Valour-class frigate

SAS Spioenkop during Exercise IBSAMAR
Class overview
Name	Valour class
Builders	Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft, Kiel and Blohm+Voss, Hamburg
Operators	South African Navy
Preceded by	President class
Cost	R9.65 billion (2007) for 4 units R2.41 billion (2007) per unit
Built	2001–2002
In commission	2006–present
Planned	5
Completed	4
Cancelled	1
Active	4
General characteristics
Type	Guided-missile frigate
Displacement	3,700 tons
Length	107.3 m (352 ft 0 in) at waterline 121 m (397 ft 0 in) overall
Beam	16.34 m (53 ft 7 in)
Draught	5.95 m (19 ft 6 in)
Propulsion	CODAG WARP 2 MTU 16V 1163 TB93 diesel engines, 5,920 kilowatts (7,940 hp) each, 2 shafts for cruise; 1 General Electric LM2500, 20,000 kilowatts (27,000 hp) 1 waterjet
Speed	28 knots (52 km/h; 32 mph)
Range	8,000 nmi (15,000 km; 9,200 mi) at 16 knots (30 km/h; 18 mph)
Endurance	28 days
Complement	152[2] (incl aircrew)
Sensors and processing systems	Surveillance radar: Thales Naval France MRR-3D NG G-band multi-role radar Optical radar tracker: 2 Reutech RTS 6400 monopulse X band (I/J bands) combined radar and optronics trackers Electro-optical tracker: Reutech Electro-optical tracker Identification friend or foe: Tellumat Integrated Naval Identification friend or foe system Target designation sights: M-Tek Target Designation Sights Sonar: Thales UMS4132 Kingklip sonar Obstacle avoidance sonar: MDS 3060
Electronic warfare & decoys	ESM/ECM: Saab Grintek Avitronics SME 100/200 ESM (Intercept and Jammer) & ELINT Decoys: 2 Saab Grintek Avitronics MRL Super Barricade chaff launchers (96 decoys)
Armament	Anti-ship missiles: 8 MBDA MM 40 Exocet Block 2 surface-to-surface missiles (mounted in two four-cell launchers) Surface-to-air: 16 Umkhonto surface-to-air missiles in a 16 cell Vertical launching system, can be increased to 32 Naval guns: 1 Otobreda 76 mm gun 1 Denel 35mm Dual Purpose Gun (CIWS) 2 Mk1 Oerlikon 20 mm cannon 2 12.7 mm Rogue remotely operated guns ASW: 4 324 mm (12.8 in) torpedo tubes
Armour	Welded GL-D36 steel[1]
Aircraft carried	2 SuperLynx 300, 1 Atlas Oryx, 2 AgustaWestland AW109, 1 Denel Rooivalk or various UAVs (Planned)
Aviation facilities	Flight deck Enclosed hangar

The Valour class is a class of frigates built for the South African Navy. Part of the MEKO family of warships, the German shipbuilder Blohm+Voss officially designate the class as the MEKO A-200SAN.^[3]

Designed as a multiple purpose, multi capable frigate, the Valour class encompasses the general guided-missile anti-surface and anti-air role forming the core of the South African surface fleet. The Valour class frigates employ the use of stealth technology to avoid enemy radar and infra-red detection.^[4]

Four Valour class frigates were constructed for the South African Navy as part of the Strategic Defence Package 1999. The first, SAS Amatola, was commissioned in 2006, with the fourth and final, SAS Mendi, commissioned in March 2007. The frigates have a service life of 30–40 years.^[5] However, in May 2023, Rear Admiral B.K. Mhlana, Deputy Chief of the Navy, reported to the Joint Standing Committee on Defence that Mendi was the only frigate of her class still effectively operational, given cancellations and delays in refits for her sister ships.^[6]

The Valour class are named after incidents of conspicuous bravery throughout South African military history.