The Chilean Navy is set to finalise the procurement of two Adelaide-class frigates by the end of May.
HMAS Melbourne and HMAS Newcastle , built in Australia in the early 1990s, would be acquired as a stop-gap measure to replace two of three Dutch- and British-built frigates currently in service in Chile.
Melbourne and Newcastle underwent an extensive upgrade during the last decade, being fitted with new combat management systems and anti-aircraft, anti-submarine warfare, and anti-surface vessel systems.
They can launch both RIM-66 Standard (SM-2MR) medium-range surface-to-air missiles and RIM-162 ESSM missiles for long- and medium-range air defence, as well as RGM-84 Harpoon anti-ship missiles.
(Jane's)