Ardent Class FFG

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ArdentFFs.png
Ardent class frigate (click to enlarge).

One of the older designs still in service with the Freethinker Royal Navy, the Ardent Class Guided Missile Frigate is a powerful escort combatant design for fleet and convoy protection. The class is particularly notable for its relatively high crusing and maximum speeds and for its drastic refitting programs that have significantly altered the basic superstructure of the ship.

Statistics

Length
154 Metres
Beam
19 Metres
Draft
8.2 Metres
Displacement
9,200 tons (Normal Load)
Crew Complement
190


Gunnery
1 x BI D/P 155mm/52 Mk 3 (mod 2) ETC Naval Gun
Missiles
1 x 64-cell (8x8) Falltech Mk 72 VLS (Strategic, Single-length), 1 x 32-cell (4x8) Falltech Mk 72 VLS (Tactical, Single-length), 2 x Quadruple ASM launchers
Self Defence
2 x 40mm/18-cell ((2) 3x3) Falltech Mk 3B JOCIWS, 2 x 25mm BI Mk.7 Cannon
ASW
2 x BI 50mm Super-Cavitating Underwater Cannon, 2 x Quadruple 324mm ML Torpedo Tubes


Radar systems
Falltech AS-22 Corus Dual-array NPI Long-range Air/Surface Search, Falltech AS-20 LPI Short-range Air Search
Sonar
Falltech SS-24A Medium-range Bow-mounted, Falltech SS-30B (mod 2) Towed Array
Command/Control
Falltech Mk 1B GSTDC
Electronic Warfare
Falltech Mk 605 ECM/ESM suite, 4 x Falltech Mk 7 Decoy Launchers, Falltech Universal Towed Decoy System


Propulsion
2 x Thompson Engineering N5200 Gas Turbines and 2 x Thompson Engineering N4250 Diesel Turbines in IEP Configuration, providing 102MW to 2 Electrical Induction Engines, powering 2 8-blade refined pitch-controlled propellors.
Speed
19 kts (Cruising), 35 kts (Maximum)
Maximum Range
8,000 Miles @ 19 kts


Defensive Arrangements
Hardened reinforced steel hull with additional L3 TV4A6 armour panelling around most areas. Lightweight TV4A6 honeycomb framework supplementing traditional reinforced steel bulkhead arrangement. Nylon composite spall liners are incorporated in all areas of the ship. Full and comprehensive shock-proofed superstructure with full NBC shielding. High redundancy systems and multiple damage control units and stations.
Aviation
720m2 one-spot flightdeck with CAE 'Beartrap' helicopter recovery system, rated for heavyweight helicopters. Enclosed hanger deck includes space for one medium or two small helicopters with full maintenance, refuelling and rearming facilities.


Unit Cost
US$1,000,000,000 (New Build, FY06)*

(*)Original unit cost was ~US$500,000,000, subsequent upgrades and redesigns have brought unit lifetime costs to roughly US$1.4 billion.

Production

Program

Manufacture

Other Users

Other nations which use this design:

Other nations which use a modified version of this design: