Gowind® 2500 Corvette

March 13: DCNS’s first Gowind 2500 corvette prepares for first sea trials (© DCNS)

The Gowind® 2500 corvette is one of two variants in the Gowind family of multi-mission corvettes developed by DCNS Group.

The corvette can perform complex naval missions, including anti-air warfare (AAW), anti-surface warfare (ASuW) and anti-submarine warfare (ASW), as well as low-intensity operations such as maritime security, surveillance and patrol missions against trafficking and piracy.

Gowind® 2500 development

DCNS Group received the first contract for Gowind® 2500 from the Royal Malaysian Navy in 2014. The contract also includes a technology transfer agreement for the construction of six corvettes at the Boustead Naval Shipyard in Malaysia.

The Egyptian Navy entered an agreement with DCNS in June 2014 for the design and construction of four Gowind® 2500 corvettes.

On 17 September, the Elfateh, the first Gowind® 2500 corvette, was floated out of its assembly © DCNS

The contract also includes a technology transfer agreement for building three units at Alexandria Shipyard in Egypt. The first vessel was built by DCNS in Lorient.

Source: wikipedia.org

DCNS cut the metal for the first corvette at Lorient, in April 2015. The vessel was launched in September 2016. Deliveries of all units are scheduled to be completed before 2019.

First metal was cut for the first Gowind® 2500 corvette being built by Alexandria Shipyard in Egypt, in April 2016. Alexandria received supervision and technical aid teams from DCNS to support the construction of three corvettes.

DCNS also delivers training services at its Lorient shipyard for the workforce of Alexandria Shipyard. The technical data and essential components will also be delivered to the Egyptian shipyard to conclude the construction of the corvettes.

Naval Group delivers the first Gowind 2500 corvette, ENS EL FATEH, to the Egyptian Navy - Video: Here

Excerpt

Naval Group is proud to have delivered on Friday 22 September 2017 its first Gowind® 2500 corvette to the Egyptian Navy. The ceremony took place in Lorient in the presence of Admiral Ahmed Khaled, commander in chief of the Egyptian Navy, Hervé Guillou, President and CEO of Naval Group and senior officials of the French Navy and the French armament procurement agency. This vessel, ten units ordered so far, complements the group's extensive range of surface ships and submarines.

Ten ships, two versions on order

The Elfateh, is scheduled to be delivered to the Egyptian Navy in September. In 2016, work began on the first of three Elfateh-class vessels to be built in Alexandria under a DCNS technology transfer programme. Source: meretmarine.com

The Gowind 2500s for Egypt are 102 metres in length for a beam of 16m and a full-load displacement of 2,600t. In addition to 16 VL Mica surface-to-air missiles and eight Exocet MM40 Block 3 anti-ship missiles, the Egyptian Navy’s Elfateh-class corvettes will be equipped with a 76mm main gun, two 20mm machine guns and torpedo launch tubes. Other features include a Kingklip hull-mounted sonar, a Captas 2 towed array and a flight deck and hangar accommodating a 10t helicopter. The design offers accommodation for a complement of 80, including an air wing of 15, and 15 guests. The 10-MW diesel-electric propulsion system offers a maximum speed of 25 knots and a range of 3,700nm at 15kts.

The Royal Malaysian Navy had different requirements as it wanted corvettes with a higher maximum speed and additional accommodation. As a result, the RMN version has a length overall of 110m for a full-load displacement of 3,100t while offering a top speed of 28kts and accommodation for 138. The weapon system is also different in that it features 30mm machine guns, NSM anti-ship missiles instead of Exocets, and a stealth cupola housing a 57mm main gun.

Royal Malaysian Navy LCS-SGPV Corvette: Details

Artist’s impression of Gowind version for the Royal Malaysian Navy (© DCNS)

The Egyptian and Malaysian Gowinds will feature the Setis combat management system developed by DCNS. These two versions will also be the first warships designed from the outset for the group’s integrated modular mast. The innovative mast is, in fact, part of the larger PSIM panoramic sensors and intelligence module. The PSIM is assembled as a single block comprising the radome and most of the vessel’s sensors and communications systems along with the ops room and the associated equipment compartments. The radome houses the electronic warfare suite and a Smart-S surveillance radar using 360° panoramic scanning. Because each PSIM is assembled, outfitted and tested separately, the various mission-critical systems can be integrated, tested and fine-tuned before integration with the hull; an innovative procedure that results in significant time savings. Source: meretmarine.com

Smart-S surveillance radar 

SMART-S Mk2, Thales’s latest 3D multibeam radar, operates in S-band and is optimised for medium-to-long-range surveillance and target designation in littoral environments.
 

E/F-band

SMART-S Mk2 is the naval 3D air and surface surveillance radar operating in E/F-band. The multi-beam concept creates a long time-on-target resulting in excellent performance over the whole coverage. Pulse-Doppler processing enables fast target track initiation and stealth target detection, even in a cluttered environment. The use of solid-state transmitters extends the system reliability and allows for graceful degradation.

