Tag Archives: Damen Naval

Navy

Sensor Suite

Sensor solutions provider HENSOLDT has signed a contract worth over a hundred million Euros with mission combat system integrator Thales, to deliver its TRS-4D naval radar to the future multi-purpose frigates F126 of the German Navy.

Frigate Type 126
HENSOLDT and Thales provide the new F126 frigates of the German Navy with a powerful sensor suite (Photo: Damen Naval)

Contracted in 2020, F126 is the latest frigate programme for the German Navy. The F126 class will consist of four ships (with an option for two more ships); the program also includes multiple land-based test and training sites. The first frigate F126 is expected to be delivered to the customer in 2028. The entire programme will run for over ten years.

HENSOLDT’s TRS-4D radar will be installed in its non-rotating version with four fixed-panel arrays. The integration of the radar on the ships and shore installations will be done by Thales to deliver a mission and combat system that complies with the German requirements.

First deliveries are scheduled for 2025. With this system, in combination with other systems and sensors onboard, F126 has the ability to operate in the most complex maritime environments, and therefore contribute internationally to securing safety and stability.

Gerben Edelijn, Vice President Thales Above Water Systems: «We are happy to work together with HENSOLDT and give the Frigates F126 a sensor suite that fully complies with the German requirements. German and Netherlands’ navies and industry have a long tradition of working together with formidable results and we are looking forward to continuing this tradition».

«Our TRS-4D and its high-end components are deployed onboard several German Navy ships offering a high degree of commonalities to the customer», said Markus Rothmaier, Vice President Naval & Ground Radars at HENSOLDT. «I am proud that we are able to offer the German Navy, together with Thales’ sensor technology and combat system, a comprehensive and truly European solution».

Radars of the TRS-4D product family are already in service in different versions onboard German Navy ships, among them the Frigate F125 and the Corvette K130 (second batch) and benefit from continuous product improvements and advantages with regards to spare part management and training. For this reason, TRS-4D NR has been pre-selected by the German Navy.

 

 

TRS-4D Fixed Panel

TRS-4D is HENSOLDT’s latest member of the C-Band (NATO G-Band) naval radar family. It is available with a single face rotating antenna and also as a four fixed-panel configuration.

Based on the most advanced Gallium Nitride Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) sensor technology with multiple digitally formed beams, the new generation TRS-4D opens a new dimension for maritime missions.

For threatening targets, the TRS-4D initiates a track within a single scan using its electronic scanning capability. This results in a reliable, immediate target alert.

The system automatically classifies targets as high priority threats and allocates additional radar illumination (Cued Track).

The allocation of radar resources to different scan types provides a versatile combination of volume search, surface search and high-priority tracking.

The radar has sufficient capacity to uphold all functions simultaneously even in stressing situations with high target density and challenging littoral and coastal clutter environments. This ensures platform survivability and mission success.

TRS-4D’s unique concept of simultaneous multi-beams and Doppler processing ensures reliable performance of all operational tasks at a high update rate.

It’s very flexible installation concept enables ships like offshore patrol vessels, corvettes and frigates to exert the different functions of a shipborne surveillance and target acquisition radar, in blue waters and in complex littoral environment with high target densities.

TRS-4D marks an innovative step beyond conventional radar into a «new dimension» of operational capabilities. The outstanding benefits of the new technology are tailor-made for naval customers.

 

Features

Instrumented range 250 km/155 miles
Azimuth coverage 360° (four fixed panels)
Target detection capability of 0.01 m² Radar Cross-Section (RCS)
Capacity of 1500 targets 3D tracking
Track range performance fighter aircraft > 110 km/68 miles, small surface target > 14 km/8.7 miles
Track update rate < 1 s
Mean Time To Repair (MTTR) < 0.5 hrs
Advanced Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) Mode 5

 

HENSOLDT TRS-4D – Naval Surveillance Radar

 

Specifications

Length 166 m/544.6 feet
Beam 21.7 m/71.2 feet
Draught 5.9 m/19.4 feet
Displacement 10,550 t
Maximum Speed 26 knots/30 mph/48 km/h
Range >4,000 NM/4,603 miles/7,408 km
Area Global (including Ice Class 1C)
Crew 198

 

Navy

Vertical Launching System

Damen Naval has contracted Lockheed Martin for the MK-41 Vertical Launching System in support of the F126 project. In this way, Lockheed Martin will significantly support the construction of the new frigates for the German Navy.

Multi-Purpose Combat Ship F126
Another milestone for the F126 project: MK-41 Vertical Launching System under contract

The award concerns the MK-41 Vertical Launching System (VLS) Direct Commercial Sale contract, which was signed on January 31, 2021. Jorge Ciappi, MK-41 VLS International Business Development Manager is delighted with the trust shown in Lockheed Martin by Damen as the contracting party and the BAAINBw having preselected Lockheed Martin for the scope. The Lockheed Martin scope of supply and services includes the production and delivery of two 8-cell strike length MK 41 VLS Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile Block 2 capable modules for each of four ships plus associated engineering efforts and ancillary hardware.

Both the German and Royal Netherlands Navy operate this system. Damen is familiar with the MK-41 VLS system operating on the Netherlands Air Defence and Command Frigate (ADCF) project and various other projects in the export domain. Moreover, the system has a rich 25+ year history with the German Navy, including projects such as the F123 Brandenburg Class and F124 Sachsen Class frigates.

Hein van Ameijden, Managing Director of Damen Naval, says: «This contract is the next logic step for the game-changing project F126. Moreover, it is an excellent example for realizing financial, technical and operative benefits through bi-national cooperation in Europe. Using Lokheed Martin’s MK-41-system on board of the new German frigates carries on a long and successful history of German and Royal Netherlands Navies operating this system for years».

Initially designed with the ability to fire anti-air warfare, anti-surface warfare, strike, and anti-submarine warfare missiles simultaneously, MK-41 VLS immediately solidified its place as the world’s premier surface-launching system. It’s «Any Weapon/Any Cell» design allows a MK-41 cell to fire any integrated missile providing maximum flexibility. With over 14,000 deployed VLS cells across more than 150 vessels, 4,500 operational and test firings and an operational availability of greater than 99 percent, MK-41 VLS stands as a remarkable testament of the ingenuity. With this system, in combination with other systems and sensors onboard, the F126 has the ability to operate in the most complex maritime environments, and therefore contribute internationally to securing safety and stability.

Damen Naval is building the four F126 class frigates together with its partners Blohm+Voss and Thales. Damen Naval was selected as successful bidder in 2020 following a European tender process spanning several years. The first ship is expected to be delivered to the German Navy in 2028. All building work will be carried out entirely in Germany at shipyards in Kiel, Hamburg and Wolgast.