Srogram-class corvette
The Srogram-class is Mirhaime's newest class of ocean-going corvettes.
The main tasks of the corvettes are surveillance and reconnaissance of the surface situation as well as combating targets at sea and on land. Areas of application are in particular marginal seas and coastal waters. The ships have sensors for signal and electronic reconnaissance (SIGINT) and imaging reconnaissance (IMINT). The main armament is the MCM-352 MK4 anti-ship missile whose range extends beyond the ship's sensor horizon. Secondary capabilities of the corvettes are the potential to jam enemy communications and use as a minelayer.
The first of the class, the MRAS Srogram (MRA-332) was put into service on April 5, 2008.
Design
Bridge
The Combat Direction System (CDS) is the central processor of vessels of the Srogram-class, and is comparable to the Aegis combat system currently in use by navies of other countries. It consists of consoles, computer interfaces, and connecting networks as well as an proprietary operating system (OS), and software for operational applications and usage. With the introduction of the Srogram-class, a new generation of computer architecture was introduced into Mirhaime Realm Armada service, and has since been introduced on all new surface combat vessels. The CDS controls all weapons and sensors on the basis of commerically available computers (COTS) and processes the data from its own sensors, and external sources automatically with minimal human inputs. From there, it creates an interface with necessary informations, and relay them to the crew of the vessels via said interfaces. Any threats emanating from detected targets are calculated and displayed by the CDS based on ESM lock, kinematics, emitter parameters, positions, etc. Sensors and weapons can be linked to function chains, and be used automatically - again - with minimal input from the crew.
The ZARAS-3D radar, PMZ BK 9000BC, two EO/IR cameras of the Mirador type, two navigation radars, and the IFF radar MSSR 2000I are available as on-board sensors.
The corvette was the first in the MRA whose Combat Information Center (CIC) operate with the ZARGE config. All available situation information, including that of the system's hardware and software can be displayed on seven multifunction consoles, each with two 21" TFT monitors and a large-screen display. A realm-time network and a non-real-time network enable the digital data exchange of the sensors and weapons with the CDS consoles in the ZARGE-CIC and on the integrated bridge. Video images from the sensors and weapons are distributed to all connected consoles and workstations via an additional on-board intranet which was also integrated into the F124 architecture, connecting the different sub-networks of the vessel with one another. The concept of the integrated bridge is based on the concept of the one-man bridge of modern merchant ships. The devices, displays and screens on the bridge have been combined into a compact system based on modern ergonomic aspects. In addition to the navigational situation, the ship data, all information from the ship;s technical area and the complete situation picture of the CDS are displayed on the six screens of the integrated bridge.
Sensors
ZARAS-3D Radar
The ZARAS-3D radar was manufactured by Putz Technology Inc. and operates in the C-band (4-8 GHz). The radar consists of a 1.2m x 0.4 m small rectangular sensor at the top of the mast, weighing approximately 340kg. For this purpose the transmission signal which is generated in a traveling wave tube, is radiated through 16 lines, each consisting of 46 modules. The radar performs sidelobe suppression and can change the transmission characteristics such as pulse length, pulse repetition rate, polarization and frequency from transmission pulse to transmission pulse with the transmission frequency being selected randomly. The radar has two plot extractors, one for air targets and the other for surface targets. The plot extractors can determine and then select the frequency with the least disturbance. The radar can identify flying targets such as helicopters, and fixed wing aircrafts automatically with additional non-cooperative target identification (NCTI) or friend-foe detection (IFF) capabilities. On top of this, the radar can track up to 300 sea and air targets simultaneously. The pencil beam normally covers 20° to 70° in elevation (short-range mode), but can also form a wide lobe with 7.5° in azimuth in the range from 0° to 15° elevation (long-range). In the anti-aircraft surveillance mode, seven superimposed beam positions from 0° to 45° are selected, with variable transmission energy. The radar can interleave the different transmission modes. Low-flying anti-ship missiles can be detected in from around 20-21 km, combat aircraft at 10° elevation in about 60-75 km, anti-ship missiles at 10° in about 42 km. In self-defense mode, the antenna rotates at 30/min, in clutter-heavy environments at 17/min. In surveillance mode, the rotation rate is only 10/min, but the detection range against fighter planes increases to 110 km.
