View source for De Zeven Provinciën-class frigate

{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2023}}
{{Short description|Dutch air-defence and command frigates}}
{|{{Infobox ship begin}}
{{Infobox ship image
| Ship image = Hr. Ms. Tromp (F803).jpg
| Ship caption = {{HNLMS|Tromp|F803|6}}
}}
{{Infobox ship class overview
| Name = ''De Zeven Provinciën'' class
| Builders = [[Damen Schelde Naval Shipbuilding]]
| Operators = {{naval|Netherlands}}
| Class before = *{{sclass|Tromp|frigate|4}}
* {{sclass|Jacob van Heemskerck|frigate|4}}
| Class after = [[Future Air Defender]] (cancelled)
| Subclasses = 
| Cost = €600&nbsp;million ($680&nbsp;million) per unit
| Built range = 
| In service range = 
| In commission range = 2002–present
| Total ships building = 
| Total ships planned = 
| Total ships completed = 4
| Total ships cancelled = 
| Total ships active = 4
| Total ships laid up = 
| Total ships lost = 
| Total ships retired = 
| Total ships preserved = 
}}
{{Infobox ship characteristics
| Hide header = 
| Header caption = 
| Ship type = Air-defense and command [[frigate]]
| Ship displacement = 6,050 tonnes (full load)
| Ship length = {{convert|144.24|m|ftin|abbr=on}}
| Ship beam = {{convert|18.80|m|ftin|abbr=on}}
| Ship height = 
| Ship draught = {{convert|5.18|m|ftin|abbr=on}}
| Ship power = 4 × [[Wärtsilä]]-[[Deutz_AG|Deutz]] D620 V12 [[diesel-generator]]s, {{convert|1680|kW|abbr=on}} each
| Ship propulsion = *[[Combined diesel or gas]]
*2 × [[Wärtsilä]] 16 V26 [[marine diesel engine]]s, {{convert|5.1|MW|abbr=on}} each
*2 × [[Rolls-Royce Marine Spey]] SM 1A [[gas turbine]]s, {{convert|19.5|MW|abbr=on}} each
*2 × [[propeller shaft]]s, 5-bladed [[controllable pitch propeller]]s
| Ship speed = {{convert|30|kn|lk=in}}
| Ship range = {{convert|4000|nmi|abbr=on|lk=in}} at {{convert|18|kn}}
| Ship endurance = 
| Ship complement = 30 officers, 202 ratings
| Ship sensors = *[[Thales Nederland]] [[SMART-L]] long-range air and surface surveillance radar
*Thales Nederland [[Active Phased Array Radar|APAR]] air and surface search, tracking and guidance radar ([[I band (NATO)|I band]])
*DECCA NAV navigation radar
*Thales Nederland Scout ([[Low-probability-of-intercept radar|Low-probability-of-intercept]]) surface search/navigation radar
*Thales Nederland Sirius [[Infrared search and track|IRST]] long-range [[Forward-looking infrared|infrared]] surveillance and tracking system
*Thales Nederland Mirador optical surveillance and tracking system
*[[Atlas Elektronik]] DSQS-24C hull-mounted [[sonar]]
*MK XII [[Identification friend or foe|IFF]] system
| Ship EW = *2 × [[Thales Group|Thomson Racal]] Sabre [[Electronic countermeasures|ECM]] suite
* 4 × Sippican Hycor [[SRBOC]] Mk 36 launcher
* 1 × AN/[[SLQ-25 Nixie]] torpedo decoy
| Ship armament = *Guns:
**1 × [[Oto Melara]] [[Otobreda 127/54 Compact|127 mm/54 dual-purpose gun]]
**2–4 × [[.50 BMG|Browning M2 12.7 mm machine gun]]s
**4–6 × [[FN MAG|FN MAG 7.62 mm machine gun]]s
**2 × [[Goalkeeper CIWS|Goalkeeper]] [[Close-in weapon system|CIWS]]
*Missiles:
**40-cell [[Mark 41 vertical launching system|Mk 41]] [[vertical launching system]]
***32 × [[RIM-66 Standard|SM-2 IIIA]] [[surface-to-air missile]]s
***32 × [[RIM-162 ESSM|Evolved SeaSparrow missiles]] (quad-packed)
**8 × [[RGM-84 Harpoon|Harpoon]] [[anti-ship missile]]s
**2 × twin [[Mark 32 surface vessel torpedo tubes|Mk 32 Mod 9]] [[torpedo tube|torpedo launcher]]s with [[Mark 46 torpedo|Mk 46 Mod 5 torpedo]]es
| Ship armour = 
| Ship armor = 
| Ship aircraft = 1 × [[NHIndustries NH90#NFH: NATO Frigate Helicopter|NH90 NFH]] helicopter
| Ship aircraft facilities = [[Hangar]] and flight deck for 1 medium-sized helicopter
| Ship notes = 
}}
|}

The four '''''De Zeven Provinciën''-class frigates''' are air-defence and command [[frigate]]s in service with the [[Royal Netherlands Navy]] (''Koninklijke Marine''). This class of ships is also known as "LCF" (''Luchtverdedigings- en commandofregat'', air defense and command frigate). The ships are similar to the German {{sclass|Sachsen|frigate|1}}s in role and mission.

