Niterói-class (Mk 10)
Summary
| Origin country | 🇧🇷 Brazil |
| Category | Frigate |
| Subtype | Frigate |
| Manufacturer | Vosper Thornycroft |
| Year commissioned | 1976 |
| Units |
F41 Defensora F42 Constituição F43 Liberal F44 Independência F45 União U27 Brasil |
Operators
🇧🇷 Brazil
Description
The Niterói-class frigates were developed as the Mk 10 series, based on the British Type 21 design. Construction of the class spanned from 1972 to 1986, resulting in seven hulls.
Between 1996 and 2005, the class underwent an extensive modernization initiative known as the ModFrag program, which involved substantial upgrades to sensors and weapons systems.
Technical specifications
| Displacement | 3355 tons |
| Range | 5300 km at 19 knots |
| Endurance | 45 days |
| Crew | 217 members |
| Width | 13.5 m (44.3 ft) |
| Length | 129.2 m (423.9 ft) |
| Air Park | • Super Lynx Mk.21B helicopter |
| Propulsion | CODOG: 2 × Rolls-Royce Olympus gas turbines, 4 × MTU diesels |
| Thrust | 4000 hp |
| Armament | • 1 × 114 mm Mk 8 gun • Aspide SAM • Exocet missiles • Mk 46 torpedoes |
| Maximum speed | 30 knots |
Further Reading
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Frequently Asked Questions
What type of ship is the Niterói-class?
The Niterói-class is a frigate (Frigate) built by Brazil.
What is the displacement of the Niterói-class?
The Niterói-class has a displacement of 3,355 tons.
What is the maximum speed of the Niterói-class?
The Niterói-class has a maximum speed of 30 knots (55 km/h).
What is the range of the Niterói-class?
The Niterói-class has a range of 5,300 km (2,861 nautical miles) at 19 knots.
How many crew members serve on the Niterói-class?
The Niterói-class has a crew complement of 217 personnel.
How many Niterói-class ships have been built?
7 vessels of the Niterói-class have been built.
Which countries operate the Niterói-class?
The Niterói-class is operated by Brazil.
Wikipedia and other open sources.
Last updated on 17 January 2026.
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