Meko 140-class

Summary

Description

The MEKO 140 is a maritime vessel designed by the German shipyard Blohm + Voss, emerging as part of the MEKO family, known for its modular approach to naval ship construction. This modularity allows for ease of maintenance and cost reduction while offering versatility in the armaments and electronics outfitted to meet the needs of various naval customers.

This design originated in the late 1970s and can trace its lineage to the João Coutinho-class corvettes created by Portuguese naval engineer Rogério de Oliveira. The MEKO 140 was specifically developed as a progression from these corvettes, with Blohm + Voss constructing three prototype ships in 1970 upon outsourcing by the Portuguese Navy.

The primary mission of the MEKO 140 is to serve as a flexible frigate/corvette that can operate across different naval requirements. It was intended to integrate seamlessly with the existing fleets of customer navies while maintaining a cost-effective and maintainable operational profile. The design allows different variants of the ship to host a variety of weapons systems, tailoring each vessel to the particular strategic needs of its operators.

Specific variants of the MEKO 140 include the MEKO 140 A16, six of which were constructed in Argentina at the Río Santiago Shipyards for the Argentine Navy. These vessels adopted the local name, the Espora class, and are functioning as an integral part of the Argentine High Seas Fleet. While the original intent and design by Blohm + Voss classified them as frigates, the Argentine classification lists these ships as corvettes.

Technical specifications

Photo of Meko 140 class