Project 15490 frigate

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15490.png
NWK, c.2020
Class overview
Name: Project 15490 frigate
Operators: Itayana Navy
Preceded by: Project 15470 frigate
Succeeded by: Project 16580 frigate
In service: 2014-present
Completed: 24
Active: 24
General characteristics
Type: Frigate
Displacement: 5,200 tonnes
Length: 138.1m
Beam: 14.6m
Draught: 8.6m
Propulsion:
  • 2-shaft COGAG:
  • 2x cruise (14,000 kW each) + 2x boost (32,000 kW each) gas turbines
Speed: +32kn
Range: 4,000 nautical miles at cruise turbines
Boats & landing
craft carried:
  • 2 Type 601 cutters or
  • 4-6 RIB boats
Complement: 140
Sensors and
processing systems:
  • Air scan suite
    • Type 2152 L-band 3D air search radar
    • Type 2420 S-band 3D radar
    • Type 2425 X-band 3D radar
  • Surface search suite:
    • Type 1231 active search radar
    • Type 1413 passive search radar
  • Sonar suite:
    • Hull-mounted sonar
    • Towed array sonar
  • Type 2677 gunnery radar
  • Navigation radar
  • Optronic suite
Armament:
  • 2 missile mounts (8 missiles)
  • 36 SAM VLS cells
  • 1x1 130mm gun
  • 3x1 76mm guns
  • 6 25mm rotary automatic cannons
  • 2x4 324mm torpedo tubes
  • 2 24-barrel multi-purpose launchers
Aircraft carried: 2 helicopters

The Project 15490 also known as the ARS-class frigate is a class of frigates in service with the Unifying Navy. A development of the previous Project 15470 frigate, it shares the same hull and internal layout of the predecessor, while replacing the superstructure on the one with a lower radar cross section, and adding a new integrated radar mast with various radar arrays. 24 ships were reordered from the cancelled Project 15470 frigates; those were commissioned from 2014 to 2024. Further development of the strike frigates of the Unifying Navy focused on developing a newer, larger hull with more space for upgrades. Those efforts culminated in the Project 16580 frigate.

General characteristics

Project 15490 represents further development of the Project 15471 frigate employing more advanced technology being available at the time of its design and construction. It shares the same hull with its predecessor, being 138.1 meter long and 14.6 meters wide. However, the general layout was changed: notably, the ship lost the forward funnel and the rear communication tower. The remaining funnel was slightly enlarged and a smaller communication mast was transferred to its front. The class is distinguished by its massive 3D radar mast with various phased array antennas, and a low radar cross-section composite superstructure hiding boats, launch cranes, wing turrets and missile launchers.

The class retained the two-shaft combined gas and gas power plant from its predecessor, but with newer and more powerful turbines and generators installed. Each shaft mounts a reversible pitch propeller powered by a set of a cruise turbine (14,000 kW) and a boost turbine (32,000 kW) through a combination gear. Exhaust heat from the turbines powers two steam generators; additionally, four diesel generators are available as a backup source of electric power. Maximal speed is reported to be in excess of 32 knots, while the maximal range remained at 4,000 nautical miles. Like its predecessor, the class is known to carry either two 12-meter Type 601 cutters or several rigid-hull inflatable boats. Through extensive automation, the complement was reduced from 193 to 140, improving habitability.

The offensive weaponry of the Project 15490 remained the same as its predecessor, with two missile launcher mounts midships. The class retained 36 VLS cells for surface-to-air missile in three 12-cell blocks; however, it is known that a new long-range SAM was added as the cell payload. In terms of artillery, the ships retained the fore 130mm turret but the number of wing 76mm guns was reduced to two, hidden behind the mechanized doors. Another 76mm turret was mounted atop the hangar in lieu of the communication tower, apparently under the concerns that the mechanized doors would not be able to react in time. Manned open 25mm twin turrets were replaced with remote weapon stations with 25mm rotary guns; in addition to those, two more mounts were added below the helicopter deck behind the angular doors. Twin 533mm torpedo tubes were replaced with quad 324mm ones, increasing the number of reloads and allowing unification of torpedo equipment throughout the Navy. Rocket bomb throwers were replaced by 24-barrel launchers, capable of firing rocket bombs, ECM projectiles and small short-range surface-to-air missiles. Two helicopters are housed in the hangar at the stern of the ship.

