First Chinese-Built C28A Corvette for Algerian Navy Started Sea Trials in East China Sea

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Naval Forces News - Algeria
 
 
 
First Chinese-Built C28A Corvette for Algerian Navy Started Sea Trials in East China Sea
 
According to pictures taken by Chinese spotters, Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding, a wholly owned subsidiary of China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC, the largest shipbuilding group in China) started sea trials of the first C28A Corvette on order for the Algerian Navy. Algeria signed a contract with China Shipbuilding Trading Co (CSTC) for construction of three C28A corvettes in March 2012.
     
Chinese spotters took pictures showing the first of three future Algerian Navy C28A Corvette (hull number 920) sailing out of Hudong-Zhonghua shipyard near Shanghai under her own power for builder trials in the East China Sea.
Chinese spotters took pictures showing the first of three future Algerian Navy C28A Corvette (hull number 920) sailing out of Hudong-Zhonghua shipyard near Shanghai under her own power for builder trials in the East China Sea. Chinese spotters took pictures showing the first of three future Algerian Navy C28A Corvette (hull number 920) sailing out of Hudong-Zhonghua shipyard near Shanghai under her own power for builder trials in the East China Sea.
     
CSTC representatives at DSA 2014 explained to Navy Recognition that the ship would be about 120 meters in length, a breadth of 14.4 meters and a draft of 3.87 meters for a displacement of about 2880 tons.

The three corvettes are fitted with a mix of Chinese and Western systems. The hull mounted sonar will be of Chinese origin, but Algeria has selected Thales Smart-S Mk2 3D air and surface surveillance radar and Kelvin Hughes for the navigation radar.
     
Artist impression of the future Algerian Navy C28A Corvette
Artist impression of the future Algerian Navy C28A Corvette
     
According to the CSTC representatives, the weapons fit will be of Chinese origin exclusively and will consist in:
- A single barreled 76mm main gun
- 8x C802 anti-ship missiles
- 1x FM90N launcher with 8x surface to air missiles
- 2x Type 730 CIWS located on top of the helicopter hangar

The corvette has some stealth attributes, such as the exhaust gases funnels located right on the water line on the sides of the hull in order to reduce its IR signature.
     
The second (hull number 921) and third (hull number 922) at different stage of systems outfitting
The second (hull number 921) and third (hull number 922) at different stage of systems outfitting
     
Delivery of the first C28A Corvette to the Algerian Navy (initially expected for May 2015) should occur by the end of the year if trials at sea go according to plan.