The latter consisting of a mix of sea, land, islands, coastal rains and thunderstorms and a multiple of radar targets including small surface targets, helicopters and anti-ship missiles. Furthermore, SMART-S Mk2 is designed to match the full performance of surface to air missiles (SAM), such as the Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile (ESSM). SMART-S Mk2 is extremely suitable as the main air and surface surveillance radar in a one radar concept for light frigates, corvettes and ships such as Landing Platform Docks (LPD). Source: thalesgroup.com

Source: thalesgroup.com

Malaysia names and launches first Littoral Combat Ship: Here

Malaysia's first-of-class Littoral Combat Ship, Maharaja Lela, just prior to its launch on 24 August 2017 (Royal Malaysian Navy)

Excerpt

Malaysia’s Boustead Naval Shipyard (BNS) has launched the first Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) on order for the Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN).

The vessel, which has been given the pennant number 2501, was launched on 24 August at BNS’ facility in Lumut by the Queen of Perak, Zara Salim. In attendance at the launching ceremony was the Sultan of Perak Nazrin Muizzudin Shah, Malaysian defence minister Hishammuddin Hussein, and RMN Chief Admiral Kamarulzaman Ahmad Badaruddin.

RMN - Source: wikiwand.com

Design of the Gowind® 2500 corvette

The Gowind® 2500 is a steel mono-hull vessel offering superior stealth capabilities. Its low-acoustic signature and radar cross section avoid easy detection by hostile platforms, making the corvette stealthier than other vessels in its class.

1. 3D Radar;

2. Electronic Support Measures (ESM) suite;

3. Hull mounted sonar;

4. Variable depth sonar;

5. Fire control system;

6. Vertical launching system (16 cells);

7. Main gun (57- up to 76-mm);

8. 8 Surface-to-surface missiles;

9. Short range gun system;

10. Torpedo launching system;

11. Decoy launching system;

12. Helicopter (10 t) and Unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) facilities;

13. Rigid Hull Inflatable Boats (RHIBs).

Source: dmitryshulgin.com

The vessel allows the integration of multiple mission modules to meet emerging operational requirements of the users.

The corvette has a length of 102m, beam of 16m, depth of 5.4m, and displacement of 2,500t. It can complement a crew of 65, and 15 Special Forces.

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Combat management system

The Gowind® 2500 corvettes incorporate the SETIS combat system, which is also in service with FREMM frigates. The intuitive man-machine interface and integrated command prompts enables the crew to analyse large amounts of data fed by onboard sensors and allows them to take quick counteractions against wide range of threats.

The combat system also supports the integration of unmanned aircraft system (UAS) for extended detection and response against threats. The system is capable of conducting engagement of surface vessels, defence against aerial platforms, detection and tracking, and engagement of submarines.

It can also share the accurate tactical picture with other vessels in the task group through interoperable data links.

SETIS combat system

Source: naval-group.com

Corvettes armament

The corvettes will be armed with an OTO Melara 76mm main gun, two Nexter Narwhal 20mm cannons, a vertical launch system (VLS) for 16 VL Mica surface-to-air missiles, eight MBDA MM40 Exocet anti-ship missile launchers and two triple torpedo launchers.

OTO Melara 76mm main gun

The Oto-Melara / Oto-Breda 76/62SR 76mm (3-inches) 62-caliber Super Rapid gun is a lightweight, automatic loading, rapid fire naval gun system used against shore, sea and air targets.

Manufacturer: 1963-2001 Oto-Melara / 2001- OtoBreda
Produced: Compact: 1963- / Super Rapid: 1988-

Technical data:
Caliber: 3 inches / 76,2 mm
Barrel lenght: 186 inches / 4,72 meters (= 62 caliber)
Weight: 7900kg, empty (Super Rapid)
Shell: 76 x 900 mm / 12,34 kilograms
Elevation: - 15° to + 85°
Traverse: 360°
Rate of fire: Compact: 85 rpm / Super Rapid: selectable from single shot up to 120 rpm
Muzzle Velocity: 925 m/s (1100 m/s - DART)
Magazine: Compact: 80 rounds / SR: 85 rounds

Range: 
16 kilometers with standard ammunition
20 km with extended range ammunition
up to 40 km with VULCANO ammunition

Evolution:
- Compact
- Super Rapid
- Stealth casing
- DAVIDE/STRALES radio frequency guidance system for DART guided ammunition

Ammunition:
- HE (high explosive) - 6,296kg / Range 16km / effective range 8km (4km vs. air targets at elev. 85°)
- MOM (multi-role OTO munition)
- PFF (pre-formed fragmentation) - anti-missile ammunition
- SAPOM (semi-armored piercing OTO munition) - 6,35kg / Range 16km
- SAPOMER (semi-armored piercing OTO munition, extended range) - Range 20km
- DART (driven ammunition reduced time of flight) - sub-calibre guided ammunition against multiple targets
(missiles and maneuvering targets at sea) 4,2kg in barrel / 3,5kg in flight / 660mm lenght / effective range >8km
- VULCANO (76mm unguided and guided extended range ammunition) - under development 
Source: seaforces.org

Two Nexter Narwhal 20mm cannons

This remotely operated and stabilised 20mm gun turret was designed using Nexter's huge experience in light naval mounts and technologies for gun turrets used on helicopters (THL20 and THL30).

