Gowind-class design
{{Short description|French multi-role ship design}}
The Gowind design is a family of steel monohull frigates, corvettes and offshore patrol vessels developed since 2006 by France's Naval Group, formerly known as DCNS, to conduct missions in the littoral zone such as anti-submarine warfare (ASW). The Gowind family includes vessels with lengths from {{convert|85|to|111|m|ftin}} and displacement from 1,000 tons to 3,100 tons.{{cite web|url=http://www.naval-technology.com/projects/gowind_corvettes/ |title=Gowind Corvettes, France |website=naval-technology.com |access-date=19 November 2014}}
The Gowind design can deploy unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), unmanned surface vehicles (USVs) and underwater unmanned vehicles (UUVs). An aft deck has been provided allowing for a 10-ton class helicopter or UAV operations.
The platform's weapon system consists of a multi-functional radar and VL MICA surface-to-air missiles (SAM). It is armed with Exocet anti-ship missiles. The propulsion system is based on Combined Diesel and Diesel (CODAD) and includes water-jets for improved maneuverability in shallow waters and high-speed performance. There is no funnel on these ships. The radar and other sensors are mounted on a single central mast thus allowing 360-degree view. Naval Group offers two variants of the design: Gowind 1000 and Gowind 2500 while Malaysia with the assistance of Naval Group locally developed the Gowind 3100.
As of October 2021, the Greek government is in discussions with Naval Group about the acquisition of up to seven Gowind corvettes with three of them being built in Greece.
Product reorganisation
{{Main|Kership}}
The Gowind class originally consisted of offshore patrol vessels (OPVs) but after a rearrangement of products Naval Group decided to remove the OPV from the Gowind class and develop the OPVs as a class of their own with {{ship|French patrol vessel|L'Adroit||2}} top of the range. To do so it formed the Kership joint venture with the Piriou shipyard in Concarneau, Brittany in May 2013 to build and market lightly armed and armoured OPVs for customs, fishing and other home security missions. Naval Group said this would enable it to concentrate on "developing relations" with clients seeking heavily armed and armoured warships while Kership handles the more civilian-standard OPVs.{{cite web|url=http://aviationweek.com/blog/egypt-buys-four-gowind-corvettes |title=Egypt buys four Gowind corvettes |work=Aviation Week |last=Mackenzie |first=Christina |date=6 June 2014 |access-date=19 November 2014}}
Class specifications
= Gowind 1000 =
The Gowind 1000 is a 1,000-ton corvette designed for protection, escort and embargo naval missions in a littoral environment. The Gowind 1000 can also perform presence, surveillance, intelligence and policing missions. It is armed with:
- 1 x OTO Melara 76 mm main gun
- 2 x Nexter Narwhal 20 mm cannon
- 8 x VLS for MBDA VL MICA surface-to-air missiles
- 4 x MBDA MM40 Exocet anti-ship missile launchers
Sensors:
- Integrated mast to integrate most sensors in a low observable design
= Gowind 2500 =
The Gowind 2500 multi-mission corvette is designed for surveillance, surface and subsurface combat, protection and escort naval missions. It can also perform presence, maritime surveillance and policing missions against trafficking and piracy.
The Gowind 2500 capitalizes on Naval Group's expertise in vessel stealth.
The vessel is equipped with facilities for an embarked helicopter and drones. It is armed with:
- 1 × OTO Melara 76 mm main gun
- 2 × Nexter Narwhal 20 mm cannon
- 16 × VLS for MBDA VL MICA surface-to-air missiles
- 8 × MBDA MM40 Exocet anti-ship missile launchers
- 2 × triple torpedo launchers
Electronic warfare & decoys for Egypt's Gowind 2500:
- Vigile 200 Tactical R-ESM System
- Altesse Naval C-ESM
- Sylena MK2 decoy launcher system
= Gowind 3100 =
The Gowind 3100 is a frigate with the displacement of 3,100 tons and length of {{convert|111|m|ftin}}.{{cite web | url=https://www.naval-technology.com/projects/gowind_corvettes/ | title=Gowind Class Corvette Multi-Mission Combatant }}{{cite web | url=https://www.naval-group.com/en/surface-ships | title=Surface ships }} It is armed with:
- 1 × Bofors 57 mm main gun
- 2 × MSI DS30M 30 mm cannon
- 16 × VLS for MBDA VL MICA surface-to-air missiles
- 8 × Naval Strike Missile anti-ship missile launchers
- 2 × triple torpedo launcher
Operators
=Egypt=
