Saab Sea Giraffe HC 150 (G band)
    • Long Range Air Search: Raytheon AN/SPS-49 (C/D band)
    • Fire Control: Signaal SPG-503 STIR 1.8 (K/I band)
    • Navigational Radar: Kelvin Hughes Type 1007 I-band
    • Active Sonar: AN/SQS-510 Hull-mounted variable depth (range to 27 nm)
    • Passive Sonar: AN/SQR-501 CANTASS Passive towed array
  • Sensors (post HCM/FELEX):
    • Air/Surface Search: Saab Sea Giraffe HC 180 (G band)
    • Long Range Air Search: Thales Smart-S Mk2 S-band radars
    • Fire Control: Saab CEROS 200
    • Navigational Radar: Raytheon Anschütz Pathfinder ST MK 2
    • Active Sonar: AN/SQS-510 Hull-mounted variable depth (range to 27 nm)
    • Passive Sonar: An upgraded AN/SQR-501 CANTASS Passive towed array
    • Combat System: Lockheed Martin Canada designed “CanACCS-9LV”, incorporating elemetsof Saab 9LV.
  • Propulsion: Twin CODOG
  • Speed: 29+ knots (54 km/h)
  • Endurance:
    • 7,100 nautical miles (13,000 km) at 15 knots (28 km/h) (diesel)
    • 4,500 nautical miles (8,300 km) at 15 knots (28 km/h) (turbine)
  • Complement: 225 (including air detachment and firefighting unit).
  • Range: 9,500 nautical miles (18,000 km)

Plans are underway to replace the Sea Sparrow missiles with the Evolved Sea Sparrow, upgrade the towed sonar arrays and fit newer propellers and anechoic tiles to reduce noise emission. HMCS Montréal has already been upgraded in the latter regard. Of note in the structural design of these ships is the distinctive funnel housing, designed to diffuse the vessels' heat signature.

Ships in class

There are twelve Halifax-class ships in Canadian service:

Name Pennant Number Builder Laid down Launched Commissioned Status
Halifax FFH 330 Saint John Shipbuilding, Saint John, NB 19 March 1987 30 April 1988 29 June 1992 Active in service
Vancouver FFH 331 19 May 1988 8 July 1989 23 August 1993 Active in service
Ville de Québec FFH 332 MIL Davie Shipbuilding, Lauzon, QC 16 December 1988 16 May 1991 14 July 1994 Active in service
Toronto FFH 333 Saint John Shipbuilding, Saint John, NB 22 April 1989 18 December 1990 29 July 1993 Active in service
Regina FFH 334 MIL Davie Shipbuilding, Lauzon, QC 6 October 1989 25 January 1992 29 December 1993 Active in service
Calgary FFH 335 15 June 1991 28 August 1992 12 May 1995 Active in service
Montréal FFH 336 Saint John Shipbuilding, Saint John, NB 8 February 1991 28 February 1992 21 July 1994 Active in service
Fredericton FFH 337 25 April 1992 26 June 1993 10 September 1994 Active in service
Winnipeg FFH 338 20 March 1993 25 June 1994 23 June 1996 Active in service
Charlottetown FFH 339 18 December 1993 1 October 1994 9 September 1995 Active in service
St. John's FFH 340 24 August 1994 26 August 1995 26 June 1996 Active in service
Ottawa FFH 341 29 April 1995 31 May 1996 28 September 1996 Active in service

See also

Other FFH or similar class vessels:

Other Royal Canadian Navy vessels:

References

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External links

Official ship websites:

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