The electronic equipment on the project was completely overhauled, with separate pieces likely derived from various foreign designs. The class mounts an integrated radar mast with a 3D L-band air search radar, an X-band AESA radar with four arrays on each surface of the mast, and an S-band AESA radar with four more arrays below the X-band antennas. Additionally, the class received a new anti-ship missile targeting complex with an active surface scan radar in the dome front of the integrated mast, and four passive detection arrays mounted below S-band arrays. A new fire control station with several optronic channels and an X/Ku gunnery radar was installed on a height behind the surface scan radar dome. The electronic countermeasures suite was replaced with a new model as well; it is mounted at the sides of the integrated mast. The navigation, sonar and optronic suites remained unchanged compared to the predecessor.

The integrated radar tower is assumed to be partially derived from the one tested on Project 10705 frigates, and partially from other sources. Conversely, much of the equipment tested for the class was used in planning the mid-life upgrade for the preceding Project 15471 and other vessels of the Unifying Navy.

Notable deployments

Like Project 15470, Project 15490 vessels constitute the mainstay of the Unifying Navy and the bulk of its attack force. Unlike their predecessors, however, the newer frigates have been a rare sight overseas, their exercises mostly contained to the Oorupaqi ocean. Their most notable overseas deployment was the escorting of two Project 98640 intelligence ships to north-eastern Makria and to Bemiritra throughout 2020-2023. Those missions involved six to eight frigates, one or two replenishment ships, two fleet oilers, and a repair ship on two occasions.

Additionally, two ships visited Orun Redisus in 2020, and two more visited Elatia in 2021.

Ships of the class

Project 15491, Batch 1
Name Translation Shipyard Laid down Launched Commissioned Status
<name> <Translation> Shipbuilding Plant No.87 07.05.1998 25.10.1999 30.10.2000 Active
<name> <Translation> Shipbuilding Plant No.87 09.05.1998 27.10.1999 27.12.2000 Active
<name> <Translation> Shipbuilding Plant No.87 11.05.1998 29.10.1999 27.12.2000 Active
<name> <Translation> Shipbuilding Plant No.87 13.05.1998 31.10.1999 27.12.2000 Active
<name> <Translation> Shipbuilding Plant No.75 28.10.1999 15.03.2000 15.05.2001 Active
<name> <Translation> Shipbuilding Plant No.75 30.10.1999 17.03.2000 15.05.2001 Active
<name> <Translation> Shipbuilding Plant No.75 01.11.1999 19.03.2000 15.05.2001 Active
<name> <Translation> Shipbuilding Plant No.75 03.11.1999 21.03.2000 15.05.2001 Active
Project 15491, Batch 2
Name Translation Shipyard Laid down Launched Commissioned Status
<name> <Translation> Shipbuilding Plant No.87 05.04.2002 15.09.2004 25.03.2007 Active
<name> <Translation> Shipbuilding Plant No.87 06.04.2002 17.09.2004 27.04.2007 Active
<name> <Translation> Shipbuilding Plant No.87 19.01.2002 25.12.2004 03.07.2007 Active
<name> <Translation> Shipbuilding Plant No.87 18.02.2002 11.06.2005 21.09.2008 Active
<name> <Translation> Shipbuilding Plant No.75 23.02.2002 03.08.2004 13.05.2007 Active
<name> <Translation> Shipbuilding Plant No.75 26.03.2002 26.11.2005 04.06.2007 Active
<name> <Translation> Shipbuilding Plant No.75 22.04.2002 30.01.2006 10.08.2008 Active
<name> <Translation> Shipbuilding Plant No.75 12.05.2002 30.01.2006 12.10.2008 Active
Project 15491, Batch 3
Name Translation Shipyard Laid down Launched Commissioned Status
<name> <Translation> Shipbuilding Plant No.87 01.08.2008 15.09.2011 25.03.2014 Active
<name> <Translation> Shipbuilding Plant No.87 08.08.2008 20.09.2011 27.04.2014 Active
<name> <Translation> Shipbuilding Plant No.87 15.08.2008 25.09.2011 03.07.2014 Active
<name> <Translation> Shipbuilding Plant No.87 22.08.2008 11.10.2011 21.09.2014 Active
<name> <Translation> Shipbuilding Plant No.75 08.09.2008 03.09.2011 13.05.2014 Active
<name> <Translation> Shipbuilding Plant No.75 15.09.2008 26.09.2011 04.06.2014 Active
<name> <Translation> Shipbuilding Plant No.75 22.09.2008 10.10.2011 10.08.2014 Active
<name> <Translation> Shipbuilding Plant No.75 30.09.2008 24.10.2011 12.10.2014 Active
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