It has been more than fifteen
years since the launch of HMCS HALIFAX in 1988, the first of the twelve HALIFAX
(or CITY) class Canadian Patrol Frigates. With the remaining twelve being
commissioned between 1993 and 1996 (HALIFAX was commissioned in 1992 after
several years of sea trials and modifications), the average service age of the
Canadian Navy's frigate fleet is more than ten years.
Recognizing that these frigates
form the back of the Canadian Navy and will soon take over as the sole major
surface combatant as the IROQUOIS class air defence destroyers reach the end of
their serviceable lifespan, the Department of National Defence is embarking on a
major mid-life refit of each of the twelve frigates which will see various
upgrades performed in an effort to extend their service through 2030.
Active Phased Array Radar
(APAR) System
There has been much anticipation
throughout the Canadian military community that the APAR "3-Dimensional" radar
system developed between the Canadian and Dutch navies would be installed on the
Canadian Patrol Frigates (CPF) during the FELEX project. The system, developed
primarily for the next command & control and air defence destroyer of the
Canadian Navy (should there be one), will not be installed on the CPFs due to
the simple fact that such an installation would make the frigate "top-heavy"
(essentially meaning that it would become unstable in high seas). Given the cost
required to retrofit the CPF hull to make it stable with APAR installed, the
Canadian Forces has decided against the installation.
FELEX Responsibilities
The PMO FELEX office (which is
in charge of the refit program) will oversee the installation of the new HALIFAX
Modernized Command & Control Systems (HMCCS) package which will make the
computer systems of the frigate among the most advanced in the world, bringing
the CPF back to the forefront of the world frigate fleet.
PMO FELEX will also oversee all
engineering changes in the design of the frigate, as well as the installation of
systems to support the new Cyclone helicopter being acquired under the Maritime
Helicopter Program (MHP). Oddly though, the FELEX website states that the MHP
modifications will only happen on the second through twelfth frigates of the
class, essentially putting the helicopter capabilities of HMCS HALIFAX up in the
air.
Capability Enhancement
Projects
Some of the major projects,
either stand-alone or part of FELEX, which will be integrated into the CPF
during the mid-life refit are:
-
HMCCS - Halifax Modernized
Command & Control Systems;
-
HALIFAX class radar
upgrades;
-
Installation of the Evolved
Sea Sparrow Missile - ESSM (installation reportedly underway since 2003,
though the Department of National Defence has been very tight-lipped on
installation date details);
-
IRIUS - Long range infrared
search and track system;
-
IFF Mode S/5 Interrogator
Friend or Foe Mode S/5 - will allow more accurate detailing of surface and
air contacts;
-
Internal Communications
system upgrade;
-
Harpoon Surface to Surface
Missile system upgrade; and
-
Electronic Warfare system
upgrade - electronic support measures.
In addition to these projects,
the mid-life refit will do all the general refit work such as ensuring the
strength of the hull and superstructure, health of the engine assemblies and
electrical systems, etc. Some of the "sustainment engineering changes" announced
by PMO FELEX include:
-
Modifications to the main
gun of the CPF - the 57mm Bofors Naval Gun, located on the forecastle of
each frigate;
-
Replacement of Shield II
Missile Decoy Countermeasures System;
-
Replacement of the
Integrated Machinery Control System; and
-
Replacement of the
Navigation Radar.
Project Timeline
The tentative schedule for FELEX
is for the definition phase (i.e. all the tender writing and figuring out what
needs to be done) to be completed by March 2008. Following that phase, the
implementation phase, which will involve the refits of each frigate, will begin
in April 2008 and end in March 2017. The first frigate is expected to enter into
refit in 2010 (with the tender for the refit being released in 2009) and the
final refit will occur in 2017.
References
Department of National Defence, Canadian Forces
PMO FELEX
