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While researching several Royal Canadian Navy ship classes for an upcoming AU, I came across several sources describing a "Flight II" Halifax-class. The Halifax-class frigates were a result of the Canadian Patrol Frigate Project (CPFP) which began in the mid-1970s. Initially planned as a six-ship class, the first ship, HMCS Halifax was laid down in 1987. A contract was then awarded in 1988 for an additional batch of six frigates to be constructed.

In reality, this second batch of frigates (sometimes called the "Montreal batch") was built to basically identical specifications to the original six. However, a plan was considered at least initially to give these Flight II ships additional air defence capability. A 10 metre (32.8 ft) hull plug was to be added forward of the bridge, and a Mark 41 VLS for RIM-66 Standard Missiles would then be fitted in this space. At some point this plan fizzled out, most likely due to large-scale cutbacks across the Canadian Forces in the early 1990s.

Because no detailed plans of this modification exist, I've placed this in Personal Designs rather than Never Built Designs. I've taken some artistic liberties - I've depicted this Flight II class with a raised VLS position similar to the German Brandenburg-class frigates, although it's just as likely that they'd have been fitted flush to the deck; I'm just fond of the aesthetic style.

I've tried to remain as conservative as possible, swapping out the STIR-180s with the larger, SM-capable STIR-240s, but leaving the rest of the radar fit the same. I looked at fitting the SPS-48 3D radar (refurbished USN?) but it seemed overly large and unwieldy on this design, and I'm unsure if there were any contemporaries to the SPS-48 in this era which could've been a possibility.



Thanks for looking, any comments are appreciated.

Pics not working for me ? you may need to swap to [img]https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/ to the front of your image line

Should be fixed. Having some trouble figuring out Dropbox so I switched to a different image host.

Looks very interesting.

I would suggest redesigning the mast with the Sea GIRAFFE to mount the SMART-S 3D radar.

Double post.

This is being done on the Halifax-class currently as part of their mid-life update, which is why I omitted that from the design.

I assumed that both batches of frigates would receive the same radar suites initially and then receive the same upgrades to radar fitting in the 2000s, although the case could be made for fitting a more advanced radar "as designed", if it were possible. I don't believe the SMART-S is available in the early to mid-1990s time frame unfortunately.

Looks a very plausible rendition to me.
As you say, minimal electronics changes seem likely.

Had a look in my Jane's 'Radar and EW Systems 1990-91', SMART then was due to begin deliveries in 1990 and system evaluation had begun in 1989. At that point the first order was for the German F123 programme. MW08 is around the same timeframe, deliveries planned to begin late 1990 for Greece and Portugal aboard their MEKOs.
Would SPG-65(V)ER be an option? Can't see anything else that would be suitable.

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I think the best thing for the fitted radars would be to look at the iroquis 'trump' class, which had SM-2 missiles after their update/refit. IIRC, this ship used the LW-08 radar (comparable with the SPS-49) and an DA-08 radar. note that, if you keep NSSM on board, you need at least one separate director for those (as shown on the dutch L-frigates of the heemskerck class)

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Many thanks to everyone who took the time to respond.

@Hood: Thanks for digging up that info on the SMART radar systems, I wasn't aware that they were available that early.

@Ace: Thanks for the input! I was unaware that the NSSM required a separate director, but that makes sense.

I believe what I will plan are three likely variants:

Variant A: an "austere" variant basically similar to the above, with the addition of a separate director for NSSM, likely STIR 180. This option will have essentially the same electronics fit as the real-life Halifax-class as commissioned.

Variant B: a variant using the same radar fit as the TRUMP-upgraded Iroquois-class; LW-08 main radar with backup DA-08 for air and surface search. This is also a pretty plausible radar fit as Ace has said.

Variant C: a "high-end" fit, with SMART-S and MW-08 for backup air search. Does anyone know if MW-08 had a secondary surface-search capability? I've looked closely at the Korean KDX-II which is a similar design, and it appears to carry a third radar in addition to SPS-49 and MW-08, although I'm uncertain of its type and role.