In 2014, Egypt signed a €1bn contract with Naval Group to buy four Gowind 2,500-ton corvettes with an option for two more. Separately, MBDA negotiated a contract to equip the ships with MICA vertical launch air-defense missiles and MM40 Block 3 Exocet anti-ship missiles, together worth an additional 400 million euros, while Naval Group negotiated a 100–200 million euro contract for torpedoes.{{cite web |url=http://www.defense-aerospace.com/articles-view/feature/5/158485/dcns-confirms-sale-of-10-gowind-corvettes.html |title=DCNS Confirms Sale of 10 Gowind Corvettes, Expects More |website=defense-aerospace.com |date=31 October 2014 |access-date=13 August 2020}} Three of the corvettes are to be built locally by Alexandria Shipyard within a technology transfer agreement. It was apparently President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi who decided these were the ships he wanted rather than the Meko A200 being offered by German group ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems (TKMS) or the Sigma corvette proposed by Damen of the Netherlands.{{cite web|url=http://www.latribune.fr/entreprises-finance/industrie/aeronautique-defense/20140915trib000848902/armement-nouveaux-clins-d-oeil-de-l-egypte-a-la-france.html |title=Armement : nouveaux clins d'oeil de l'Egypte à la France |first=Michel |last=Cabirol |work=La Tribune |date=15 September 2014 |access-date=26 September 2014 |language=fr}} Egypt is in talks with France to acquire another two Gowind corvettes which, if ordered, would be produced by France in Lorient.{{cite news|url= http://www.latribune.fr/entreprises-finance/industrie/aeronautique-defense/les-egyptiens-sont-a-paris-pour-negocier-l-achat-des-deux-mistral-507018.html |website= La Tribune |title=Les Egyptiens sont à Paris pour négocier l'achat des deux Mistral |last=Cabirol |first=Michel |trans-title= Egyptians are in Paris to negotiate the purchase of two Mistral |date= 22 September 2015 |language= French |access-date=13 August 2020}}{{cite news|url= http://www.defensenews.com/story/defense/naval/2015/07/25/diplomat-france-talks-egypt-new-corvette-sale/30664295/ |website= defensenews.com |title= Diplomat: France Is In Talks With Egypt For New Corvette Sale |date= 25 July 2015 |access-date=13 August 2020 |agency=Agence France-Presse}}
In April 2015, Naval Group started cutting metal for the very first Gowind 2500 corvette, with a planned construction period of 29 months. It is the first of a series of four units that will be delivered to Egypt before 2019. The corvette's first block was laid in the dry dock in September 2015.{{cite tweet |url= https://mobile.twitter.com/dcnsgroup/status/649206737787072513 |title= The future Egyptian #Gowind corvette is taking shape at DCNS Lorient. |user=navalgroup |number=649206737787072513 |date= 30 September 2015 |access-date=13 August 2020}} Naval Group celebrated the launch of the first Egyptian Gowind corvette El Fateh at the Lorient naval shipyard in September 2016. El Fateh successfully concluded its first sea trials by the end of March 2017.{{cite press release |url= http://en.dcnsgroup.com/news/the-first-gowind2500-by-dcns-succeeds-in-the-beginning-of-its-sea-trials/ |publisher= Naval Group |title= The first Gowind®2500 by DCNS succeeds in the beginning of its sea trials |date= 22 March 2017 |access-date=13 August 2020}} The Egyptian Navy took delivery of the vessel in September 2017, three years after the order was placed.{{cite press release |url= https://www.naval-group.com/en/news/naval-group-delivers-the-first-gowind2500-corvette-ens-elfateh-to-the-egyptian-navy/ |publisher= Naval Group |title= Naval Group Delivers the First Gowind®2500 Corvette, ENS Elfateh, to the Egyptian Navy |date= 22 September 2017 |access-date=13 August 2020}}
Alexandria Shipyard started cutting metal for the second Gowind corvette intended for the Egyptian Navy in April 2016. It is the first corvette to be built locally in Egypt. Naval Group sent supervision and technical assistance teams, technical data and necessary components to Alexandria for assisting Egypt in the local construction of the three corvettes. The company also provided training for the Egyptian staff at its site in Lorient.{{cite press release |url= http://en.dcnsgroup.com/news/beginning-of-construction-of-the-first-gowind-2500-corvette-built-in-egypt/ |publisher= Naval Group |title= Beginning of Construction of the First Gowind® 2500 Corvette Built in Egypt |date= 17 April 2016 |access-date= 13 August 2020 |archive-date= 28 May 2017 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20170528165546/http://en.dcnsgroup.com/news/beginning-of-construction-of-the-first-gowind-2500-corvette-built-in-egypt/ |url-status= dead }} All the Panoramic Sensors and Intelligence Modules (PSIM) were produced and tested in Lorient by Naval Group and later shipped to Alexandria for installation on the corvettes. The launching ceremony of the second Gowind corvette Port Said took place in September 2018 in Alexandria.