The
De Zeven Provinciën class frigates are highly advanced air-defence and command frigates in service with the
Koninklijke MarineThe Koninklijke Marine is the navy of the Netherlands. In the mid-17th century the Dutch Navy was the most powerful navy in the world and it played an active role in the wars of the Dutch Republic and later those of the Batavian Republic and the Kingdom of the Netherlands...
(Royal Netherlands Navy). This class of ships is also known as
LCF (
Luchtverdedigings- en commandofregat, air defense and command frigate). The ships are similar to the German
Sachsen class frigateThe F124 Sachsen class is Germany's latest class of highly advanced air-defense frigates. The design of the Sachsen class frigate is based on that of the F123 Brandenburg class but with enhanced stealth features intended to deceive any opponent's radar and acoustic sensors and incorporate also the...
s in role and mission.
Anti-air warfare
These ships were optimized for the anti-air warfare role. For this role the ships are equipped with an advanced sensor and weapons suite. The primary sensors for this role are the long range surveillance radar
SMART-LSMART-L is a naval long-range search radar from Thales Nederland, formerly Hollandse Signaalapparaten ....
and the multi-function radar
APARAPAR is a shipborne multifunction radar developed and manufactured by Thales Nederland. It is the first Active Electronically Scanned Array MFR employed on an operational warship.-Characteristics:...
. The
SMART-LSMART-L is a naval long-range search radar from Thales Nederland, formerly Hollandse Signaalapparaten ....
and
APARAPAR is a shipborne multifunction radar developed and manufactured by Thales Nederland. It is the first Active Electronically Scanned Array MFR employed on an operational warship.-Characteristics:...
are highly complementary, in the sense that
SMART-LSMART-L is a naval long-range search radar from Thales Nederland, formerly Hollandse Signaalapparaten ....
is a
D bandIEEE D band is the range of radio frequencies from 110 GHz to 170 GHz in the electromagnetic spectrum. This is equal to wave lengths between 1.8 mm and 2.7 mm...
radar providing very long range surveillance while
APARAPAR is a shipborne multifunction radar developed and manufactured by Thales Nederland. It is the first Active Electronically Scanned Array MFR employed on an operational warship.-Characteristics:...
is an
I bandThe I band is the range of radio frequencies from 8 GHz to 10 GHz in the electromagnetic spectrum. This is equal to wave lengths between 3.75 cm and 3 cm. The I band is in the SHF range of the radio spectrum....
radar providing precise target tracking, a highly capable horizon search capability, and missile guidance using the Interrupted Continuous Wave Illumination (ICWI) technique, thus allowing guidance of 32 semi-active radar homing missiles in flight simultaneously, including 16 in the terminal guidance phase. The primary anti-air weapons are the point defence Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile and the area defence
SM-2The RIM-66 Standard MR is a medium range surface-to-air missile originally developed for the United States Navy . The SM-1 was developed as a replacement for the RIM-2 Terrier and RIM-24 Tartar that were deployed in the 1950s on a variety of USN ships...
Block IIIA. The Mk 41 Vertical Launch System is used to house and launch these missiles. 32 Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile and 32
SM-2The RIM-66 Standard MR is a medium range surface-to-air missile originally developed for the United States Navy . The SM-1 was developed as a replacement for the RIM-2 Terrier and RIM-24 Tartar that were deployed in the 1950s on a variety of USN ships...
Block IIIA are carried.
Ballistic missile defence
The
Koninklijke MarineThe Koninklijke Marine is the navy of the Netherlands. In the mid-17th century the Dutch Navy was the most powerful navy in the world and it played an active role in the wars of the Dutch Republic and later those of the Batavian Republic and the Kingdom of the Netherlands...
is investigating the use of these ships for the role of Ballistic Missile Defence (BMD). During tests carried out by
HNLMS TrompHNLMS Tromp is the second De Zeven Provinciën class frigate of the Royal Netherlands Navy. It was laid down in 1999, launched in 2001, and commissioned in 2003...
in the Pacific ocean near Hawaii, experimental modifications to the
SMART-LSMART-L is a naval long-range search radar from Thales Nederland, formerly Hollandse Signaalapparaten ....
to allow even longer range were proven (see details
hereHNLMS Tromp is the second De Zeven Provinciën class frigate of the Royal Netherlands Navy. It was laid down in 1999, launched in 2001, and commissioned in 2003...
). A study by the
Koninklijke MarineThe Koninklijke Marine is the navy of the Netherlands. In the mid-17th century the Dutch Navy was the most powerful navy in the world and it played an active role in the wars of the Dutch Republic and later those of the Batavian Republic and the Kingdom of the Netherlands...
, the Netherlands Defence Material Organization,
Thales NederlandThales Nederland B.V. is a subsidiary of Thales Group involved primarily in naval defence systems...
