According to information published by the InfoDefensa website on December 2021, the Type 23 anti-submarine frigate FF-06 Almirante Condell of the Chilean Navy has concluded its modernization process and returned to its homeport of Valparaiso.
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Type 23 anti-submarine frigate FF-06 Almirante Condell of the Chilean Navy. (Picture source Wikimedia)
The Type 23 frigate or Duke-class is a class of frigates built for the Royal British Navy. In 2005 it was announced that three Type 23 vessels would be sold to the Chilean Navy, to be delivered in 2008. In September 2005 BAE Systems was awarded a £134 million GBP contract to prepare the frigates for transfer. ex-Marlborough, ex-Norfolk and ex-Grafton were sold to Chile for a total of £134 million.
As of 2021, these three ships remain in service with the Chilean Navy and are being upgraded by Lockheed Martin Canada by the local ASMAR shipbuilding company.
Following an extensive worldwide competitive tender, Lockheed Martin Canada was selected in 2017 to be the combat systems integrator for the Chilean Navy's three Type 23 frigates, leveraging its Canadian-developed combat management system, CMS 330.
Lockheed Martin Canada is working alongside ASMAR Shipyard and DESA and executing two contracts with Chilean subcontractor DTS for the update of their ESM-RD-170 system and to support connectorization work onboard the T-23 frigates.
Citing Janes website, the modernization of the Chilean Navy Type 23 is centered on the introduction of the company’s proprietary CMS 330 combat management system, the Hensoldt TRS-4D G-band active electronically scanned array surveillance and target acquisition radar (rotating variant), and the MBDA Sea Ceptor local-area anti-air missile system.
Other new equipment includes an IBM multi-link processor, a Hensoldt MSSR 2000I IFF interrogator/ LTR400DNG IFF transponder, and an OSI Maritime Systems navigation system. Lockheed Martin Canada has also contracted with Chilean subcontractor DTS for the update of the ESM-RD-170 electronic support measures system.
