View source for Niterói-class frigate

{{Short description|Class of Brazilian frigates}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2018}}
{|{{Infobox ship begin}}
{{Infobox ship image
|Ship image=Fragata Defensora (F41) na Operação Aspirantex 2023 (52691098876).jpg
|Ship caption=''Defensora'' in 2023
}}
{{Infobox ship class overview
|Name=''Niterói'' class, Mk10
|Builders=[[Vosper Thornycroft]], [[Arsenal de Marinha do Rio de Janeiro]]
|Operators={{navy|Brazil}}
|Class before=
|Class after= {{sclass|Tamandaré|frigate|0}}
|Subclasses=
|Cost=
|Built range=1975–1986
|In service range=   
|In commission range=  
|Total ships building= 
|Total ships planned=
|Total ships completed=7
|Total ships cancelled=
|Total ships active=6
|Total ships laid up=
|Total ships lost=
|Total ships retired=1
|Total ships preserved=
}}
{{Infobox ship characteristics
|Hide header=
|Header caption= 
|Ship type=[[Frigate]]
|Ship displacement=*3,355 tons standard
*3,707 tons full load
|Ship length={{convert|129.2|m|ftin|abbr=on}}
|Ship beam={{convert|13.5|m|ftin|abbr=on}}
|Ship height=
|Ship draught={{convert|5.5|m|ftin|abbr=on}}
|Ship draft=
|Ship power=*Two [[Rolls-Royce Olympus]] TM-3B [[gas turbine]]s ({{convert|56000|hp|kW|abbr=on}} combined)
*Four MTU 16V 956 TB91 [[diesel engine]]s ({{convert|18000|hp|kW|abbr=on}} combined)
|Ship propulsion=[[CODOG|Combined diesel or gas]], two shafts
|Ship speed=*{{convert|30|kn}} (maximum)
*{{convert|22|kn}} (diesels only)
|Ship range=*{{convert|5,300|nmi}} at {{convert|17|kn}}
*{{convert|4,200|nmi}} at {{convert|19|kn}}
*{{convert|1300|nmi}} at {{convert|28|kn}}
|Ship endurance= 45 days
|Ship complement=217
|Ship sensors=*'''Before modernization:'''
* AWS2 air search [[radar]]
* ZW-06 surface search radar
* 2 × RTN-10X fire control radar (not in F42/43)
* EDO-610E hull-mounted [[sonar]]
* EDO-700E variable-depth sonar (not in F42/43)
* Computer-Aided Action Information System (CAAIS)
*'''After modernization:'''
* RAN-20S air search radar
* Terma 'Scanter Mil' surface search radar
* 2 × RTN-30X fire control radar
* Saab EOS-400 optronic director
* upgraded EDO-610E hull mounted sonar
* SICONTA Mk 2 [[C4ISTAR|C3I]] system
|Ship EW=*'''Before modernization:'''
* RDL-2/3 [[Electronic warfare support measures|ESM]]
* Two 12 × 102{{nbsp}}mm rocket launchers
*'''After modernization:'''
* Cutlass B1W [[Electronic warfare support measures|ESM]]
* ET/SQL-1 [[Electronic countermeasure|ECM]]
* Two 12×102{{nbsp}}mm rocket launchers
|Ship armament=*'''After modernization:'''
*2 ×  double launchers for MM-40 [[Exocet]] anti-ship missiles
*1 × Albatros octuple launcher for [[Aspide]] Mod7 anti-aircraft missiles
*1 × [[4.5 inch (114 mm) Mark 8 naval gun|Vickers 4.5-inch (114 mm) Mk 8 gun]]
*2 × single BAE Systems Bofors Trinity Mk 3 anti-aircraft turrets
*2 × triple [[torpedo tube]]s for Mk 46 torpedoes
*Double-barrel [[Bofors 375mm anti submarine rockets|Bofors Boroc anti-submarine rocket launcher]]
|Ship armor=
|Ship aircraft=*[[Westland Super Lynx]] Mk.21A (locally designated as AH-11A); or
*[[AS-350|Eurocopter AS-350/355 Squirrel]] (locally assembled by Helibrás as UH-12/UH-13 'Esquilo')
|Ship aircraft facilities=Helipad and hangar
|Ship notes=
}}
|}

The '''''Niterói''-class frigates''' are a class of [[frigate]]s of the [[Brazilian Navy]].

== History ==
The ''Niterói'' class were designed and built by the British shipyard [[Vosper Thornycroft]] (VT) in the 1970s. These frigates were designated the Mk 10 by Vosper Thornycroft and are the largest of a series of ships built by that shipyard for both foreign buyers and the Royal Navy.

All of them were extensively modernized between 1996 and 2005 under the 'ModFrag' program. The projected completion was 2001, but due to lack of funds and [[sea trial]]s to verify the new software, the entire program had been slipped to 2005.

A total of six ships were built. Two of the anti-submarines (ASW) and both of the general purpose (GP) version were built in England. The remaining two ASW ships were built at the Arsenal da Marinha in Rio de Janeiro with assistance from VT. The ASW ships had an [[Ikara (missile)|Ikara]] missile launcher in Y position aft of the flight deck. This was removed as part of the modernisation programme. The GP ships had a second {{convert|4.5|in|mm|adj=on|0}} gun in "Y" position. A seventh ship was built as the navy's main training unit. The ship is identical to the other ships of the class, but is not fitted with weapons or sensors.

