수상전투함 네덜란드, LCF 4척 중 2척만 현대화 예정

[위종민]

https://seawaves.com/?p=21370 

네덜란드가 ESSM 블록2 대공미사일을 장착하는 개조를 LCF 4척 중 2척에만 실시하기로 결정했습니다. 2018년에는 애초 4척 전부 개량할 계획이었는데, APAR 개량형 레이더를 대규모 유지보수작업을 아직 하지 않은 2척에만 장착하기로 결정하면서 ESSM 블록2도 두 척에만 장착하기로 결정됐네요. 

부동산 프로젝트에 국방부 예산을 뺏겨서, 근대화 개수하는 2척은 2034년까지 쓸 예정이고 개수하지 않는 2척의 (2028년에는 조달 불가능할) 각종 예비부품들은 개수하는 배에서 빼다 쓸 모양입니다. 

Holland Announces Only Two LCF Frigates to be Modernized

May 5, 2022 admin

2 of the 4 air defense and command frigates (LC frigates) will be equipped with new air defense missiles and technology from 2028. These are so- called Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile (ESSM) Block 2 missiles. In 2018, the plan was to equip all 4 frigates of the navy with this. That has been revised for several reasons. State Secretary Christophe van der Maat wrote this to the House of Representatives today.

The main task of the LC frigates is the defense of a complete fleet against an air threat. That threat is increasing, especially from modern anti-ship missiles. These are advanced weapons with a speed of several times the sound, which are also very maneuverable. Today’s naval surface-to-air missiles are increasingly unable to deal with this modern threat.

The ESSM Block 2 is more resistant to this. This is a modern surface-to-air missile for medium-range (several kilometers) naval vessels. The missiles work together with the so-called Active Phased Array Radar (APAR). This radar does not rotate, but continuously monitors the airspace via 4 planes. The APAR has a range of 150 kilometers and can simultaneously search, track and report multiple targets to fire control where they are. The radar guides the launched missile to the target. The LC frigates are therefore more future-proof.

The new version of the APAR is currently under development and is not expected until 2027. This will initially be developed for the new ASW frigates for anti-submarine warfare. The ASW frigates will replace the M frigates at the end of this decade.

The radar would initially come in all 4 LC frigates, but that only happens with 2 ships. The reasons are that the installation of the new APAR radar turns out to be considerably more expensive than was thought at the time.

In addition, the APAR is only available when 2 of the 4 frigates have already completed major maintenance. That happens a year before the radar is there. It is not efficient to provide these 2 LC frigates with the new technology afterwards. In that case, these ships will not be available twice within a few years for a longer period. Moreover, both frigates will be replaced in subsequent years. The 2 frigates that will receive the new technology will be replaced from 2034.

It is also expected that in 2028 the spare parts for the current equipment to fire missiles will run out. This includes the old APAR. It will remain in use for longer because in 2019 it was decided to keep the LC frigates in service for 5 years longer. This decision was taken because the Ministry of Defense had to release money for real estate projects. The stock of spare parts did not count on this. Those parts now come from the ships that will get an upgrade later .

Although the costs are higher than expected, this does not affect the amounts estimated in 2018. Instead of 4, the Ministry of Defense will only purchase 2 radars and therefore also need fewer ESSM Block 2 missiles in total. The total costs will be between €250 million and €1 billion. The Dutch company Thales is developing the technology.

[백선호]

2002년부터 취역했는데 20년만에 벌써 4척 중의 2척은 동류 전환 부품 창고 신세가 되었네요...

[위종민]

예산과 인력난이 심각한 것 같습니다. 카렐 도어만급 프리깃은 8척 중 2척만 남아있는데 한 척은 인력 모자라서 운영 못하고 있네요. ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karel_Doorman-class_frigate)

수상함은 LCF 4척이랑 카렐 도어만급 2척인데 제대로 굴릴 수 있는 건 3척인 상황... ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Netherlands_Navy#Naval_squadron )