PMZ BK 9000BC
The PMZ BK 9000BC is a system for electronic warfare, and combines communications intelligence (COMINT), electronic intelligence (ELINT), electronic support measures (EloUM) and electronic countermeasures (EloGM) into one system. The antenna complex uses systems from Vitaris Marine Engineering Co. (VMEC). In addition to generous data processing capacity, the systems Zaeras 5000, SPS-N-5000, KJS-N-5000 and individual components from Putz Electronics Inc. are integrated.
The main mast, with the ZARAS-3D Radar at the top, is collared underneath. This contains six SPS-N-5000 antennas for electronic reconnaissance (ELINT) in the band from 2 to 18 GHz. The bearing accuracy is approximately 2°, with the sensitivity of the antennas at −80 dBm (10−11 watts). It is capable of receiving frequencies of up to 40GHz via small antennas under the radomes. These also belong to the SPS-N-5000 and consist of a horizontally rotating, vertical spiral antenna. These SIGINT antennas for electronic reconnaissance (ELINT) and communications reconnaissance (e.g Ku-band radar or Ka-band SATCOM) have a bearing of 1° RMS and a sensitivity of at least −120 dBm (10−15 watts). Dipoles are installed under the collar on the spreaders of the front and rear masts. Five dipoles cover the frequency band from 200 to 1000 MHz (UHF band). The frequency range from 1.5 to 200 MHz should (as of 2006) be covered by cage antennas, and that from 1 to 3 GHz by a lower-lying second collar. Due to the high sensitivity, the antennas can also locate signals with Low Probability of Intercept (LPI) properties. Since the second collar is not recognizable, the antenna system for 1–3 GHz was probably moved to the rear mast, and the frequency range from 1.5–200 MHz was covered by masts with rod antennas distributed on the ship, in order to be able to locate emitters by triangulation . The forest of antennas becomes even more confusing because HF antennas have also been added to compensate for bearing errors caused by the own ship's mass.
The KJS-N-5000 jammer is based on the Cicada R and operates in the 6-18 GHz frequency range. The jammer itself is manufactured in Mirhaime by Putz Electronics Inc. with the antenna being subcontracted to ZAUM. The system uses either a phased array antenna or a dish antenna. Multiple targets can be jammed in the time-sharing process. DRFM-based gate pull-off techniques and pulsed noise interference are available for this purpose. Cicada R uses the two large radomes port and starboard of the mainmast. Furthermore, the communication jamming system Cicada C was integrated, which is used on land in the radio jamming tank Hummel. The antennas, dipoles distributed over the ship, interfere between 1 MHz and 3 GHz, mainly in the VHF and UHF band.
The high frequency facility data is processed by an RPA-2746 processor capable of processing 4 million pulses per second, identifying the transmitter and plotting the angle to the emitter over time. Signal processing for the Zaeras 5000's communications intelligence works as in previous versions: to overcome frequency hopping, up to a billion channels can be scanned per second and four channels can be processed (i.e. monitored) in parallel. Since the direction to the signal is also determined (possibly with 3.5° RMS), ESM and COMINT are merged in one database. To reduce the operator's workload, non-threats are filtered out. Up to 512 emitters can be tracked simultaneously, which are compared against a database containing over 10,000 entries. The operator works with an emitter database containing over 256 entries, supplemented by a database with 144 threat transmission modes. Angle, time-to-intercept, amplitude, frequency, pulse interval, pulse width and search pattern are determined in real time. Angle, interception time, amplitude, modulation, channel coding (possibly also encryption), communication and network protocol are determined when data streams are extracted, including those with LPI characteristics. The system then uses a powerful database to classify data links and networks, analyze data traffic and determine call signs. All collected electronic data is demodulated and the content (speech, data, images) is stored in mass storage.
