The Zerai Deres class frigate is a class of frigate designed from the lessons learnt from the Biruki class frigate. It incorporates several features to improve its mission efficiency while minimising cost with a number of support and management systems not seen on previous Winolian ships. It replaces the Biruki class frigate as the backbone of the Winolian Royal Navy and the Royal Guard Fleet. The class and lead ship are named after Zerai Deres, a Winolian activist, anti-colonialist and Patriot. The class was launched in 2020 and 22 ships are currently in active service with two of those in commissioning and another two in production.

The hull features a fully enclosed, reduced cross-section design with as many components internalised as possible. Concealed compartments house inflatable hull boats and torpedoes leaving only the most uncompromising equipment exposed. Its design makes it much harder for other surface combatants and aircraft to detect and target the ship. The hull is also designed to generate a reduced acoustic signature to protect it from subsurface interdiction and detection by submarines; this also makes its sonar more effective. Although Armour is not a concern the ships are robustly compartmentalised and can sustain multiple hits and stay afloat. Vital areas are also protected by layered, composite-steel armour.

The main sensor is the SMS/AE-11 3D AESA multifunction radar array. It provides air and surface search, target management and missile guidance and can be used against ballistic threats, easily switching between the required modes with negligent lag time. It can also guide the main gun if required. It allows the ship to operate without the need for secondary radars, significantly reducing the cost of the overall vessel and making it cheaper to maintain than the Biruki that is its predecessor.

The main gun is guided by the GR/AE-2 tracking and illumination radar, capable of providing long-range firing solutions and accurate tracking to the main gun. It is also capable of being modularly equipped with a variety of electro-optronics and subsystems to give greater engagement options to the main gun.

Each frigate is also equipped with license produced derivatives of the Thales UMS 4110 CL hull sonar and Thales UMS 4249 CAPTAS4 towed sonar (though this can be installed as required and is usually only employed on ASW tasked units. Amongst these main sensors are many other smaller sensors.

The frigates are armed with a variety of VLS cells that allow it to function in multiple, mission-configurable roles depending on what is required.
32 Mk.16 multipurpose cells mounted on the bow of the ship are capable of equipping a variety of anti-air, anti-submarine or anti-ships weaponry of a certain class rating. While not universal, its versatile nature means it can be customised to any mission. In the midship sit two, four-cell Mk.19 Universal VLS cells, capable of equipping almost all weapons in the Winolian navy’s arsenal, including the multipurpose HiT-50 cruise missile and a shortened version of the HiT-100 missile. It is also capable of equipping the APSIDE-ER ABM/ASAT missile.

Aside from missiles, it is armed with a single 130mm multipurpose gun which has a conventional round maximum range of 35 km. Its range can be greatly increased by a cadre of different rounds, once again allowing a mission specific loadout to be carried. The ship has three CIWS mounts for various CIW systems including laser-based systems. However, because of the energy cost, gun-based CIWS or SeaRAM is more often employed. Rounding out the armaments are torpedoes on either side of the ship. A variety of lightweight and heavyweight torpedoes can be equipped as required.
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Action Group 1: Main gun controls
Action Group 2: Starboard side torpedoes
Action Group 3: Port side torpedoes
Action Group 4: Starboard side CIWS
Action Group 5: Port Side CIWS

Forward: VTOL down + Throttle
Reverse: VTOL up + Throttle
Turn left/right: Yaw
Gun controls: Pitch + Roll
VLS Cell cover: Landing gear
Weapons: Fire weapons
Guns: Fire guns