Jakarta, IDM – As a multirole vessel, a frigate supports various military operations: anti-ship, anti-aircraft, anti-submarine, electronic warfare, and support ship, as well as Military Operations Other Than War (MOOTW). These include maritime security operations, non-combatant evacuation operations, counterterrorism operations, SAR (Search and Rescue) operations, and so on.
Frigates are equipped with a sonar system, underwater sensors to ‘hunt’ submarines, including detecting enemy submarines. However, there are several types of sonar based on where they are mounted on warships, particularly frigates. First, the Hull Mounted Sonar (HMS) which is located just below the keel of the ship. Second, Towed sonar mounted on the stern. There are two types of Towed sonar – Variable Depth Sonar (VDS) and Towed Array Sonar (TAS).
As VDS is adjustable, it is able to track submarines at any depth of the ocean (even in the thermal layer) and typically relies on an active mode. This sonar can transmit sound to actively locate submarines. In contrast, TAS is only used in passive mode, which is to keep the frigate in stealth mode while trying to detect incoming submarines, through sound generated by their propeller blades. Unlike the two, HMS, on the other hand, can be used in dual mode, both active and passive.
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Warships are one of the major components of the primary weapon systems (Alutsista) which the Navy (AL) needs to have in order to stiffen a country’s defense posture. One type of warship that is relied upon by naval feets in many countries is frigates.
With their complete functions and capabilities, and supported by relatively low operating costs, frigates have become one of the most popular and reliable types of defense equipment in a number of countries, including Indonesia. According to Global Fire Power data, the three countries with the highest number of frigates are China (46 units), followed by Taiwan (22 units) and Turkey (16 units). Meanwhile, Indonesia currently only has 7.
However, Indonesia continues to bolster its frigate fleet by purchasing Italian-made frigates. According to the official Ficantieri website, the leading Italian vessel manufacturer will supply six FREMM (Fregata Europea Multi-Missione) frigates to Indonesia. “This cooperation is very important to strengthen cooperation between the two countries in the strategic Pacifc region,” Fincanteri wrote.
FREMM, an icon of Italy’s maritime power
The European multirole frigate known as FREMM is a state-of-the-art ‘sea guardian’, jointly developed by the Italian defense company Fincantieri and France’s Naval Group/Armaris, to strengthen their respective navies. In Italy it is known as the Bergamini-class while in France it is called the Aquitaine-class. As Naval News reported, FREMM is said to be capable of being deployed in a variety of missions, including anti-submarine warfare and anti-ship and anti aircraft warfare.
FREMM production started in 2007. Italy acquired six basic variants of the frigate and four anti submarine ones (10 in total). Two of the last four FREMM variants are equipped with anti aircraft, anti-ballistic missile and surface-attack capability. This feet was originally part of the modernization drive, intended to replace eight Maestrale-class and four Lupo-class frigates.
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FREMM weaponry and sophistication
The Italian frigate is armed with the Aster 15 and Aster 30 SAM (Surface-toAir Missile) missile systems for air defense capability, as well as Teseo Mk2 anti-ship missile (export version Otomat Mk2). Both are supplied by defense company MBDA. Teseo Mk2 uses an enhanced Inertial Guidance System with a range of up to 180 km. Each ship is equipped with two DCNS Sylver A43 vertical launchers.
MBDA’s Milas all-weather anti-submarine weapon system provides support for the frigate’s defense. The Milas, derived from Otomat Mk2, carries with it light torpedoes such as the MU-90 to attack submarines regarded as hostile. The position of the submarine can detected with its onboard sonar or from other feets such as ASW (Anti-Submarine Warfare) helicopters or maritime patrol aircraft.
The sonar suite on board includes a hull mounted Thales Type 4110. Three ASW vessels are also equipped with TSA or Thales Type 4929, ultra-low frequency active sonar. Meanwhile, the radar used to control attacks on the missile systems is the domestically-produced G-band EMPAR (European Multifunction Phased Array Radar)—made by Selex Sistemi Integrati. The ship is also supported by an infrared-based search and trace system (IRST) known as the Galileo Avionica’s Silent Acquisition Surveillance System (SASS).
Not only are the systems using the latest technology: these European multirole frigates are also equipped with a helicopter landing deck and an aft deck the size of approximately 520m² meaning the frigate can accommodate two helicopters. Installed aboard the frigate are an emergency communications system and a remote briefng system to communicate with helicopters. The Italian series frigates are equipped with TC-ASIST (Twin Claw Aircraft Ship Integrated Securing & Traversing) helicopter handling system made by Curtiss-Wright Controls, Charlotte, North Carolina, USA. A gas turbine with two shafts driving propellers further equips the frigate, in both the French and Italian versions. (Devy Lubis dan Yuli Ari)