| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Builders: | DCNS |
| Building: | 1 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type: | Multi-purpose corvette |
| Displacement: | 1,100 to 2,500 tons |
| Length: | 90 to 105m |
| Beam: | 13 to 14.2m |
| Speed: | 22 to 27kt |
| Armament: | 16 Mica RF air to air missiles or 16 Aster 15 SAMs 8 Exocet anti-ship missiles or 8 RGM-84 Harpoon anti-ship missiles or 8 RBS-15 Mk.3 |
| Aircraft carried: | various types of UAVs a helicopter, weighing up to 10 tons |
Gowind is a family of steel monohull corvettes and Offshore Patrol Vessels developed since 2006 by DCNS to conduct missions in littoral zone such as anti-submarine warfare (ASW) and safeguard. Gowind family includes four corvettes with length from 85m to 105m and displacement from 1,100t to 2,500t. An state-of-the-art combat management system (CMS), called Polaris, successor to Senit installed on French Navy's top quality surface combatants has been provided to these corvettes. Besides ship's reduced radar, acoustic and infrared signatures and its compact design provide enhanced survivability.
The Gowind-class corvettes were designed having on mind the 21st century challenges navies will confront as well as the new weapon systems required to deal with. Thus Gowind can deploy Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), Unmanned Surface Vehicles (USVs) and Underwater Unmanned Vehicles (UUVs). An aft deck has been provided allowing for 10-ton class helicopter or even Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) operations.
Gowind's weapon system builds around a multi-functional radar and 16 Aster 15 or Mica vertical launch surface-to-air missiles. Its can be armed with either 8 MM40 Exocet or Harpoon anti-ship missiles. The propulsion system is based on Combined Diesel and Diesel (CODAD) and includes water-jets for improved maneuverability in shallow waters and high-speed performance. There is no gas exhaust chimney on these ships. The radar and other sensors are mounted on a single central mast replacing several sensor masts in other ships thus allowing 360-degree view.
DCNS is offering four variants of Gowind for the export market: Gowind 200, Gowind 170 and Gowind 120. Gowind 200 outstands by its enhanced anti-submarine warfare capability.
In July 2011 DCNS signed an agreement with KND Projects to build ships of this type at KND's shipyard in Simon's Town, South Africa.[1]
On 9 May 2010, DCNS started the building of one self-funded 1,410t Gowind patrol corvette called L'Adroit[2] and announced that the craft will be made available to the French Navy between 2012 and 2015.[3] The vessel is designed for patrol and sovereignty enforcement in littoral and exclusive economic zone waters and offers three weeks' endurance and a range of 8,000 nautical miles. Missions include special forces deployment by launching within 5 minutes and recovering two UFAST UFR 9.30 rigid-hulled inflatable boats from a stern ramp.