Editing Valour-class frigate (section)

{{Short description|South African navy frigates}}
{|{{Infobox ship begin
| sclass = 2
}}
{{Infobox ship image
| Ship image = SAS Spioenkop during Exercise IBSAMAR V (cropped).JPG
| Ship caption = SAS ''Spioenkop'' during Exercise IBSAMAR
}}
{{Infobox ship class overview
| Name = Valour class
| Builders = [[Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft]], [[Kiel]] and [[Blohm+Voss]], [[Hamburg]]
| Operators = {{navy|South Africa}}
| Class before = {{sclass2|President|frigate|4}}
| Class after = 
| Subclasses = 
| Cost = *{{ShipCost|ZAF|9.65|b|year=2007|origin=DEU|qty=4}}
*{{ShipCost|ZAF|2.41|b|year=2007|origin=DEU|qty=1}}
| Built range = 2001–2002
| In service range = 
| In commission range = 2006–present
| Total ships building = 
| Total ships planned = 5
| Total ships completed = 4
| Total ships cancelled = 1
| Total ships active = 4
| Total ships laid up = 
| Total ships lost = 
| Total ships retired = 
| Total ships preserved = 
}}
{{Infobox ship characteristics
| Hide header = 
| Header caption = 
| Ship class = 
| Ship type = [[Guided-missile frigate]]
| Ship displacement = 3,700 tons
| Ship length = *{{Convert|107.3|m|ftin|abbr=on}} at waterline
*{{Convert|121|m|ftin|abbr=on}} overall
| Ship beam = {{Convert|16.34|m|ftin|abbr=on}}
| Ship draught = {{Convert|5.95|m|ftin|abbr=on}}
| Ship propulsion = *[[Combined diesel and gas|CODAG WARP]]
*2 MTU 16V 1163 TB93 [[diesel engine]]s, {{Convert|5920|kW|hp}} each, 2 shafts for cruise;
*1 [[General Electric LM2500]], {{Convert|20000|kW|hp}}
*1 [[pump-jet|waterjet]]
| Ship sail plan = 
| Ship speed = {{Convert|28|kn|lk=in}}
| Ship range = {{Convert|8000|nmi|lk=in|abbr=on}} at {{Convert|16|kn}}
| Ship endurance = 28 days
| Ship test depth = 
| Ship boats = 
| Ship capacity = 
| Ship troops = 
| Ship complement = 152<ref>{{cite news|author=Keith Campbell|newspaper=Engineering News|url=http://www.engineeringnews.co.za/print-version/south-africans-small-but-modern-fleet-attracts-global-interest-2009-12-04|title=South Africa's small but modern fleet attracts global interest|access-date=2010-01-21|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101110083647/http://www.engineeringnews.co.za/print-version/south-africans-small-but-modern-fleet-attracts-global-interest-2009-12-04|archive-date=2010-11-10|url-status=live}}</ref> (incl aircrew)
| Ship crew = 
| Ship time to activate = 
| Ship sensors = *'''Surveillance radar''': Thales Naval France MRR-3D NG G-band multi-role radar
*'''Optical radar tracker''': 2 [[Reutech]] RTS 6400 [[monopulse]] [[X band]] (I/J bands) combined radar and optronics trackers
*'''Electro-optical tracker''': Reutech Electro-optical tracker
*'''Identification friend or foe''': [[Tellumat]] Integrated Naval [[Identification friend or foe]] system
*'''Target designation sights''': [[M-Tek]] Target Designation Sights
*'''Sonar''': Thales UMS4132 Kingklip sonar
*'''Obstacle avoidance sonar''': MDS 3060
| Ship EW = *'''ESM/ECM''': Saab Grintek Avitronics SME 100/200 ESM (Intercept and Jammer) & [[ELINT]]
*'''Decoys''': 2 Saab Grintek Avitronics MRL Super Barricade chaff launchers (96 decoys)
| Ship armament = *'''Anti-ship missiles''': 8 [[MBDA]] MM 40 [[Exocet]] Block 2 [[surface-to-surface missile]]s (mounted in two four-cell launchers)
*'''Surface-to-air''': 16 [[Umkhonto missile|Umkhonto]] [[surface-to-air missile]]s in a 16 cell [[Vertical launching system]], can be increased to 32
*'''Naval guns''': 1 [[Otobreda 76 mm]] gun
*1 [[Denel 35mm Dual Purpose Gun]] ([[Close-in weapon system|CIWS]])
*2 Mk1 [[Oerlikon 20 mm cannon]]
*2 12.7 mm [[Reutech Rogue|Rogue remotely operated guns]]
*'''ASW''': 4 {{Convert|324|mm|in|abbr=on}} [[torpedo]] tubes
| Ship armour = Welded GL-D36 steel<ref>{{cite news|author=DefenceThink|newspaper=DefenceThink|url=http://www.defencethink.co.za/node/156|title=Navy Fact File|access-date=2010-01-21|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100614110157/http://www.defencethink.co.za/node/156|archive-date=2010-06-14|url-status=dead}}</ref>
| Ship armor = 
| Ship aircraft = 2 [[Westland Lynx|SuperLynx 300]], 1 [[Atlas Oryx]], 2 [[AgustaWestland AW109]], 1 [[Denel Rooivalk]] or various UAVs (Planned)
| Ship aircraft facilities = * Flight deck
* Enclosed [[hangar]]
| Ship notes = 
}}
|}

