Al Riyadh at Toulon in 2005
History
Saudi Arabia
Name
  • Al Riyadh
  • (الرياض)
NamesakeAl Riyadh
BuilderDCNS, Lorient
Laid down28 May 1999
Launched1 August 2000
Commissioned26 July 2002
HomeportKing Faisal Naval Base
IdentificationPennant number: 812
StatusActive
General characteristics
Class and typeKang Ding-class frigate
Displacement3,200 tonnes, 3,800 tonnes fully loaded
Length125 m (410 ft)
Beam15.4 m (51 ft)
Draught4.1 m (13 ft)
Propulsion4 diesel SEMT Pielstick 12PA6V280 STC2, 21,000 hp (16,000 kW)
Speed25 kn (46 km/h; 29 mph)
Range
  • 4,000 nmi (7,400 km; 4,600 mi) at 15 kn (28 km/h; 17 mph)
  • 9,000 nmi (17,000 km; 10,000 mi) at 12 kn (22 km/h; 14 mph)
Endurance50 days of food
Boats & landing
craft carried		2 × ETN boats
Capacity350 tonnes of fuel, 80 m³ of kerosene, 60 tonnes of potable water
Complement
  • 12 officers
  • 68 petty officers
  • 61 men
Sensors and
processing systems
Armament
ArmourOn sensitive areas (munition magazine and control centre)
Aircraft carried1 × Sikorsky S-70C (M)
Aviation facilitiesHanger and helipad

Al Riyadh (812) is a Al Riyadh-class frigate of the Royal Saudi Navy.

Development and design

As the ROC (Taiwan)'s defensive stance is aimed towards the Taiwan Strait, the ROC Navy is constantly seeking to upgrade its anti-submarine warfare capabilities. The US$1.75 billion agreement with France in the early 1990s was an example of this procurement strategy,[1] the six ships are configured for both ASW and surface attack. The Exocet was replaced by Taiwan-developed Hsiung Feng II anti-ship missile and the AAW weapon is the Sea Chaparral. The main gun is an Oto Melara 76 mm/62 mk 75 gun, similar to its Singaporean counterparts, the Formidable-class frigates. Some problems in the integration of Taiwanese and French systems had been reported. The frigate carries a single Sikorsky S-70C(M)-1/2 ASW helicopter.

The Sea Chaparral SAM system is considered inadequate for defense against aircraft and anti-ship missiles, so the ROC (Taiwan) Navy plans to upgrade its air-defense capabilities with the indigenous TC-2N in 2020.[2] The AMRAAM missiles will be quad-packed in a vertical launch system for future ROCN surface combatants[3], but a less-risky alternative arrangement of above-deck, fixed oblique launchers is seen as more likely for upgrading these French-built frigates.

Construction and career

Al Riyadh was launched on 1 August 2000 at the DCNS in Lorient. Commissioned on 26 July 2002.

References

  1. ^ "France authorizes frigate sale to Taiwan". Defense Daily. 2 October 1991. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 6 August 2015 – via HighBeam Research.
  2. ^ "La Fayette frigates' missile upgrade set for 2017". Focus Taiwan. 4 November 2013. Retrieved 30 October 2015. (subscription required)
  3. ^ Lundquist, Edward H. "Interview with Adm. Richard Chen, Republic of China Navy (Ret.)". www.defensemedianetwork.com. Defense Media Network. Retrieved 2 August 2019.
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