Dutch trim back missile radar upgrade for air warfare frigates
Only two of the four De Zeven Provinciën-class air defence and command frigates in service with the Royal Netherlands Navy (RNLN) will be fitted with a new Active Phased Array Radar (APAR) for RIM-162 Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile (ESSM) Block 2 missiles from 2028, the Dutch MoD has admitted.
The original plan in 2018 was to equip all the frigates in this class with ESSM Block 2, but State Secretary for Defence Christophe van der Maat told the Dutch parliament on 29 April that the APAR is currently in development and is not expected to enter service until 2027.
The Dutch MoD found that it would be ‘considerably more expensive’ for Thales Nederland to install the radar on all four frigates than it was calculated in 2018. The vessels are all currently armed with ESSM Block 1.
By purchasing two APARs instead of four, fewer ESSM Block 2 missiles are required, so total revised costs for the Dutch MoD will be between €250 million and €1 billion.
Each of the upgraded De Zeven Provinciën-class frigates will be replaced from 2034.
The new version of the APAR is in development to enter service in 2027, initially for a pair of new RNLN anti-submarine warfare frigates (being jointly procured with Belgium) that will replace the Karel Doorman-class (M-class) frigates.
More from Naval Warfare
-
SEA to trial sonar software for UK Royal Navy
The UK Royal Navy’s anti-submarine warfare Spearhead programme, run by the service’s Develop Directorate, has been investigating future and existing technologies with a particular focus on the USV arena.
-
Australia’s new frigate options: No easy choices as pressure mounts on DoD
A new class of General Purpose ‘Tier 2’ frigate will replace the Royal Australian Navy’s (RAN’s) Anzac-class frigates, but the selected design options appear to have major issues in terms of compatibility and availability for the future fleet.
-
Royal Navy’s new Dreadnought SSBNs to be equipped with OSI’s ECPINS
The contracts between OSI Maritime Systems (OSI) and BAE Systems Submarines will encompass continued support for the Astute-class nuclear-powered submarines (SSN) and the future Dreadnought-class nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines (SSBN).