MEKO 360

The MEKO 360 is a class of five ships built in Germany for the Argentine and Nigerian navies. The MEKO 360 was the first version of the MEKO family of vessels built by Blohm und Voss. The type comes in two variants, the MEKO 360H1, comprising one ship, and the MEKO 360H2, comprising four ships. They are alternatively classed as frigates and destroyers by different sources. The design is based on the modular concept which allows swapping out different armaments to fit mission requirements and allows for easier application of upgrades and refits.

MEKO 360H1
A single vessel of the MEKO 360H1 variant was produced for the Nigerian Navy. Called NNS Aradu, it is one of the largest vessels of that navy.

MEKO 360H2
Six vessels were ordered and four vessels of a second variant, MEKO 360H2, were constructed for Argentina. They were locally named the Almirante Brown-class destroyer. They are considered frigates and destroyers by different publications. The design is based on the concept of modular systems and is capable of changing the armament of the ship swiftly and can be modernized/refitted with more ease.

The ships have a standard displacement of 2900 LT and 3360 LT at full load. The vessels are 125.9 m long overall and 119.0 m between perpendiculars with a beam of 15 m and a draught of 5.8 m. The vessels are powered by a COGOG system driving two shafts composed of two Olympus TM 3B gas turbines rated at 51800 shp and two Tyne RM-IC gas turbines rated at 10200 shp. The ships have a maximum speed of 30.5 kn while using their Olympus gas turbines at 18 kn using their Tyne turbines. The MEKOs have a maximum range of 4500 nmi at 18 knots.

The Argentinian vessels are armed with eight Exocet surface-to-surface missiles in two quad launchers mounted centrally and one octuple launcher for Aspide surface-to-air missiles mounted aft of the superstructure. The MEKO 360H2 are also equipped with one OTO Melara 5 in/54 calibre naval gun forward of the superstructure, eight Bofors 40 mm/70 calibre guns, and two triple-mounted 324 mm ILAS torpedo tubes.