Air Defense & Command Frigates
As part of the 1995 fleet evaluation the future retirement of the L-frigates was already foreseen. So a fitting replacement
was sought after. This resulted in the design of the LCF, or Air-defense & Command Frigates.
These ships are being build as part of a tri-partite building program between the Spanish Armada, the German Marine, and the Dutch Royal Navy. Instead of the failed Horizon program which involved Italy, France, and Great Brittain, this program concentrates upon the Ship Platform and systems, rather than on combat systems and weaponry. The other ships being developed in this program are the Spanish F-100, with SPY-1 and Aegis combat system, and the German F124, wich also has the APAR and SEWACO combat system.
The name of "Frigate" for these ships is actually a misnomer: With a displacement of over 6,000 tons they are destroyers in all but name. When the first of the class enters service, it will arguably be the most advanced ship in this size in the world. The Royal Netherlands Navy has apparently sacrificed upgrades to some of its existing warships in order to provide some of the needed funds for this class of four ships.
In keeping with the general trend, the ships have extensive Stealth features designed into them. Their large slightly angled slab sides give them a bit of the look of the French Lafayette frigates, although the LCF design is considerably bigger and capable. Survivability has been a great concern in designing the ships, and they are subdivided into seven main compartments. When hit in one of these compartments ventilation, firecontrol systems, and power will still be available in the other compartments. In order to achieve this all neccesary systems have full-sized backups.
At first it appeared that the main engines for the ships would be the new Rolls Royce WR-21, which will also be deployed on the Royal Navy`s Type 45 Destroyers. Unfortunately the WR-21 was not available in time (apparently it won`t be available until 2007), so for now the main engines will be Rolls-Royce SM-1C 'Spey' gas turbines, which are a good design which unfortunately is getting on in years. However, when the ships were designed the engine room was designed with the WR-21 in mind, and there is room for these turbines. It is not unlikely that the ships will recieve the WR-21 later on in their operational lives, a move which would substantially increase fuel efficiency and raise engine power.
Secondary engines have always been two Wartsila diesel engines, and the engines drive two adjustable counterrotating propellors.
For sensors the design features the APAR system, which has been build and designed by the Netherlands, Germany, and Canada. This is a high powered Active Phased Array Radar, which is smaller, yet considerably more powerful, than the American SPY-1 phased array radar. It can track up to 250 targets at one time, and at the same time can function as a illumination radar for up to 16 targets (with 32 missiles in the air), removing the need for seperate illumination radars. Because of its relatively small design it was possible to locate the four APAR panels in a single structure high above sea level. In a move which cause some last-minute delays the Dutch decided to have the APAR mount redesigned, so that in the future the guidance equipment for Standard TBMD missiles can be fitted. The long range search radar is the SMART-L phased array 3D radar. This radar is not stabilized, but the emission-angle of the radar is adapted to the curent sea state and angle. It has a range of up to 400 km, and can track up to 1000 targets. Mounted above the APAR, at the very top of the ship is a Sirius long range dual band infra red seeker, with a maximum range of roughly 30 km. Mounted on the hull is a Atlas Electronik active sonar.
The ships, together with the GOC-Cruisers, are presented as the first line of naval defense against anti-ship missiles (diving, cruise, sea-skimming, supersonic) incoming at supersonic speed from any direction, highly manoeuvring, in all weather conditions and in a severe electronic warfare environment, as well as aircraft attacks. The main tasks of these ships are to provide a local area air-defense capability against airborne targets for a task-group, and to provide that same taskgroup with dedicated command facilities.
The missions assigned to this class of frigates are:
Primary:
* Anti-Air Warfare (to provide local area air defense of a task group against airborne targets, in particular against saturating anti-ship missile attacks).
* To provide a Flagship function for a Taskforce or a Flottilla.
Secondary:
* Anti-Surface Warfare (to provide a significant fire power against surface targets (other ships) by surface-to-surface missiles and guns as well as the multi-function shipboard helicopter.
* Anti-Submarine Warfare (to provide an anti-submarine defense by using a heavy ASW helicopter)
* Naval Fire Support (to provide fire support for amphibious landings using the 127mm gun)
The weaponry of the ship shows clearly for which role they are being built:
-Each ship is equipped with a Oto Melara 127mm GP naval gun, capable of hitting targets over 22km away.
-A 48cell Mk-41 VLS is carried to launch a wide variety of missiles. For instance the SM-2ER, the ESSM or TMS-11 and cruise missiles.
-Each ship is equipped with two Goalkeeper 30mm guns capable of firing 4,200 rounds/minute
-For anti-shipping roles the ships are equipped with a total of 8 Harpoon missiles, if needed they can also be refitted with the TMS-01/AGM-44 Spear heavy-anti-ship missiles.
-For the role of anti-submarine warfare 4 MU90 torpedo tubes are carried.
Displacement: 6,000 tonnes empty, 6,600 tonnes full load
Length: 144,2 meters
Beam: 18,4 meters
Draft: 5,2 meters
Machinery: 2x Rolls-Royce SM-1C 'Spey' gas turbines, 2x Wartsila 16V 26 ST diesels
Speed: >30 knots (56 km/h)
Complement: 32 Officers, 26 Chief Petty Officers, 112 Enlisted Personnel
Aircraft carried: Two medium-sized helicopters.