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At a glance
La Fayette-class frigatelarger figure on 5 of 5
Manoram-class ferrylarger figure on 0 of 5
Counts only measures both sources give with the same scope. A larger figure is not a better system.
Measured figures
Length
Single source125 m (410 ft 1 in)[source]
Length
Single sourceConfiguration
| Specification | La Fayette-class frigate | Manoram-class ferry |
|---|---|---|
| Complement | 164+; around 6 additional personnel on Courbet , La Fayette and Aconit post-upgrade[source] | — |
| Power | 4 diesel SEMT Pielstick 12PA6V280 STC2, 21,000 hp (16,000 kW)[source] | 1,044 kW (1,400 hp) Cummings India Ltd 2 x 150 kW (200 hp) 415 V 50 Hz AC generator[source] |
| Name | La Fayette class[source] | Manoram class[source] |
| Builders | DCNS[source] | — |
| Operators | French Navy Royal Saudi Navy Republic of China Navy Republic of Singapore Navy |
62.1 m (203 ft 9 in)[source]
at 12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph)
Single sourceat 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph)
Single source4,000 nmi (7,400 km; 4,600 mi) at 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph) 9,000 nmi (17,000 km; 10,000 mi) at 12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph)[source]
Bars compare reported quantities only. A larger figure does not make a system better; configurations and test conditions differ.
Indian Navy[source] |
| Preceded by | Floréal class[source] | — |
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| Succeeded by | Frégate de Défense et d'Intervention[source] | — |
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| Subclasses | Al Riyadh class (Saudi Arabia) Formidable class (Singapore) Kang Ding class (Republic of China)[source] | — |
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| In commission | 1996–present[source] | — |
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| Completed | 20[source] |
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| Active | 20[source] |
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| Type | General purpose frigate[source] | Ferry[source] |
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| Endurance | 50 days of food[source] | — |
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| Boats & landing craft carried | 2 × ETN boats[source] | — |
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| Capacity | 350 t (340 long tons; 390 short tons) of fuel, 80 m 3 (2,800 cu ft) of kerosene, 60 t (59 long tons; 66 short tons) of potable water[source] | 250 passengers[source] |
|---|
| Sensors & processing systems | 1 × DRBN34 navigation radar 1 × DRBN34 landing radar 1 × Air/Surface DRBV 15C sentry radar 1 × Thales TAVITAC combat management system (fitted to Surcouf and Guépratte ) 1 × SENIT FLF combat management system (replaced previous Thales TAVITAC CMS on La Fayette , Courbet and Aconit ) 1 × firing control radar for the 100 mm gun 1 × CN2 firing control radar 1 × Saïgon ARBG 1 radio interceptor 1 × ARBR 21 radar interceptor 2 × Dagaie Mk2 AMGL-1C chaff launcher CANTO anti-torpedo countermeasures (fitted to La Fayette in 2021-22 and Aconit in 2023; to be fitted to Courbet in due course) 1 × AN/ SLQ-25 Nixie tugged noise maker 1 × Prairie-Masker noise reduction system 1 × Integrated Shipboard Communication System ISCS ( SNTI 120 ch.) 1 × SEAO/OPSMER Naval command support system 1 × Syracuse II satellite transmission system 1 × Inmarsat navigation system 1 × BlueWatcher sonar ( Surcouf only) 1 × KingKlip Mk 2 hull-mounted sonar (fitted to Courbet , La Fayette and Aconit )[source] | — |
|---|
| Armament | Guns; 1 × 100 mm TR automatic gun 2 × 20 mm modèle F2 guns Anti-ship; 8 × Exocet MM40 block II anti-ship missiles (upgraded to capacity for Block 3c variant on Courbet , La Fayette and Aconit ) CIWS; 1 × Crotale CN2 CIWS (fitted on Surcouf and Guépratte ) 2 × 6 Sadral launchers with Mistral Mk 3 SAM/SSM (replaced Crotale on Courbet , La Fayette and Aconit ) 2 x 2 manually operated Simbad/Mistral (reported fit to Surcouf in 2023)[source] | — |
|---|
| Armour | On sensitive areas (munition magazine and control centre)[source] | — |
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| Aircraft carried | 1 × helicopter ( Panther or NH90 )[source] | — |
|---|
| Role | class of general purpose frigates[source] | — |
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| Source measurement | The La Fayette class (also known as FL-3000 for " Frégate Légère de 3,000 tonnes ", or FLF for Frégate Légère Furtive ) is a class of general purpose frigates built by DCNS in the 1980s and 1990s, operated by the French Navy and three other navies. Derivatives of the type are in service in the navies of Saudi Arabia , Singapore , and Republic of China .[source]La Fayette-class frigate · Lead; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage The ships are designed to accommodate a 10- tonne (9.8- long-ton ; 11- short-ton ) helicopter in the Panther or NH90 range (though they are also capable of operating the Super Frelon and similar heavy helicopters). These helicopters can carry anti-ship missiles AM39 or AS15, and they can be launched during sea state five or six due to the Samahé helicopter handling system. France ordered five ships of the La Fayette class in 1988, the last of which entered service in 2001. In the French Navy, they are being incrementally superseded in "first-rank" functions by five frégates de taille intermédiaire ( FTI , "intermediate size frigates") from 2025.[source]La Fayette-class frigate · Lead; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage Conventional warships used in low-intensity or humanitarian relief operations proved costly, with their heavy equipment and large crew. Hence came the requirement for lightly armed frigates with economical engines and small crew. In Italy, the same requirements led to the development of the Cassiopea and Minerva type corvettes , built according to both civilian and military standards. These ships were limited to 1,300 tonnes (1,300 long tons ; 1,400 short tons ) because the limited size and depth of the Mediterranean Sea and the proximity of the homeland. The French Navy, on the other hand, had to be present in overseas territories, bases and EEZ. To be enduring enough, the ships had to reach 3,000 tonnes (3,000 long tons; 3,300 short tons), the size of a frigate. The larger displacement allows combining strong firepower (like the Minerva class) and a capacity for a medium helicopter (like the Cassiopea class), along with a good autonomy and seaworthiness.[source]La Fayette-class frigate · French version / Background; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage The first type of ships built on these principles were the Floréal -class frigates , built on civilian standards, with a limited armament, and carrying a medium helicopter. These ships are high endurance units designed to be operated in overseas territories in the Caribbean Sea , Polynesia , and New Caledonia and the EEZ, where the likelihood of a naval threat is low. The speed is limited to 20 knots (37 km/h; 23 mph) because of the low-power engines which emphasised autonomy and reliability. To fight pirates in fast rigid-hulled inflatable boats , the Floréal s rely on their onboard helicopter and marine detachment.[source]La Fayette-class frigate · French version / Background; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage The hull has a pronounced angle at the stem , with a short forecastle that integrates directly into the superstructure. The ship's sides have a negative inclination of ten degrees. The single anchor is located exactly on the stem, into which it is completely recessed. The deck where the seamanship equipment and capstans are installed is internal in order to hide it from radar.[source]La Fayette-class frigate · French version / Construction; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage The upgrades increase the displacement of the ships by some 80 tonnes (79 long tons; 88 short tons) and will permit the three ships to operate through the 2020s and be retired between 2031 and 2034.[source]La Fayette-class frigate · French version / Life extension upgrades; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage The three Al Riyadh -class ships are an expanded anti-air version of the French La Fayette class, displacing about 4,700 tonnes (4,600 long tons; 5,200 short tons) and extended to 133 m (436 ft 4 in) in length.[source]La Fayette-class frigate · Export / Al Riyadh class: Saudi Arabia; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage The ships' combat systems are produced by Armaris (a DCN/ Thales joint venture) and are armed with the Aster 15 missile. The Aster missiles use the DCN SYLVER launcher . As with the La Fayette class the primary offensive weapon is the anti-surface Exocet missile. The ships' main gun is the Oto Melara 76 mm/62 Super Rapid gun replacing the 100 mm TR automatic gun. There are also four 533 mm (21.0 in) aft torpedo tubes . The ship is armed with the DCNS F17 heavyweight anti-submarine torpedo.[source]La Fayette-class frigate · Export / Al Riyadh class: Saudi Arabia; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage The ships are capable of a maximum speed of 24.5 knots (45.4 km/h; 28.2 mph) with a maximum range of 7,000 nautical miles (13,000 km; 8,100 mi).[source]La Fayette-class frigate · Export / Al Riyadh class: Saudi Arabia; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage The Republic of Singapore Navy 's six Formidable -class frigates are of comparable size to the La Fayette class but differ from that class and the Saudi Al Riyadh class in the armament carried: in place of the Exocet is the Boeing Harpoon . The main gun is a stealth cupola equipped with an Oto Melara 76 mm gun replacing the 100 mm TR automatic gun. The Formidable class also uses the SYLVER launcher/Aster missile combination.[source]La Fayette-class frigate · Export / Formidable class: Singapore; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage Maximum speed is 27 kn (50 km/h; 31 mph), making it the fastest variant. The ships have a maximum range of 4,200 nmi (7,800 km; 4,800 mi).[source]La Fayette-class frigate · Export / Formidable class: Singapore; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage The class's maximum speed is 25 knots (46 km/h; 29 mph) with a maximum range of 4,000 nmi (7,400 km; 4,600 mi).[source]La Fayette-class frigate · Export / Kang Ding class: Republic of China; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage | The Manoram -class ferry are series of watercraft built by Inland Marine Works Pvt Ltd Port Blair , at its Chanch Shipyard, Gujarat for Indian Navy . They are fully air-conditioned craft and are fitted with modern navigational aids and can ferry 250 passengers.[source]Manoram-class ferry · Lead; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage |
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| Country of origin | France[source] | India[source] India[source] India[source]Inventory Origin column; table 17, row 3, cell 6; revision 1376895978; retrieved 2026-10-02 |
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| Planned | — |
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| Source manufacturer statement | — | The Manoram -class ferry are series of watercraft built by Inland Marine Works Pvt Ltd Port Blair , at its Chanch Shipyard, Gujarat for Indian Navy .[source]Only the subject, component or variant named in this passage; unresolved names do not create a manufacturer identity |
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