{{Citation|last=IndraStra Global|title=Port Said - Egyptian Navy's New Home-made Gowind 2500-class Corvette|date=2018-09-09|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WE0MPd218Ho |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/WE0MPd218Ho |archive-date=2021-12-21 |url-status=live|access-date=2018-11-21 |website=youtube.com}}{{cbignore}}{{cite web|url= https://www.navyrecognition.com/index.php/news/defence-news/2018/september/6485-launching-of-the-first-gowind-2500-corvette-built-in-egypt.html |website= navyrecognition.com |title= Launching of the first Gowind 2500 corvette built in Egypt |date= 7 September 2018 |access-date=13 August 2020}}
Construction work on the third vessel has already started. Its first block was laid in the dry dock by July 2018.{{cite news|url= http://www.defenceweb.co.za/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=52468:naval-group-delivering-gowind-sensor-mast-to-egypt&catid=51:Sea&Itemid=106 |website= defenceweb.co.za |title= Naval Group delivering Gowind sensor mast to Egypt |date= 20 July 2018 |access-date=13 August 2020}}
=Malaysia=
{{main|Maharaja Lela-class frigate}}
Malaysia is locally designing and building six stealth frigates displacing 3,100 tons and length 111 meter based on the design of the Gowind corvette.{{cite web |url=http://www.navyrecognition.com/index.php/news/defence-news/year-2014-news/august-2014-navy-naval-forces-maritime-industry-technology-security-global-news/1969-royal-malaysian-navy-releases-first-official-image-of-its-lcs-sgpv-frigate.html |title=Royal Malaysian Navy Releases First Official Image of its LCS-SGPV Corvette |website=navyrecognition.com |date=27 August 2014 |access-date=26 September 2014}} In 2023, it is confirmed that Malaysia will only build five instead of six ship after the sixth ship were cancelled.
| class=wikitable | |||||
| Name | Hull number | Laid down | Launched | Commissioned | Homeport |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maharaja Lela | 2501 | 8 March 2016 | 24 August 2017 | ||
| Raja Muda Nala | 2502 | 28 February 2017{{Cite web|url=https://defencesecurityasia.com/amp/en/video-rmns-lcs-2-completes-first-stage-of-painting-process/|title=RMN’s LCS 2 Completes First Stage of Painting Process}} | |||
| Raja Mahadi | 2503 | 18 December 2017 | |||
| Mat Salleh | 2504 | 31 October 2018 | |||
| Tok Janggut | 2505 | TBA{{cite web |url=https://www.malaysiandefence.com/here-we-go-again-lcs/ |title=Here We Go Again LCS |work=Malaysian Defence |date=3 August 2020 |access-date=13 August 2020}} | |||
| Mat Kilau | 2506 | colspan=4 align=center|Cancelled |
=Argentina=
Argentina chose the OPV variant (Kership design). After repeated negotiations and break-offs. In February 2018 the Argentine Navy was instructed to restart negotiations with Naval Group for the procurement of four Gowind-class vessels. The decision was motivated by the meeting between Argentine President Mauricio Macri and French President Emmanuel Macron at the annual World Economic Forum summit in Davos, Switzerland. An order for four vessels was expected in July 2018.{{cite web|last1=Higuera|first1=Jose|title=Argentina restarts talks with Naval Group for Gowind OPVs|url=http://www.janes.com/article/77575|website=IHS Jane's 360|access-date=5 February 2018|archive-url=https://archive.today/20180205224559/http://www.janes.com/article/77575/argentina-restarts-talks-with-naval-group-for-gowind-opvs|archive-date=5 February 2018|location=Santiago|date=2 February 2018|url-status=dead}} In November 2018, Argentina confirmed the purchase of four Gowind-class vessels. The purchase includes the already-built {{ship|French patrol vessel|L'Adroit||2}}, which in 2016 visited the region on a marketing trip and three new vessels.{{cite web|title=Argentina confirms the purchase of four French OPVs|url=https://www.janes.com/article/84948/argentina-confirms-the-purchase-of-four-french-opvs|website=IHS Jane's 360|access-date=3 December 2018|date=30 November 2018|url-status=dead|archive-date=3 December 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181203152345/https://www.janes.com/article/84948/argentina-confirms-the-purchase-of-four-french-opvs}}
= United Arab Emirates=
