Publication	Cape Argus
Date	2006-12-27

The South African Navy may soon get the green light to buy a fifth frigate, after the government's go-ahead for fresh negotiations. Highly placed navy and defence industry sources have revealed that the cabinet has agreed to open negotiations for a fifth ship in the Valour Class MEKO A-200 series, four of which have already been delivered to the country. The ship could cost about R2,5-billion, compared to the R1,5-billion price tags of the first four *1, due to the recent weakening of the rand and other escalations, including that closed production lines would have to be re-opened.

The German-built ships are globally recognised as among the most modern in their class. Two have been commissioned and have had busy schedules with visits to foreign countries and naval exercises. The navy has designated the ships as frigates, because of their hull size, although their armament systems are not yet up to frigate specifications.

Sources say the navy is also lobbying for the purchase of a Landing Platform Helicopter Dock, a support vessel capable of operating helicopters, a large marines contingent, a fully equipped hospital and a large administrative facility to allow long-distance force projections for peacekeeping. Both ships were expected to get the final go-ahead in the new year, said the sources.

The director of maritime warfare, Rear Admiral Rusty Higgs, on Tuesday confirmed that the option of a fifth frigate was being investigated, but said it was being done at a high political level and that the navy was not yet involved. South African Navy Chief Admiral Johannes Mudimo had earlier confirmed in a letter that the option of a fifth frigate was being discussed, Higgs said. He also confirmed that discussions about a Landing Platform Helicopter Dock were advanced. These ships would enable the South African National Defence Force to operate long distances away from home on peacekeeping missions, especially with the back-up of the new frigates. The ships would range from 15 000 to 20 000 tons, and be useful for Nepad operations, especially African Union operations, said Higgs.

Defence analyst Helmoed-Romer Heitman said the government would have been better served had it gone for a fifth and even a sixth corvette from the outset, as originally advised. Under the circumstances, however, it might also have been wiser leaving the fifth and sixth until after the Landing Platform Helicopter Docks were acquired. "By then, they could have applied lessons learnt from the first four," he said. Heitman said the Landing Platform Helicopter Docks were essential if the government wanted to play the role of regional power. "The fact is this country does have the responsibility and the need for such a role. The stability of countries elsewhere in Africa is essential for our own economic interests and, apart from that, we have already taken responsibility for large areas of ocean," he said. "These ships will allow for the rapid deployment of sufficiently powerful forces, with helicopter back-up, where needed. It may be significant to note that most African capital cities are on the coast or within spitting distance of the coast."

Heitman also said the navy was looking at buying smaller, 80-metre multi-mission offshore patrol vessels to replace the strike craft and other inshore patrol vessels in the long-term. These ships would carry mine counter measure equipment.

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*1       The price tag for the first four was R6,873 billion in 1998 Rands.

This equates to R1,718 billion each in 1998 Rands or about R3,0 billion to R3,5 billion each in 2007 Rands after paying eight years' worth of price escalation and foreign currency at  prevailing rates exchange, including up to R13,80 to the US Dollar in 2001.

The price for the fifth frigate could easily be R3,5 billion to R4,0 billion in 2007 Rands with price escalation, prevailing forex rates and a production quantity of one.