# Nigerian Navy explores frigate acquisition

- Link: https://www.military.africa/2021/04/nigerian-navy-explores-frigate-acquisition/
- Published: 2021-04-23T11:54:26+01:00
- Author: Ekene Lionel

*_Featured image for illustrative purposes_

With the conclusion of a two-day Nigerian Navy (NN) Retreat 2021 held at new Conference
Hall of Naval Headquarters (NHQ), Abuja ended on Tuesday, the naval branch was advised
to seek a new frigate flagship.

The expert recommendation aims to replace the former naval flagship Nigerian Navy
Ship NNS ARADU.

The retreat titled, “Effective Management for Nigerian Navy Operational Efficiency,”
was attended by Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS), Principal Staff Officers at NHQ,
Flag Officers Commanding (FOCs) and Commanders of operations bases, while the rest
of the NN units, ships and establishments participated virtually via Zoom video 
conference link.

The retreat also tasked the Navy to take advantage of existing Memoranda of Understanding(
MOU) with Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM) like Messrs MTU of Germany and 
Messrs Yamaha of Japan to improve availability of spares for improved naval platform
availability.

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Additionally, the Retreat also advocated for the establishment of a ‘Basic Maritime
Operations Course’ for junior officers and ratings in the NN to improve human capacity
for the conduct of effective maritime operations.

## Nigerian Navy Strategic Modernization plan

The Nigerian Navy in mid-2009 presented its plans for its strategic goal in the 
short, medium and long term.

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The then Chief of Naval Staff, Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), Ete Ibas, in a statement
disclosed that “this strategic Directive is set out to guide the attainment of Nigerian
Navy(NN) goals in areas considered critical to effectiveness of NN ‎operational,
logistics and administrative process and procedures”.

The CNS noted that, “having identified where the challenges are, I thought I should
come out with a directive which will guide all the commanders in ensuring that if
the NN goals are to be achieved, we have to have certain direction”.

In the short term, the Navy required two light frigates, two 85 meter OPVs, six 
17 meter Manta Class IPCs, six Shaldag MK 11 Patrol Craft, two 38 meter FPBs, two
combat Augusta A138 helicopters, one Landing Platform Dock, and two Logistics Ships.

While the medium term spanning two-five years would require ten OPVs, 20 helicopters,
[one hydrographic ship](https://www.military.africa/2021/04/nigerian-navy-explores-frigate-acquisition/military.africa/2021/04/nigerian-navy-takes-delivery-of-hydrographic-research-vessel-nns-lana-from-ocea),
two training ships, two logistics ships, and two mine counter measure vessels (MCMVs).

In the long term spanning between five to ten years, the Nigerian Navy will require
three Conventional Submarines, two corvettes, two LPDs, 20 long range maritime patrol
helicopters, two training ships and two MCMVs.

## NNS Aradu: former Nigerian flagship

Former NN flagship; NNS Aradu F89, (Hausa for “Thunder”) is a Meko 360H1 class multipurpose
frigate based on the German Blohm & Voss MEKO 360 design pattern.

The NNS Aradu was laid down at the Blohm Voss shipyard in Hamburg on December 1,
1978, and launched on January 25, 1980, two years later. The ship replaced a smaller,
older frigate, the NNS Obuma as the Nigerian Navy flagship.

By 2010, [NNS Aradu was inoperable](https://www.military.africa/2021/04/nigerian-navy-explores-frigate-acquisition/military.africa/2019/11/how-africas-most-powerful-warship-became-a-floating-wreck)
because of training and maintenance dearth in the Navy and compounded by financial
problems brought about by the falling oil prices.

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 military.africa/2019/11/how-africas-most-powerful-warship-became-a-floating-wreck

By early last year, NNS Aradu [underwent a comprehensive refit ](https://www.military.africa/2021/04/nigerian-navy-explores-frigate-acquisition/military.africa/2020/02/nns-aradu-nigerias-most-powerful-warship-gets-a-refit)
at the Naval Dockyard limited in Victoria Island, Lagos in partnership with Habtop
and Dorman Long.

At that time, _Military Africa_ learnt that due to the age and obsolescence of its
weapons, fire control and navigational systems, Aradu was given a new mission as
a combat training ship for Nigeria’s new general-purpose frigate valued at $350 
million, expected to be delivered in the coming years.

 military.africa/2020/02/nns-aradu-nigerias-most-powerful-warship-gets-a-refit

By July 2020, Aradu had [completed its repairs](https://www.military.africa/2021/04/nigerian-navy-explores-frigate-acquisition/military.africa/2020/07/nigerias-thunder-fights-again),
it was later towed to NNS Beecroft Apapa Jetty for sea trials and additional equipment
fitting.

 military.africa/2020/07/nigerias-thunder-fights-again

At her prime, NNS Aradu was capable of being armed with a wide range of armaments
including anti-ship and anti-air missiles, anti-submarine torpedoes and rockets,
as well as powerful naval guns.

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