• 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)

2) 'SMART-L' Long Range early warning radar:

This is a volume-search early warning long range air search radar which has been designed by Thomson Signaal. It is a derivative of the smaller SMART-S, using an LW-09 solid-state transmitter. It uses an 8.2m electronically stabilized antenna scanning at 12 rpm to an elevation of 70 degrees. SMART-L provides range, bearing, elevation, and target velocity on each scan. Low observable targets can be detected at 55km and a conventional target beyond 100km. Maximum instrumented range is 400km. The ADT track file can carry up to 1000 air, 40 surface and 32 jammer tracks simultaneously. SMART-L is integrated with the Scout radar for surface surveillance

- Click on button for a picture of a SMART-L radar:

3) 'Scout' Surface search radar:

This is a X(I) band LPI (Low Probability of Intercept) surface search and navigation radar designed to be difficult to detect by enemy ESM. It uses a 1.8m antenna and scans at 24rpm. A 1m2 target can be detected at 5.5nm, a 100m2 target at 15.6nm. Scout is expected to detect a corvette sized ship at horizon range and a 5m wooden or GRP boat at 8nm. The maximum instrumented range is 24nm. Scout has a power output of about 0.001 W, compared to about 20-kW for a conventional radar. Counterdetection range for ESM is estimated at 1.5km.

- Click on button for a picture of a Scout radar:

4) 'Sirius' Long range dual band infra red seeker:

This is a high powered Infra Red surveillance system. It is very useful for locating seaskimming missiles. It is designed and build by Thomson Signaal.
Sirius is a dual-band IR detection and tracking sensor with an 8-12 micron and a 3-5 micron IR camera on a pedestal. The former has a window which elevates to 14 degrees and the latter a window which elevates to 3 degrees. Scan rate is 53 rpm and an airplane can be detected at up to 15km, a missile at up to 12km. The system can carry over 500 tracks and provides automatic alerts on the 32 most threatening tracks with a false alarm rate of less than 1/hr.
SIRIUS provides data directly to the SEWACO Combat Data System as digital data to the databus and video to the video bus. Each band can be processed separately providing three different outputs - each band individually or a combined output.

- Click on button for a picture of a Sirius sensor:

5) 'Mirador' Trainable electro optical observation system:

This is a high powered Optical and Infra Red surveillance system. Mounted on the APAR mast, it is designed and build by Thomson Signaal.
Unlike Sirius, which is a IR-only system which functions in a continuous scanning mode, Mirador is a combined Optical/IR system, which will be used to help the crew to detect, identify and observe targets. The main sensor of the Mirador is the ALBATROSS infrared camera, which is a 3rd generation Focal Plane Array camera made by DeIft Signaal Optronics. The Mirador array will be fully integrated into the SEWACO system, and can be used to provide targetting data to the system. Mirador can operate in a airsearch mode and in a automatic tracking mode, as well as be directed to observe targets from any workstation on the bridge and C&C.
Mirador has been mainly added to the LCF to improve target aquisition and recognition during brown water operations, but will also be of help with navigational tasks, especially in bad weather conditions when visibility is poor.

- Click on button for a picture of a Mirador Array:

6) 'MK-41 VLS modules:

These are 8-cell vertical launch modules designed and build by United Defense which are capable of storing and launching a incredible variety of missiles. In the case of the LCF, the five MK-41 modules will be filled with 32 SM-2 and 32 quad-packed ESSM missiles.

- Click on button for a picture of a MK-41 launcher in operation:

- Click on button for a link to the United Defense page on the MK-41 system:

- Click on button for a link to the United Defense page on the MK-25 Quad-pack:

7) 'Standard Missile-2' surface-to-air-missiles:

The Standard Missile-2 Block IIIA is a member of the Standard family of missiles which has been around for decades. The Standard missile is a solid propellant-fueled, tail-controlled, surface to air missile fired by surface ships. It is designed to counter airplanes and high-speed, high-altitude anti-ship cruise missiles. Later versions like the Block IIIA have greatly improved propulsion, electronics and warheads and have added low-level capabilities, resulting in virtually new missiles. The missile is fired at its target in a fuel efficient ballistic trajectory, and only in the last stage of the trajectory is the target illuminated by the available illumination radar (APAR for the LCF), after which the passive seeker head of the SM-2 steers the missile onto its target.
The SM-2 Block IIIA itself is a much-improved version of the Standard SM-1 surface-to-air missile with an improved motor, improved seeker and a programmable autopilot for mid-course guidance. Range is double that of the SM-1 missile.

- Click on button for a picture of a standard missile being fired:

- Click on button for a link to the FAS page on the Standard missile family:

8) 'ESSM' surface-to-air-missiles:

The ESSM (Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile) is a short range surface to air missile, with extreme maneuvrability and a excellent low altitude performance. When fired it immediately aims for the target illuminated by the available illumination radar (APAR for the LCF), after which the passive seeker head of the ESSM steers the missile onto its target. Four ESSMs can be packed into a single MK-41 cell, making them very space efficient.

- Click on button for a seperate page on the Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile:

B) Ship's air self-defense:

1) 'Goalkeeper' 30mm CIWS:

The Goalkeeper is a stand-alone Close In Weapon System meant for engaging incoming sea-skimming SSMs. They are build by Thomson Signaal. The Goalkeepers on the LCF are incorporated into the Sewaco X system for initial guidance, but retain a independant search capability. The gun itself is the General Electric GAU-8 seven barreled 30mm gatling gun, and has a effective range of up to 2000 meters. The ammunition is made up of high velocity discarding sabot armor penetrators. With their ammunition supply each goalkeeper can fire four bursts before needing to be reloaded. The Goalkeepers have improved software to improve their capability to engage dodging targets.

