Chilean Navy frigates undergo obsolescence refit ahead of air warfare systems revamp

Chilean Navy frigates Almirante Cochrane, Almirante Condell and Almirante Lynch are set to undergo an obsolescence upgrade that will be undertaken by Cohort subsidiary Sea.

The programme is being carried out in preparation for a major revamp of the Chilean Navy ships’ air warfare systems.

The British company said it would fit the frigates with new open architecture system interfaces introduced using standard Ethernet format along with a new combat system performance monitoring capability.

The first upgrade will be carried out by SEA, the second ship fit will see Chilean Navy personnel working alongside SEA and work on the third vessel will be handled by the Chileans. All equipment, will be supplied by SEA.

SEA further said that the upgrade was similar to that undertaken on UK Royal Navy’s 13 Type 23 ships adding that the company also has a support contract covering the combat systems highway (CSH) for UK Royal Navy frigates. The three frigates the Chilean Navy is upgrading are also Type 23 frigates acquired by Chile from UK in 2005.

“We will deliver into the Chilean ships the same high quality upgrade that has been fitted on the RN frigates, paving the way for the forthcoming upgrade of the air warfare systems on the Chilean vessels,” SEA Maritime business development executive Paul Parsons explained. “The programme will be carried out whilst the frigates are alongside in Valparaiso Naval Base and we will be working closely with the Chilean Navy to ensure this programme is completed in early 2017.”