NARWHAL® combines the impressive firepower of Nexter's 20M621 20mm gun – used by more than 25 countries – with a set of high-performance day/night electro-optic cameras and a moving target monitoring function. It is the ideal system for a broad range of critical missions. It is perfectly suited to surveillance and maritime police operations, but also interception and self-defence operations in the face of constantly evolving asymmetric threats.

NARWHAL® provides short-range self-defence for French and Egyptian FREMM frigates, for French MISTRALclass vessels and for Lebanese navy patrol boats. It will be also in service on patrol boats (Guyanese PLG light patrol craft) and on the HORIZON class frigates of the French Navy. 
Source: nexter-group.fr

Vertical launch system (VLS) 

Vertical launch system (VLS) for VL Mica - mspo.defence24.pl

The VL MICA is a weapon system with an unmatched self-defence and local area defence capability for a wide range of surface combatant vessels VL MICA is available with two state-of-the-art seekers (IR or RF).

It can counter the most severe IRCM-ECM scenarios with a very high kill probability.

VL MICA offers a real multiple target capability (autonomous guidance, extremely short reaction time) and all target capability (aircraft, missiles, PGMs, smart bombs and helicopters) with low training costs and reduced manpower requirements.

Two state-of-the-art seekers (IR or RF)

Source: mbda-systems.com

MBDA MM40 Exocet anti-ship missile

The combat-proven Exocet is a sea-skimming, subsonic, fire-and-forget, anti-ship missile. It entered service in 1975 with the French Navy. The guidance system consists of an inertial navigation system and an active radar seeker for the terminal phase. Exocet features a 165 kg shaped charge warhead.

It is one of the most popular anti-ship missiles in the western hemisphere. More than 3,300 Exocet missiles have been produced for 33 countries.

The MM40 is an ECCM-protected, ship-launched, increased in length, long range version of the Exocet missile enabled to engage over the horizon targets. The MM40 features a better performance in heavy countermeasures ECM environments. MM40 missiles received upgrades from Block 2 program breakthroughs.

mbda-systems.com

Dimensions
Diameter: 350 millimeter (13.8 inch)
Length: 5.80 meter (228 inch)
Wingspan: 1.13 meter
Performance
Max Range: 72,000 meter (38.9 nautical mile)
Speed
Top Speed: 309 mps (1,113 kph)
Weight
Warhead: 165 kilogram (364 pound)
Weight: 870 kilogram (1,918 pound)

Source: deagel.com

Two triple torpedo launchers

"The Gowind® 2500’s low acoustic signature and radar cross section avoid easy detection by hostile platforms, making the corvette stealthier than other vessels in its class."

Onboard sensors / radars

The onboard sensors and radars include a 3D radar, electronic support measures (ESM) suite, a hull-mounted sonar, a variable depth sonar (VDS) and a fire control system.

Kingklip Hull Mounted Sonar

Captas 2 variable depth sonar

VIGILE 200 Tactical R-ESM System

ALTESSE Naval C-ESM

ALTESSE is a range of electronic support and electronic attack solutions tailored to maritime tactical users, either on littoral or onboard combat ships.

ALTESSE is designed to target the current and nearterm communications environment of littoral and naval operations, and provides following functions:

• Early warning on communication signals on H/V/UHF bands, situation awareness
• ELINT+COMINT interception,
• Location and on-board analysis workstations with decoding and listening-in,
• AIS and radar data integration and correlation.

These solutions are based on communications intelligence, electronic support and attack equipments:

• TRC 6200: Light tactical COMINT/ESM payload
• TRC 6000: COMINT/ESM software suite
• TRC 274: smart communication jammer
• TRC 6500: Strategic COMINT payload
• TRC 6300: V/UHF high-performance interception and direction finding payload

Source: thalesgroup.com

SYLENA MK2 decoy launcher system

Etienne Lacroix, which is currently developing stealth launchers capable of being integrated into superstructures, has developed a system capable of deploying anti-missile countermeasures, as well as anti-torpedo decoys. The Sylena Mk2 (420kg with munitions), in addition to Sealem and Sealir, can deploy Sealat mortars (1.2m, 145mm, 25kg) loaded with the new Canto® decoys developed by DCNS. “It is a tremendous advantage to be capable of deploying both anti-missile and anti-torpedo decoys from a single, latest generation launcher. This low-cost, dual solution is easy to integrate and is attracting much interest”. The Egyptian Navy has opted for the Sylena MK2 to arm it Gowind 2500 corvettes. Source: meretmarine.com

Aircraft handling facilities

The vessel features a helicopter deck for allowing the permanent deployment of a 10t heavy-lift helicopter and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). It also provides a hangar facility for embarked helicopter.

Diesel and electronic propulsion

The Gowind® 2500 is powered by combined diesel and electric propulsion system. The power-plant provides a maximum speed of more than 25kt. The corvette can attain a range of 4,000 nautical miles (nm) at speeds of 15kt.

Main material source: naval-technology.com 

Updated Aug 14, 2018