Editing Horizon-class frigate (section)

==Development==
{{Further|NFR-90}}
[[France]], [[Italy]], and the [[United Kingdom|UK]] issued a joint requirement in 1992 after the failure of the [[NFR-90|NATO Frigate Replacement for the 90s]] (NFR-90) project. In July 1993, the three countries signed a Memorandum of Understanding for a Common New Generation Frigate (CNGF).<ref>{{cite news |title=Project to build warship agreed |work=Financial Times |location=London |date=17 July 1993}}</ref> The ships were to be armed with the [[PAAMS|Principal Anti Air Missile System]] (PAAMS). The UK intended to purchase twelve ships to replace its [[Type 42 destroyer]]s. France was to purchase four to replace its {{sclass|Suffren|frigate|4}}, and Italy would purchase six to replace its {{sclass|Andrea Doria|cruiser|5}} and {{sclass|Audace|destroyer|0||1971}} ships.<ref name=":0">{{cite news|last=Gray |first=Bernard |date=23 March 1996 |title=Britain, France and Italy agree £7bn frigate deal |work=Financial Times |location=London}}</ref>

Problems emerged almost immediately. The primary problem was that of differing requirements: France wanted [[anti-aircraft warfare]] (AAW) escorts for its [[aircraft carrier]]s, but only a limited range was necessary due to the self-defence capability of the French {{ship|French aircraft carrier|Charles de Gaulle||2}}. Italy too required only close-range capabilities, as in its home waters of the [[Mediterranean Sea]] the ships would operate under [[Italian Air Force]] cover or escorts for its aircraft carrier {{ship|Italian aircraft carrier|Cavour|550|2}}. The [[Royal Navy]], however, required more capable ships which could throw a large defensive "bubble" over a fleet operating in hostile areas.<ref>{{cite news |last=Gray |first=Bernard |date=23 March 1996 |title=Eurofrigate planned for a new world of regional conflicts |work=Financial Times |location=London}}</ref> The compromise that largely solved this problem was the adoption of a standard radar interface, which allowed France and Italy to install the [[EMPAR]] multi-function [[passive electronically scanned array]] radar and the UK to install the more capable [[SAMPSON]] [[active electronically scanned array]] radar—the SAMPSON radar has a higher data rate and an adaptive beam that allows a greater ability to track multiple targets, long-range detection of low-RCS targets, a lower false-alarm rate, and overall higher tracking accuracy.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Dranidis |first=Dimitris V.|date=May 2003 |title=Backboards of the fleet: shipboard phased-array radars; a survey of requirements, technologies, and operational systems |journal=Journal of Electronic Defense|volume= 26|issue=5 |pages=55 }}</ref>

In March 1996, it was agreed that the PAAMS office would be based in Paris, and the Project Horizon project office would be based in London. The latter was to be responsible for the design of the ship, its command and control, and secondary weapons systems. Britain also agreed to contribute £100m in recognition of the development work already completed by Italy and France on PAAMS.<ref name=":0" /> Construction would be carried out by [[Naval Group|DCN]] (France), [[GEC-Marconi]] (UK), and Orizzonte (Italy).<ref name=":0" />

===UK withdrawal===
On 26 April 1999, the UK announced that it was withdrawing from the CNGF project to pursue its own national design. At this point, the CNGF project was five years behind schedule.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Nicoll |first1=Alexander |last2=Owen |first2=David |date=27 April 1999 |title=European warship project collapses as UK withdraws |work=Financial Times |location=London}}</ref> The ''[[Financial Times]]'' summarised the main disagreements between the partner countries:<ref>{{Cite news|first=Alexander |last=Nicoll|title= National differences scupper frigate project|work= Financial Times |date=27 April 1999 }}</ref>
* Vessel size – As noted above, the UK's requirements were out of step with those of France and Italy. An agreement was reached but the Financial Times reported that the issue "never entirely [went] away."
* Capability – The UK wanted the ships with a wide-area defence capability due to its experience in the Falklands War.
* Industrial structure – The UK tried to use its larger requirement to exert influence; the UK's desire to see Marconi appointed as prime contractor was accepted by France, but only in return for DCN being given the role as prime contractor for the combat management system. The UK, which wished to see a [[British Aerospace]]-led consortium given this role, would not accept this.

The resulting [[Type 45 destroyer]] is armed with the [[PAAMS]] missile system and has benefited from investment in the Horizon project.

===Franco-Italian project===
[[File:Nave Caio Duilio.jpg|thumb|left|Italian ''Caio Duilio'']]
France and Italy continued their collaboration under the Horizon project. In September 2000, the two countries signed a contract to jointly produce four ships, ordering two ships each which would deploy the PAAMS missile system.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-65508836.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924161944/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-65508836.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=24 September 2015|title=France, Italy Sign Agreement To Design, Build Four Horizon Frigates|work=Defense Daily|date=26 September 2000|access-date=9 August 2015}}</ref> The [[Italian Navy]] ordered two units, {{ship|Italian destroyer|Andrea Doria|D 553|2}} and {{ship|Italian destroyer|Caio Duilio|D 554|2}}, to replace the ''Audace'' class. ''Andrea Doria'' was accepted on 22 December 2007 and received the flag of the Italian Navy. Full operation capability was achieved in the summer of 2008. The [[French Navy]] ordered two units, {{ship|French frigate|Forbin|D620|2}} and {{ship|French frigate|Chevalier Paul|D621|2}}, to replace the ''Suffren''-class carrier escorts. The project cost France €2.16bn (~US$3bn) at 2009 prices.<ref name=Francebudget2012>{{Cite web | url=http://www.senat.fr/rap/a12-150-8/a12-150-815.html#toc290 | title=Projet de loi de finances pour 2013 : Défense : équipement des forces | language=fr | publisher=Senate of France | date=22 November 2012 | access-date=1 June 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130326234111/http://www.senat.fr/rap/a12-150-8/a12-150-815.html#toc290 | archive-date=26 March 2013 | url-status=dead }}</ref> A further two Horizons were cancelled; instead, the two {{sclass|Cassard|frigate|2}}<nowiki/>s were to be replaced by the FREDA air-defence variant of the Franco-Italian [[FREMM multipurpose frigate]] (later known as {{ship|French frigate|Alsace||2}} and {{ship|French frigate|Lorraine||2}}). France bought 40 [[Aster (missile family)|Aster 15]] and 80 [[Aster (missile family)|Aster 30]] missiles for their ships.<ref name=Francebudget2012 /> On the Italian units, the three cannons will be upgraded to the 76 mm/62 Super Rapid Multi Feeding David/Strales version with the capacity to use the DART guided projectile in the anti-missile role.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.leonardocompany.com/documents/63265270/66958362/body_STRALES_2013_1.pdf |title=Strales Guidance System for 76mm and DART Ammunition |publisher=OTO Melara |access-date=29 July 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160816163431/http://www.leonardocompany.com/documents/63265270/66958362/body_STRALES_2013_1.pdf |archive-date=16 August 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref>