Alfa 3000 Frigate Is Navantia Proposal For Tier 2 At IODS 2024

Spanish builder Navantia showed its Alfa 3000 frigate-design for the Australian SEA 3000 general purpose frigate-requirement (GP-F) known also as Tier 2 combatant at the Indian Ocean Defence & Security Conference 2024 in Perth, Western Australia. The model and information available in Perth represent a fusion of the Tasman-class corvette previously shown at Indopac 2023 with characteristics of the “baseline” Avante 2200 corvette as previously delivered to the Royal Saudi Naval Forces.

The Navantia-presentation here echoes efforts also by the other “exemplars” shown at the event. All four vendors present at IODS 2024 emphasize flexibility and baseline capability somewhat more in line with the Australian “zero change”-mandate.

The Not Quite-Baseline design

Nevertheless Alfa 3000 as shown at IODS includes considerable localisation of the baseline Avante 2200. The most obvious example is retention of the CEAFAR active phased array radar also featured on the Tasman-class corvette. The design also keeps the Mk 41-style VLS of Tasman, contrasting with a VL MICA-setup featured on the Al Jubail-class.

The reduction of antiship missiles carried is an immediate and notable feature of the new design. Alfa 3000 as displayed carries eight NSM AShM in two quadruple launchers. Tasman previously carried 16 missiles in double-stacked box launchers ahead of the hangar. The quadruple box launchers on the Alfa 3000-model are placed in an identical fashion to Exocet on Al-Jubail. A further notable change is the drop of the Bofors 57 mm main gun on the Tasman-class. Instead Alfa 3000 carries a Leonardo 76 mm Super Rapid-gun, again reflecting the Avante 2200/Al Jubail-configuration.

Spanish CMS, CODAD, Rheinmetall CIWS

The combat management system for Alfa 3000 as shown is CATIZ, while propulsion is a combined diesel and diesel (CODAD)-arrangement. Propulsion in particular has the Spanish proposal stand apart from competitors. The other four vendors are all offering diesel and gas turbine-arrangements (via CODAG or CODLOG) instead. In line with the Tasman-class design previously shown Alfa 3000 includes helo-pad and hangar for an MH-60R helicopter. Both designs also share the Avante 2200-trademark of a 30 mm CIWS on the hangar. In line with the Avanta 2200 baseline design the system used is a Rheinmetall Millenium gun.

More design variation in video presentation

Interestingly the Alfa 3000-display also included a screen only-presentation of a further variant for the Spanish design. The version featured in a video is in essence the Al Jubeil-variant as used by Saudi-Arabia. The corvette notably carried Exocet AShM instead of NSM. The graphic also features the default mast of Avante 2200 carrying what appears to be the Hensoldt TRS-4D AESA rotator. Finally, instead of the Mk 41-style VLS on both the Tasman-class corvette and the Alfa 3000 frigate shown as model, the video featured a corvette using the VL MICA-launcher for 16 cells on the bow.

While the corvette was prominently flying both the Australian flag and RAN white ensign, a decision to introduce especially Exocet or VL-MICA appears to be at least unlikely within the context of the GP-F tender.

Both the revised model and the multimedia presentation appear to emphasize Navantia’s message maximum adaptability of the Alfa 3000-frigate. As noted this stance reflects the Australian government desire for an “off the shelf”-hull. At the same time it allows considerable room for modification to accommodate actual RAN requirements down the line.

Watch our interview with Brett from Navantia Australia at IODS24: