Digital Battlespace
Data link upgrade for Dutch Navy
The Dutch Ministry of Defence (MoD) has revealed plans to modernise the Royal Netherlands Navy's (RNLN) Tactical Data Link Systems (TDLSs) in order to increase its NATO Network Enabled Capability (NNEC) maturity levels.
According to a Request for Quotations (RfQ), released by the Netherlands Defence Materiel Organisation Procurement Branch (DMOPB) on 20 April, all ‘main’ RNLN platforms will be equipped with Link 11 and 22 TDLSs. Command and control (C2) and sensor and weapon equipped ships contributing to Anti-Air Warfare (AAW) are also scheduled to carry Link 16 TDLS.
Responses to the RfQ are expected by 17 June and a contract, worth an undisclosed sum, is due to be awarded on 1 September this year.
More specifically, the contract is looking to equip a landing platform dock, four multipurpose frigates (MF), four patrol ships and joint support ship with Link 11/16/22 TDLSs and data forwarding capabilities; as well as an Auxiliary Oiler Replenisher and four submarines with Link 11 and 22 TDLSs.
DB also understands that two Belgian and two Portuguese MFs, procured from the Netherlands, and three Portuguese Vasco da Gama class frigates must also meet also be fitted out with the same capability.
According to the Netherlands DMOPB, the objective of the requirement is to ‘explicitly define the technical performance and design requirements for the TDLS to ensure a reliable, robust and interoperable exchange of tactical data with national/coalition units, as well as ease of operation and maintenance’.
NATO’s Link 22, designed to replace Link 11, provides a secure Beyond Line-of-Sight communications system allowing ground, air, surface and sub-surface assets to exchange tactical data. Original participating nations which signed the Memorandum of Understanding included Canada, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and the UK. It is also interoperable with Link 16.
The RfQ described the MoD’s desire for a commercial or military off-the-shelf (COTS/MOTS) solution allowing the exchange of TDLS information and use of the Combat Management System to receive and transmit Link 11/22/16 messages; Maritime C2 Information System to receive Link 11 and 22; and data forwarding up to NATO STANAG 5616.
TDLSs must also allow data exchange with ‘external media’ such as USB memory sticks and CD/DVD readers and recorders; provide autonomous operation for at least five minutes during a power failure; and be fully interoperable with existing C2 processors and common data link management systems aboard Dutch air defence and command frigates; as well as existing Link 11 and 16 systems on board Dutch air frames.
MF ships due to be upgraded between October 2012 and December 2014 include RNLN’s Hr Ms Van Amstel and Van Speijk and the Belgian BNS Leopold I. Portuguese MFs include the NRP Bartolomeu Dias. Dutch submarines will be upgraded between 2013 and 2017 and will include Hr Ms Walrus, Zeeleeuw, Dolfijn and Bruinvis.
Andrew White, London
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