MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Royal Navy frigates operation: 350 million US dollars

The Royal Navy Type 23 frigates currently on service, “HMS Norfolk”, HMS Marlborough“ and HMS Grafton” will be joining the Chilean Navy between 2006 and 2008 in an operation involving 350 million US dollars, following a purchase agreement signed this month in London.

According to Chilean Defence Minister Jaime Ravinet and Commander of the Navy Admiral Rodolfo Codina, 225 million US dollars is the cost of the three vessels and the rest missiles, refurbishing and training. The financial operation concludes in 2015.

Mr. Ravinet also revealed that previously he had contacted his Argentine, Peruvian and Bolivian counterparts to inform them of the Chilean decision and the conclusion of the Navy's renewal plan which now has a 2026 horizon. With the three Royal Navy frigates Chile will have a surface fleet of eight vessels, (four Dutch and four British) demanding a total disbursement of 900 million US dollars, considerably less than the original 1,3 billion US dollars "Trident Plan" estimated for the building of four brand new frigates.

Apparently the negotiations were delayed several months because of internal Chilean affairs and last minute bids from Belgium and Pakistan that were also interested in the Royal Navy frigates. However the British, reports the Chilean press, kept their word in spite of strong lobbying from Washington in favour of Pakistan.

The extraordinary strong price of copper has helped to swell the Chilean Armed Forces coffers that will also be acquiring Leopard II tanks and F-16 fighter bombers. The Chilean Navy has plans to build in the next decade two large patrol vessels and an oil tanker.

These projects allegedly will be financed with the savings from the running of the new surface fleet which consumes six times less fuel and have half the current crew.