From 2025, the class will be gradualy replaced in "first-rank" roles by the newest {{sclass|Tamandaré|frigate|0}} frigates, the survivors will be revitalized and transferred to patrol duties in the fleet.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.naval.com.br/blog/2019/05/31/akaer-revitalizara-consoles-do-sistema-siconta-mkii-mod-1-de-tres-fragatas-classe-niteroi|title=Akaer revitalizará consoles do sistema SICONTA MkII Mod. 1 de três fragatas classe Niterói|date=31 May 2019|website=Poder Naval|language=pt}}</ref>

== Ships ==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! No.
! Name
! Type<ref name="jfs2002 p61">Saunders 2002, p. 61.</ref>
! Laid down<ref name="jfs2002 p61"/>
! Launched<ref name="jfs2002 p61"/>
! Commissioned<ref name="jfs2002 p61"/>
! Status
|-
| F40
|{{ship|Brazilian frigate|Niterói|F40|2}}
| ASW
| 8 June 1972
| 8 February 1974
| 20 November 1976
| Decommissioned 28 June 2019<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.naval.com.br/blog/2019/06/28/fotos-mostra-de-desarmamento-da-fragata-niteroi-f40/|title=FOTOS: Mostra de Desarmamento da Fragata Niterói – F40|date=28 June 2019}}</ref>
|-
| F41
|{{ship|Brazilian frigate|Defensora|F41|2}}
| ASW
| 14 December 1972
| 27 March 1975
| 3 March 1977
| In service
|-
| F42
|{{ship|Brazilian frigate|Constituição|F42|2}}
| GP
| 13 March 1974
| 15 April 1976
| 31 March 1978
| In service
|-
|F43
|{{ship|Brazilian frigate|Liberal|F43|2}}
| GP
| 2 May 1975
| 7 February 1977
| 18 November 1978
| In service
|-
| F44
|{{ship|Brazilian frigate|Independência|F44|2}}
| ASW
| 11 June 1972
| 2 September 1974
| 3 September 1979
| In service
|-
| F45
|{{ship|Brazilian frigate|União|F-45|2}}
| ASW
| 11 June 1972
| 14 March 1975
| 12 September 1980
| In service
|-
| U27
|{{ship|Brazilian training ship|Brasil|U27|2}}
| Training
| 18 September 1981<ref name="jfs2002 p70">Saunders 2002, p. 70.</ref>
| 2 September 1983<ref name="jfs2002 p70"/>
| 21 August 1986<ref name="jfs2002 p70"/>
| In service
|}

== Gallery ==
<gallery mode="nolines" caption="Niterói-class Frigate Gallery">
File:F Defensora (F-41) NT Almirante Gastão Motta (G-23).jpg|''Defensora'' operating with the tanker ''Almirante Gastão Motta'' on 18 November 2007.
File:F União (F-45).jpg|''União'' underway on 22 January 2008.
File:F42 Constituição.jpg|[[Brazilian frigate Constituição (F42)|''Constituição'']] on 2 June 2009.
File:Navio Escola Brasil (1) (5432029690).jpg|[[Brazilian training ship Brasil (U27)|''Brasil'']] under way in 2011.
File:Fragata_Independência_(32706810154).jpg|F-44 ''Independência'' and F-42 ''Constituição'' on patrol in 2017.
File:GLAM MB ASPIRANTEX 2018 - Fragata União (25264367907).jpg|''União'' during Aspirantex 2018.
File:GLAM MB ASPIRANTEX 2018 - Fragata Liberal (40103362142).jpg|''Liberal'' during Aspirantex 2018.
File:GLAM_MB_ASPIRANTEX_2018_(25264360577).jpg|F-45 ''União'' at nightfall during Aspirantex 2018.
File:Aspirantex 2020 (49489126447).jpg| Escort to the G-40 Bahia During Aspirantex 2020.
File:Aspirantex 2020 (49489117842).jpg| F-43 ''Liberal'' and F-45 ''União'' during Aspirantex 2020.
File:Aspirantex_2020_(49488413738).jpg| F-43 ''Liberal'' and F-45 ''União'' during Aspirantex 2020.
File:F43 Operação Guinex III - 2023.jpg| ''Liberal'' conducts drills with the [[Spanish Navy]]'s {{ship|Spanish patrol vessel|Tornado|P-44|2}} in the [[Gulf of Guinea]], 2023.

</gallery>

==See also==
* [[List of naval ship classes in service]]

== References ==

===Citations===
{{reflist}}

===Sources===
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20060115040529/http://www.mar.mil.br/ Marinha do Brasil (Brazilian Navy)]
* Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1947–1995
* Cicalesi, J.C. e Del Gaizo, Cesar: ''La Marina brasiliana oggi'', RiD magazine, Chiavari, June 2006, pag. 50–55
*Saunders, Stephen. ''Jane's Fighting Ships 2002–2003''. Coulsdon, UK: Jane's Information Group, 2002. {{ISBN|0710624328}}.

==External links==
* {{Commons category-inline|Niteroi class frigate}}

{{Niterói-class frigates}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Niteroi-class frigate}}
[[Category:Niteroi-class frigates| ]]
[[Category:Frigate classes]]
[[Category:Frigates of the Brazilian Navy]]