In 2019 March 25, the United Arab Emirates Navy had signed a contract with Naval Group for Euro750 million (USD850m) for two 2500 class frigates (actually weighing 2,700 tonnes) with options for two more to be built in partnership with Abu Dhabi Ship Building Company (ADSB). They will be equipped with Naval Group's SETIS combat management system, MBDA's Exocet missile and VL MICA-NG missiles. This contract was announced in mid-June 2019 by Naval Group.{{cite web |url=https://www.defensenews.com/naval/2019/06/10/uae-naval-group-quietly-cut-850-million-deal-for-gowind-ships/ |title=UAE, Naval Group quietly cut $850 million deal for Gowind ships |first=Christina |last=Mackenzie |work=Defense News |date=10 June 2019 |access-date=13 August 2020}}
Cancelled
=Romania=
In July 2019, Naval Group won a €1.2 billion contract, which included the construction of four new Gowind multi-mission corvettes for the Romanian Navy. Naval Group was due to build the first corvette within three years while the remaining three corvettes were to be constructed by Constanța Shipyard and delivered before 2026.{{cite web |title=Naval Group awarded €1.2 billion contract for 4 Romania navy corvettes |url=https://thedefensepost.com/2019/07/03/naval-group-romania-navy-corvette-contract/ |date=3 July 2019 |access-date=13 August 2020 |work=The Defense Post}} The contract was cancelled by Romanian Ministry of Defence on 8 August 2023, following disagreements on the price of constructing the corvettes.{{Cite news |date=2022-02-03 |title=France hopes to seal Romania 1.2 bln euro warship deal quickly |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/france-hopes-seal-romania-12-bln-euro-warship-deal-quickly-2022-02-03/ |access-date=2023-03-14}}{{cite web|url=https://www.hotnews.ro/stiri-defense-26449520-ministerul-apararii-anulat-licitatia-pentru-corvete-istoria-unui-esec-strategic-pentru-romania.htm|title=Ministerul Apărării a anulat licitația pentru corvete. Istoria unui eșec strategic pentru România|language=ro|work=HotNews|date=8 August 2023}}
Potential operators
=Indonesia=
In January 2020, the Indonesian Minister of Defence Prabowo Subianto during a bilateral meeting in France with his French counterpart Florence Parly said the Indonesian Ministry is interested in French military equipment; including 36 Dassault Rafale aircraft, {{sclass2|Scorpène|submarine|5}} submarines and 2 Gowind corvettes.{{cite web |url=https://www.meta-defense.fr/en/2020/01/17/to-deal-with-lindonesia-china-interested-in-the-gust-and-french-submarines/ |title=To face China, Indonesia is interested in the Rafale and French submarines |work=meta-defense.fr |date=17 January 2020 |access-date=28 March 2020 |archive-date=1 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200801214920/https://www.meta-defense.fr/en/2020/01/17/to-deal-with-lindonesia-china-interested-in-the-gust-and-french-submarines/ |url-status=dead }} On 7 June 2021, Indonesia signed a letter of intent to buy two Gowind corvettes from France.{{cite web|last=GDC|date=2021-08-02|title=Indonesia signed a letter of intent to acquire 36 Rafale fighter jets from France.|url=https://www.globaldefensecorp.com/2021/08/02/indonesia-signed-a-letter-of-intent-to-acquire-36-rafale-fighter-jets-from-france/|access-date=2021-08-03|website=Global Defense Corp|language=en-US}}
= Greece =
{{As of|2021}}, Greece is interested in 5 Gowind 2800HN corvettes based on the Gowind 2500 for the Hellenic Navy as part of a $5 billion defence package.{{cite web|url=https://www.meta-defense.fr/en/2021/09/30/negotiations-for-gowind-2500-corvettes-built-in-greece-to-advance-rapidly/ |title=Negotiations for Gowind 2500 corvettes built in Greece to advance rapidly |publisher=Meta-Defense.fr |date=2021-09-30 |accessdate=2022-05-09}}
See also
- Littoral combat ship
- MILGEM project
- {{sclass|Sigma|corvette|1}}
- {{sclass|Doha|corvette|1}}
- {{sclass|Kamorta|corvette|1}}
- {{sclass|Steregushchiy|corvette|1}}
- {{sclass|Formidable|frigate|1}}
- {{sclass|Gepard|frigate|1}}
- {{sclass|Incheon|frigate|1}}
- {{sclass|Tamandaré|frigate|1}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.alexyard.com.eg/ Alexandria shipyard]
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20121011064737/http://en.dcnsgroup.com/naval/products/gowind-family/ Gowind Official website]
- [http://www.navyrecognition.com/index.php/news/naval-exhibitions/euronaval-2012/723-dcns-presented-an-export-version-of-its-fremm-frigate-and-its-gowind-range-at-euronaval.html DCNS presented an export version of its FREMM Frigate and its Gowind range at Euronaval]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Gowind Class Corvette}}