, Raytheon Missile Systems, Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, and Lockheed Martin has been conducted to establish the feasibility of modifying the De Zeven Provinciën class to provide it the capability to intercept ballistic missiles. In particular, the study examined the feasibility of integrating the SM-3 Block IB missile with the
SMART-LSMART-L is a naval long-range search radar from Thales Nederland, formerly Hollandse Signaalapparaten ....
and
APARAPAR is a shipborne multifunction radar developed and manufactured by Thales Nederland. It is the first Active Electronically Scanned Array MFR employed on an operational warship.-Characteristics:...
radars. The study concluded that - with certain modifications to the
SMART-LSMART-L is a naval long-range search radar from Thales Nederland, formerly Hollandse Signaalapparaten ....
and
APARAPAR is a shipborne multifunction radar developed and manufactured by Thales Nederland. It is the first Active Electronically Scanned Array MFR employed on an operational warship.-Characteristics:...
, as well as to the ship's Combat Management System and the missile itself - BMD with the De Zeven Provinciën class could be achieved.
Modernizing
The Zeven Provincien class are very modern. The Zeven Provincien class ships will get the new Smart-L mk2 radar that can detect ballistic missiles at a range of 2000 km. The Dutch minister promised also that the APAR radar will have a bigger range than 400 km. This is because the Netherlands is the first country that is participating as an active missile shield for NATO.
Surface and subsurface warfare
As noted above, these ships were optimized for anti-air warfare, but they also have weapons on-board capable of attacking surface and submarine targets, for example: the
RGM-84F Harpoon missileThe Harpoon is an all-weather, over-the-horizon, anti-ship missile system, developed and manufactured by McDonnell Douglas . In 2004, Boeing delivered the 7,000th Harpoon unit since the weapon's introduction in 1977...
and
Mk. 46 torpedoesDesigned to attack high-performance submarines, the Mark 46 torpedo is the backbone of the U.S. Navy's lightweight ASW torpedo inventory, and is the current NATO standard. These aerial torpedoes, such as the Mark 46 Mod 5, are expected to remain in service until the year 2015...
.
Plans to equip some of the Zeven Provinciën-class frigates with a total of 32
BGM-109 TomahawkThe Tomahawk is a long-range, all-weather, subsonic cruise missile. Introduced by General Dynamics in the 1970s, it was designed as a medium- to long-range, low-altitude missile that could be launched from a surface platform. It has been improved several times and, by way of corporate divestitures...
cruise missiles have existed but these were shelved in May 2005.
Classification
The ships are classified as frigates by the Netherlands Navy but internationally are classified as destroyers as this better fits their armament and role.
Live missile firings
In November 2003, some 200 nautical miles (370.4 km) from the
AzoresThe Archipelago of the Azores is composed of nine volcanic islands situated in the middle of the North Atlantic Ocean, and is located about west from Lisbon and about east from the east coast of North America. The islands, and their economic exclusion zone, form the Autonomous Region of the...
, the missile guidance capabilities were tested with live firings for the first time. The firings involved the firing of a single
ESSMThe RIM-162 Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile is a development of the RIM-7 Sea Sparrow missile used to protect ships from attacking missiles and aircraft. ESSM is designed to counter supersonic maneuvering anti-ship missiles...
and a single
SM-2Standard Missile can refer to a family of several different American missiles:* RIM-66 Standard , a medium range surface-to-air missile, the successor of the RIM-24 Tartar missile...
Block IIIA. These firings were the first ever live firings involving a full-size ship-borne
Active Electronically Scanned ArrayAn Active Electronically Scanned Array , also known as active phased array radar is a type of phased array radar whose transmitter and receiver functions are composed of numerous small solid-state transmit/receive modules . AESAs aim their "beam" by broadcasting radio energy that interfere...
(i.e.,
APARAPAR is a shipborne multifunction radar developed and manufactured by Thales Nederland. It is the first Active Electronically Scanned Array MFR employed on an operational warship.-Characteristics:...
) guiding missiles using the ICWI technique in an operational environment. As related by Jane's Navy International:
During the tracking and missile-firing tests, target profiles were provided by Greek-built EADS/3Sigma Iris PVK medium-range subsonic target drones. [...] According to the RNLN, ... "APARAPAR is a shipborne multifunction radar developed and manufactured by Thales Nederland. It is the first Active Electronically Scanned Array MFR employed on an operational warship.-Characteristics:...
immediately acquired the missile and maintained track until destruction". [...] These ground-breaking tests represented the world's first live verification of the ICWI technique.
Further live firings were performed in March 2005, again in the Atlantic Ocean some 180 nautical miles (333.4 km) west of the Azores. The tests involved three live-firing events including firing a single
SM-2Standard Missile can refer to a family of several different American missiles:* RIM-66 Standard , a medium range surface-to-air missile, the successor of the RIM-24 Tartar missile...
