Date set for the delivery of Morocco's last SIGMA frigate

Dutch shipbuilder Damen Schelde Naval Shipbuilding (DSNS) is scheduled to transfer the frigate Allal Ben Abdellah to the Royal Moroccan Navy (Marine Royale Marocaine) on 8 September, IHS Jane's has learned.

DSNS has already delivered two Ship Integrated Geometrical Modularity Approach (SIMGA) vessels to Morocco. The first, Tarik Ben Ziyad , was made to the 105 m SIGMA 10513 standard, while Allal Ben Abdellah and Sultan Moulay Ismail are smaller 98 m SIGMA 9813 vessels.

While the 9813s have smaller crews, they are understood to be similarly equipped by Thales Nederland with Tacticos combat management systems, SMART-S Mk 2 air and surface radar, LIROD Mk 2 fire control radar, Kingklip sonar, Scorpion 2 electronic countermeasure systems and NATO-compatible datalinks.

Thales Nederland subcontracted the supply of X-band navigation radars and the helicopter approach radar.

The ships are armed with MBDA VL MICA surface-to-air missiles in vertical autonomous launcher containers, two twin launchers for Exocet MM40 Block 3 surface-to-surface missiles, two launchers for Eurotorp MU 90 lightweight torpedoes, a single Oto Melara 76 mm/62 gun mount and two weapon stations armed with medium-calibre guns.