MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Four Dutch frigates for Chilean Navy

Chilean Defence Minister Michelle Bachelet announced in Santiago that the government had authorized the beginning of the negotiation process for the acquisition of four second hand Dutch frigates. Ms. Bachelet simultaneously declared the “Plan Fragata”, an international bidding process for a long term project to build new frigates in Chile was declared “deserted”.

Negotiations are scheduled to be over by end of next March, early April, if the cost of the operation is below 350 million US dollars, half the sum Chile was prepared to invest in three new frigates.

However on making the announcement Ms. Bachelet was insistent that Chile is in no way increasing its war capability, "we're not involved in any arms race?Chile is simply modernizing its Armed Forces".

Ms. Bachelet also revealed that she had previously talked about the issue with Argentine Defence Minister Jose Pampuro and Roberto Chiabra from Peru.

"There is coherence between defence expenditure and the political and economic needs of the country", underlined Ms. Bachelet adding that as the new units are incorporated the older ones will be decommissioned.

Ms. Bachelet said that two of the frigates are L Class commissioned in 1986, refurbished in 2000 and specifically for anti air combat. The other two, M Class are multipurpose, commissioned in 1993 but Chile will have to invest in refurbishing them.

"They are modern vessels, technologically very superior to the ones we have now", and will help reduce costs considerably since the L Class have a crew of 190 and the M Class of 150.

"If negotiations are positive, two frigates will be delivered in June, December 2005 and the rest in July 2006 and May 2007.

Ms. Bachelet described the operation as a "Xmas present" since the opportunity emerged just before Christmas. Once the government and the Navy assessed the offer "they concluded it was extremely attractive".

Once the operation is concluded Chile will have acquired five (four Dutch and one British) of the six new frigates of its original shopping list.

Ms. Bachelet anticipated that the Chilean Navy will be at the outlook next April when another batch of Royal Navy units are scheduled will