Block IIIA at an Iris target drone at long range, a single
ESSMThe RIM-162 Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile is a development of the RIM-7 Sea Sparrow missile used to protect ships from attacking missiles and aircraft. ESSM is designed to counter supersonic maneuvering anti-ship missiles...
at an Iris target drone, and a two-salvo launch (with one salvo comprising two
SM-2Standard Missile can refer to a family of several different American missiles:* RIM-66 Standard , a medium range surface-to-air missile, the successor of the RIM-24 Tartar missile...
Block IIIAs and the other comprising two
ESSMThe RIM-162 Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile is a development of the RIM-7 Sea Sparrow missile used to protect ships from attacking missiles and aircraft. ESSM is designed to counter supersonic maneuvering anti-ship missiles...
s) against two incoming Iris target drones. The long-range
SM-2Standard Missile can refer to a family of several different American missiles:* RIM-66 Standard , a medium range surface-to-air missile, the successor of the RIM-24 Tartar missile...
engagement apparently resulted in an intercept at a range of greater than 100 km from the ship, with a missile-target miss distance of 8 feet (the warhead's proximity fuse having been disabled for the purposes of the test).
Counter-piracy operations
Ships of the De Zeven Provinciën class have been involved in counter-piracy operations off the Horn of Africa. The untraditional target set (i.e., small slow-moving or even static surface targets) can apparently be challenging for doppler radars designed to take on "high end" threats. However, according to Jane's International Defence Review:
[The RNLN has] reported great success using tailored surface-search software for the APARAPAR is a shipborne multifunction radar developed and manufactured by Thales Nederland. It is the first Active Electronically Scanned Array MFR employed on an operational warship.-Characteristics:...
sets fitted to the De Zeven Provinciën class frigates deployed on anti-piracy roles. By sacrificing some of APARAPAR is a shipborne multifunction radar developed and manufactured by Thales Nederland. It is the first Active Electronically Scanned Array MFR employed on an operational warship.-Characteristics:...
's high-end anti-air warfare capabilities, which were deemed unnecessary for the anti-piracy role, its performance and resolution were improved in the surface-search role.
The exploits of the De Zeven Provinciën class frigate
HNLMS TrompHNLMS Tromp is the second De Zeven Provinciën class frigate of the Royal Netherlands Navy. It was laid down in 1999, launched in 2001, and commissioned in 2003...
in regards to counter-piracy operations — including the April 2010 rescue of the container ship
MV Taipan — are described
hereHNLMS Tromp is the second De Zeven Provinciën class frigate of the Royal Netherlands Navy. It was laid down in 1999, launched in 2001, and commissioned in 2003...
. The counter-piracy exploits of the
HNLMS EvertsenHNLMS Evertsen is the fourth De Zeven Provinciën class frigate of the Royal Netherlands Navy.Hr Ms Evertsen visited South Africa in late 2007 as part of a NATO task force on a friendship visit....
are outlined
hereHNLMS Evertsen is the fourth De Zeven Provinciën class frigate of the Royal Netherlands Navy.Hr Ms Evertsen visited South Africa in late 2007 as part of a NATO task force on a friendship visit....
.
List of ships
Pennant
numberIn the modern Royal Navy, and other navies of Europe and the Commonwealth, ships are identified by pennant numbers...
|
Name |
Laid down |
Launched |
Com-
missioned |
| F802 |
De Zeven ProvinciënHNLMS De Zeven Provinciën is the first ship of the De Zeven Provinciën class air defence and command frigates in service with the Royal Netherlands Navy...
|
September 1, 1998 |
April 8, 2000 |
April 26, 2002 |
| F803 |
TrompHNLMS Tromp is the second De Zeven Provinciën class frigate of the Royal Netherlands Navy. It was laid down in 1999, launched in 2001, and commissioned in 2003...
|
September 3, 1999 |
April 7, 2001 |
March 14, 2003 |
| F804 |
De RuyterHNLMS De Ruyter is the third De Zeven Provinciën class frigate of the Royal Netherlands Navy. It was laid down in 2000, launched in 2002, and commissioned in 2004. The frigate is named after the famous Dutch admiral Michiel de Ruyter .The frigate should not be mistaken with the former Hr. Ms...
|
September 1, 2000 |
April 13, 2002 |
April 22, 2004 |
| F805 |
EvertsenHNLMS Evertsen is the fourth De Zeven Provinciën class frigate of the Royal Netherlands Navy.Hr Ms Evertsen visited South Africa in late 2007 as part of a NATO task force on a friendship visit....
|
September 3, 2001 |
April 19, 2003 |
June 10, 2005 |
All ships were built at Royal Schelde's shipyard in Vlissingen,
NetherlandsThe Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
.
External references