The '''Valour class''' is a [[Ship class|class]] of [[frigate]]s built for the [[South African Navy]]. Part of the [[MEKO]] family of warships, the German shipbuilder [[Blohm+Voss]] officially designate the class as the MEKO A-200SAN.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=MEKO A Class Combat Ship Family, Germany|url=https://www.naval-technology.com/projects/meko-a-class-combat-ship/|access-date=2021-10-14|website=www.naval-technology.com|language=en-GB}}</ref>

Designed as a multiple purpose, multi capable frigate, the Valour class encompasses the general [[Guided Missile Frigate|guided-missile]] [[Anti-surface warfare|anti-surface]] and [[Anti-aircraft warfare|anti-air]] role forming the core of the South African surface fleet. The Valour class frigates employ the use of [[Stealth ship|stealth technology]] to avoid enemy radar and infra-red detection.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Engelbrecht |first=Leon |date=2010-02-08 |title=Fact file: Valour-class small guided missile frigates |url=https://www.defenceweb.co.za/resources/fact-files/fact-file-valour-class-small-guided-missile-frigates/ |access-date=2023-02-06 |website=defenceWeb |language=en-ZA}}</ref>

Four Valour class frigates were constructed for the South African Navy as part of the [[South African Arms Deal|Strategic Defence Package 1999]]. The first, [[SAS Amatola|SAS ''Amatola'']], was [[Ship commissioning|commissioned]] in 2006, with the fourth and final, [[SAS Mendi|SAS ''Mendi'']], commissioned in March 2007. The frigates have a service life of 30–40 years.<ref name=":2" /> However, in May 2023, Rear Admiral B.K. Mhlana, Deputy Chief of the Navy, reported to the Joint Standing Committee on Defence that ''Mendi'' was the only frigate of her class still effectively operational, given cancellations and delays in refits for her sister ships.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://pmg.org.za/committee-meeting/36979/ |title=SA Navy's repair and maintenance of Frigates and Submarines; Status Update on Projects BIRO and HOTEL; with Deputy Minister |website=Parliamentary Monitoring Group |date=18 May 2023 |access-date=12 September 2023 }}</ref> In 2024, a planned voyage by SAS ''Amatola'' to participate in the [[Russian Navy]]'s "Navy Day" in [[St. Petersburg]] had to be cancelled due to “current defects to the vessel”.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.defenceweb.co.za/sa-defence/sa-defence-sa-defence/amatola-not-going-to-russia-defects-and-lack-of-maintenance-cited/ |title=Amatola not going to Russia – defects and lack of maintenance cited |website=defence Web |date=27 June 2024 |access-date=15 September 2024 }}</ref>

The Valour-class vessels are named in honor of acts of distinguished bravery in South African military history.