In order to improve telecommunications and electronic reconnaissance, all recorded data are merged. Emitters are located by triangulation and Target Motion Analysis (TMA) and their motion vector is determined. A database then determines the threat level.
Drones
From the beginning of planning, the stationing of one to two remote-controlled reconnaissance drones per corvette has been planned, which are to operate from the helicopter deck. In addition to reconnaissance and target data acquisition at close range, their importance lies in better exploitation of the capabilities of the newly-fielded MCM-352 MK4 anti-ship missile whose range extends beyond the ship's sensor horizon. The far-reaching reconnaissance and effect was intended to compensate for the speed disadvantage of the corvettes compared to the speedboats.
In 2008, the Armada completed successful tests of the Zarcopter XS-100 helicopter drone from the Tenkirian company Torazen. However, procurement was not possible due to technical issues with the technology. A new procurement process with an extended field of candidates began in 2014, and led to the adoption of the Torazen Zarcopter XS-300 in 2018. With the soft-upgrade package of 2018, all vessels in service currently include a single system with two aircraft and one control unit. The contract also includes the integration of the system in the corvettes, the training of the operating personnel and a spare parts package. According to the Armada, this procurement is intended to gain experience with unmanned helicopter drones and to procure a final system based on this experience.
Anti-ship missiles
Four heavy anti-ship missiles of the MCM-352 MK4 type form the main armament of a corvette. They are installed on VLS's on the deck amidships. The fire-and-forget missile, which is also suitable for combating stationary land targets, has a range of over 200 kilometers and is controlled via an active radar seeker as well as GPS and an inertial navigation system.
In addition to the inclusion of new unmanned helicopters in the upgrade package of 2018, additional weaponries including four medium anti-ship missiles were added to each vessels.
Turret
Reingiker Maritime Systems' 76mm ANG-76-145 gun is located on the forecastle in front of the RQ-25 Rolling Airframe Missile launcher. The 62 caliber weapon fires a wide range of ammunition with a rate of up to 85/min and a muzzle velocity of 925 m/s. The effective range against sea targets is 8000 m, against air targets up to 5000 m. The gun barrel can be moved 35°/s in elevation in a range of +85°/−15°. The rotation speed of the turret is 60°/s. The mass is reduced through the use of light metal, the housing is made of GRP. The small muzzle brake reduces recoil by 35%.
Below deck there is a double loading rim with a capacity of 70 shells, which are transported from the outer to the inner rim by the rotary movement of the loading device. Above it on the left is a drum with 6 shots, which forms the intermediate magazine. This feeds a screw conveyor in the axis of rotation of the turret, which guides the ammunition vertically upwards. Once at the top, the projectiles are received by two loading levers. The loading lever swings alternately (that is, when one moves up, the other swings down) behind the breech and loads the shell. If the shot is fired and the weapon system recoils, the loading arm catches the ejected case and the other launches a new grenade on retrieval. The shells are ejected forward out of the turret.[6] High-explosive projectiles with impact or proximity fuses were procured as live ammunition.
Short range defense
The RQ-25 Rolling Airframe Missile (RAM) launcher, manufactured by Reingiker Maritime Systems, serves as the close-range defense of the corvette. Ships of the Srogram-class are equipped with two 21-cell rotating RAM launchers for RQ-26 series missiles, one between the turret and the bridge, the other aft forward of the flight deck. Their main function is to intercept enemy anti-ship missiles. The Srogram-class is the first design to use Block IC missiles with HAS mode, which can also be used against helicopters, airplanes and surface targets with a software update. All current vessels, following the 2018 Upgrade Package use the Block IIA instead. The Mach 3-capable RQ-25 is based on components of the TLKC-410 (licensed AIM-9 SIdewinders) and DK-90 Berkya anti-aircraft missiles. It receives the target data from the ship's combat system before it is launched, and then independently tracks the target as a fire-and-forget weapon with passive radar and infrared seekers. The range of the early versions is 9 km. According to the manufacturer, Block 2 has a 50% increased range and significantly better agility. cA launcher can fire different versions of the rocket.