Dutch land Morocco frigate deal

The Royal Moroccan Navy has signed a contract with the Netherlands-based Schelde Naval Shipbuilding, part of the Damen Shipyards Group, for three Sigma-type missile corvettes. The customer has requested the overall contract value is not disclosed, but this is estimated to be around $1.2 billion.

Morocco’s order is for three Sigma-class multi-mission frigates: two 2,100-ton ships and one with a displacement of 2,300 ton that features additional command. The contract is for the design, build and delivery by 2012 of three Sigma-class surface combatants that the Moroccans designate Multi-Mission Frigates.

According to a recent statement from Schelde Naval Shipbuilding, the contract “became effective after close cooperation and final negotiations with the Royal Moroccan Navy in a relatively short period, in order to realize its plans to modernize the fleet and extend its patrol capabilities. The choice of systems was focused on achieving interoperability, for example in the area of communications systems, to allow Morocco pursue its future intentions on joint operations and missions with ships from NATO navies,” Schelde says.

The Sigma-class Multi-Mission Frigates will be extended versions of the existing Sigma-type ships (four of which are being built for Indonesia) by adding one or two modules.

The contract includes one 2,300-ton ship (designated Sigma 10513) of 105 metres in length and two 2,100-ton ships (Sigma 9813s) of 98 metres in length. The stretched variant will have additional facilities for command & control. It will have accommodation for 110 personnel. The other two ships will have a crew of 91.

The three combatants will feature a common, systematic arrangement including a state of the art Thales Nederland-supplied combat system with anti-air, anti-submarine, anti-surface and electronic warfare capabilities. The ships will have a twin Pielstick diesel propulsion plant and a flight deck and hangar for a medium-sized helicopter.