IHS Janes
By Victor Barreira
Dutch shipbuilder Damen Schelde Naval Shipbuilding (DSNS) is scheduled to transfer the frigate Allal Ben Abdellah to the Royal Moroccan Navy (Marine Royale Marocaine) on 8 September, IHS Jane’s has learned.
DSNS has already delivered two Ship Integrated Geometrical Modularity Approach (SIMGA) vessels to Morocco. The first, Tarik Ben Ziyad , was made to the 105 m SIGMA 10513 standard, while Allal Ben Abdellah and Sultan Moulay Ismail are smaller 98 m SIGMA 9813 vessels.
While the 9813s have smaller crews, they are understood to be similarly equipped by Thales Nederland with Tacticos combat management systems, SMART-S Mk 2 air and surface radar, LIROD Mk 2 fire control radar, Kingklip sonar, Scorpion 2 electronic countermeasure systems and NATO-compatible datalinks.
Thales Nederland subcontracted the supply of X-band navigation radars and the helicopter approach radar.
The ships are armed with MBDA VL MICA surface-to-air missiles in vertical autonomous launcher containers, two twin launchers for Exocet MM40 Block 3 surface-to-surface missiles, two launchers for Eurotorp MU 90 lightweight torpedoes, a single Oto Melara 76 mm/62 gun mount and two weapon stations armed with medium-calibre guns.