- Click on button for a seperate page on the Goalkeeper:

2) Thomson Racal 'Sabre' ESM/ECM:

Sabre ESM is a development of Racal’s UAT system and represents one of the most advanced integrated naval EW systems available world-wide. The Integrated EW suite combines a multi-band ESM system with a Digital Radio Frequency Memory (DRFM)-based phased array jammer, that is capable of tracking and jamming multiple simultaneous threats co-ordinated by a powerful techniques generator.
The Sabre system will have two main Phased Array Emitters, one will be located on a small sponson just below the bridge on the left corner of the superstructure, and one located on the right corner of the hangar.

- Click on button for a link to the Thomson Racal page on the Sabre ESM:

3) United Defense Mk 36 'SRBOC' Chaff mortar:

A set of mortars, capable of firing Chaff and Flares to confuse and divert incoming missiles. With minimal modification capable also capable of firing the 'Nulka', a rocketpropelled decoy. It is unknown if the MK-36 system on the LCF will have the capability to fire the 'Nulka'.

- Click on button for a link to the FAS page on the MK-36 Chaff Launchers:

ANTI-SURFACE WARFARE (ASuW):

1) 'Harpoon' SSM:

Harpoon is a sea-skimming cruise missile designed for anti-ship use, which is made by Boeing. It features a active radar seeker head, and a 488 pound high explosive penetrating warhead. It uses a turbojet for cruise flight, and a solid propellant booster for launch. Maximum range is roughly 90 km at 855 kmph. The Block II version, which should be available around 2002, will incorporate GPS guidance and improved software to enable the use of Harpoon in a littoral environment, and as a Land-Attack missile. The Harpoon missiles aboard the LCF are packed into disposable launch containers. Four containers make up a single launch unit, of which the LCF has two.

- Click on button for a picture of a Harpoon missile:

- Click on button for a link to the FAS page on the Harpoon missile family:

2) OTOBreda 127 mm/54 'Compact' DP gun:

This is the ship's main gun, a dual-purpose anti-air/anti-surface gun which fires rounds to a range of more than 15 kilometres in surface fire mode, and of 7+ kilometers in anti-aircraft fire mode; maximum firing rate is 45 rounds per minute; can automatically fire 66x rounds, thanks to three loading drums, each with 22x rounds; an automatic selection system allows a choice of ammunition (antiaircraft, surface target, pyrotechnics, chaff); can be also used for coastal bombardment. The first two guns are the old guns of the Canadian Iroquois class destroyers, which have been fully revised by OTOBREDA. The later ships will recieve new guns. This gun has the future potential to fire the ERGM guided projectile, should this become available.

- Click on button for a picture of a 'Compact' being fired:

ANTI-SUBMARINE WARFARE (ASW):

The ships will be fitted with the new STM Atlas Electronik DSQS-24C hull-mounted sonar.

- Click on button for link to the Atlas Electronik page:

1) NH-90 Helicopter: This is the NFH (Nato Frigate Helicopter), as developed by NH Industries , which in itself is a consortium formed by four companies: Augusta, Eurocopter France, Eurocopter Deutschland, and Fokker. The NH-90 is a twin engine 6 ton helicopter with a 3 ton useful load. It has a low radar signature fuselage, a four-bladed rotor, fly-by-wire controls, and multiple redundancy for all major systems.

The NH90 will be equipped with sonobuoys or a dipping sonar, a tactical radar, a Magnetic Anomaly Detector (MAD), a tactical Forward Looking Infra-Red (FLIR) system, an Electronic Warfare System, different anti-submarine weapons, and a complete set of passive and active protection measures against the possible threats. It will be capable of night operations, and operations in bad weather.

- Click on button for a picture of a NH-90:

- Click on button for link to the Naval Technology page on the NH-90:

2) 'Mk.32' Mod 9 ASW torpedo tubes (MK-46 torpedoes):

These are fixed torpedo tubes which will fire the 324mm ASW MK-46 Mod 5 torpedo. The MK-46 torpedo has a diameter of 324mm, a length of 2.6 meters, and a weight of 232 kg. They use active/passive acoustic homing, and are designed to attack the propellors of enemy subs. With a two-speed, reciprocating external combustion engine they can reportedly make up to 45 knots, and have a maximum range of more than 8 km.

- Click on button for a picture of a MK-46 torpedo:

- Click on button for link to the FAS page on the MK-46:

- Click on button for link to the United Defense page on the MK-32 torpedo system:

3) AN/SLQ-25 'NIXIE' Torpedo decoy:

This is the Torpedo Countermeasures Transmitting Set AN/SLQ-25A, better known as 'Nixie'. It is a decoy, which is towed behind the ship on a Fiber Optic Tow Cable. A signal which has been generated inside the ship is emitted by the decoy, which 'lures' a acoustic homing torpedo away, by making it believe that the decoy is the ship it is chasing.

Theoretically the Nixie should be able to be deployed anywhere between 10 to 25 knots, but practice has shown that at speeds exceeding 15 knots reeling the decoy in or out might damage the towing cable.

- Click on button for link to the FAS page on the 'NIXIE':