Rapier-class corvette
 Rapier Class corvette
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| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Name: | Rapier class corvette |
| Builders: | Arthuristan Dynamics |
| General characteristics | |
| Type: | Corvette |
| Displacement: | 640 tonnes |
| Length: | 73m |
| Beam: | 10.6m |
| Draught: | 2.3m |
| Propulsion: | CODOG, 2 x waterjets, 4 x gas turbines (16 mW total), 2 x diesel generators (3 MW total), 4 x auxiliary generators (300 kW each) |
| Speed: | 40 knots |
| Range: | 2,400nm |
| Sensors and processing systems: |
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| Armament: |
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| Armour: | steel shrapnel sheets, kevlar spall liners |
| Aircraft carried: | Helipad space for 1 x light helicopter |
The Rapier-class Corvette is a class of advanced small surface combatant of Arthuristan design, designed to complement the older Sabre Class missile boat. It is a stealthy design featuring a wave-piercing catamaran hull constructed with carbon fibre and PVC, capable of reaching 40 knots in rough conditions. The class is armed with an extremely heavy offensive and defensive missile armament for its size, including sixteen box-launched ACM-13 Lilith anti-ship missiles and 24 VLS-cells for RAM SHORAD missiles, supplemented with a 76mm Oto Melara turret for short-range anti-surface/shore combat and torpedo tubes for use against submarines. Two miniguns, mounted near the stern of the corvette, provide additional means of defence against swarming small boats, together with the 76mm deck gun their firing arcs cover a full 360 degrees around the vessel. A light helicopter, such as the Westland Lynx, can deploy from its helipad, further enhancing the vessel's flexibility and reach in littoral warfare scenarios. It can be equipped with mine-hunting equipment.
The Rapier Class was also designed to be a 'technology-demonstrator' of sorts, showcasing the latest in Arthuristan sensors equipment. Its enclosed-mast incorporates the Palantir AESA multirole/fire control radar, Farview navigation radar and Bullshark EW/TACJAMMER suite. Also of note is its sonars-suite, which is optimised for the detection of very quiet diesel submarines in cluttered in-shore seas.
No orders have yet been made by the Commonwealt Navy, given the fact that it does not really fit the fleet's requirement. However, the Rapier Class is available for export.