==Anti-aircraft warfare==
These ships were optimized for [[anti-aircraft warfare]] and command. 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-L]] and the multifunction radar [[Active Phased Array Radar]] (APAR). The SMART-L and APAR are highly complementary, in the sense that SMART-L is a [[D band (NATO)|D band]] radar providing very long range surveillance while APAR is an [[I band (NATO)|I band]] 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.<ref name="JNI">Jane's Navy International, October 2005, "Live firing tests rewrite the guiding principles"</ref> The primary anti-aircraft weapons are the point defence [[RIM-162 ESSM|Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile]] and the area defence [[RIM-66 Standard Missile]] (SM-2) Block IIIA. The [[Mk 41 Vertical Launching System]] is used to house and launch these missiles. 32 Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile and 32 Standard Missile SM-2 Block IIIA are carried.

==Ballistic missile defence==
The Royal Netherlands Navy (RNN) investigated the use of these ships for the role of [[ballistic missile defence]] (BMD).{{citation needed|date=December 2015}} During tests carried out by {{HNLMS|Tromp|F803|6}} in the Pacific Ocean near [[Hawaii]], experimental modifications to the SMART-L to allow even longer range were proven. A study by the RNN, the Netherlands Defence Material Organization, [[Thales Nederland]], Raytheon Missile Systems, [[Johns Hopkins University]] Applied Physics Laboratory, and [[Lockheed Martin]] was 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-L and APAR radars. The study concluded that – with certain modifications to the SMART-L and APAR, as well as to the ship's Combat Management System and the missile itself – BMD with the ''De Zeven Provinciën'' class could be achieved.<ref>Jane's Defence Weekly, 5 January 2011, "Aiming high"</ref> During a 2015 very large [[NATO]] [[military exercise]] the BMD capabilities were proven, the sensor suite discovered ballistic targets, and the ship destroyed them using both its own [[surface-to-air missile]]s, as well as using a [[U.S. Navy]] [[destroyer]]'s missiles, by providing target data and missile guidance.

A contract was awarded for the radar modification in June 2012. Operational tests and live firing showed the performance to exceed expectations.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://aviationweek.com/blog/smart-l-smart-defense|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131020124956/http://www.aviationweek.com/Blogs.aspx?plckBlogId=Blog:27ec4a53-dcc8-42d0-bd3a-01329aef79a7&plckPostId=Blog:27ec4a53-dcc8-42d0-bd3a-01329aef79a7Post:13412d92-fe72-480a-9b56-c6c076a0ac65|url-status=dead|title=SMART-L For Smart Defense?|archive-date=20 October 2013|website=aviationweek.com}}</ref>

==Modernization==
The ''De Zeven Provinciën''-class ships will get the new SMART-L Mk 2 radar that can detect ballistic missiles at a range of {{convert|2000|km|abbr=on}}. The Dutch minister promised also that the APAR radar will have a bigger range than {{convert|400|km|abbr=on}} as the Netherlands is the first country to participate as an active missile shield for NATO.{{Citation needed|date=October 2011}}

In late 2011, the [[Ministry of Defence (Netherlands)|Ministry of Defence]] announced a modernization program to upgrade the SMART-L early-warning radar so that  ''De Zeven Provinciën''-class frigates can detect and track ballistic missiles at extended range. This modernization program is scheduled for completion by late 2017 for the entire ''De Zeven Provinciën'' class.<ref>{{cite journal |first= Eric |last= Wertheim |title= Combat Fleets |url= http://www.usni.org/magazines/proceedings/2012-01/combat-fleets |journal= Proceedings |page= 90 |issn=0041-798X|date=January 2012 |access-date= 13 January 2012}}</ref> In 2018 plans were announced to acquire the [[RIM-161 Standard Missile 3|BMD-capable SM-3 surface-to-air missiles]] as the ships are provisioned for an extra 8-cell vertical launch module, ''De Zeven Provinciën''-class frigates can pass on the tracking and detection data to other sea-based or land-defense BMD assets, including U.S. Navy's warships, that can deal with a ballistic missile threat.{{cn|date=March 2024}}

On 3 May 2018 the Dutch Secretary of Defence, Barbara Visser, informed the Dutch national parliament that the evolved sea sparrow missile (ESSM) aboard the ''De Zeven Provinciën''-class frigates will be upgraded from block 1 to block 2.<ref name="NieuwewapensZevenProvinciën">{{cite web |title= Marine vernieuwt volledige wapenarsenaal fregatten |url= https://www.defensie.nl/actueel/nieuws/2018/05/03/marine-vernieuwt-volledige-wapenarsenaal-fregatten |publisher= Dutch Ministry of Defence |location=The Hague |date=3 May 2018 |access-date= 7 June 2018}}</ref> This upgrade will be completed by 2024 and will allow the frigates to deal with the growing threat of modern anti-ship missiles. ESSM Block 2 allows the four frigates to defend against missiles that have greater speed, agility and perform unexpected movements. The current Harpoon surface-to-surface missile (SSM) will also be replaced with a new SSM by 2024.<ref name="NieuwewapensZevenProvinciën" /> Furthermore, the current [[Otobreda 127/54 Compact]] cannon will be replaced with [[Otobreda 127/64]] cannons.<ref name="NieuwewapensZevenProvinciën" /> The new cannon must be able to fire multiple types of ammunition, including in the future precision-guided ammunition. The project costs between €100&nbsp;million and €250&nbsp;million, and will be take place between 2018 and 2023. Lastly, the Goalkeepers will be upgraded to a new version and all ships will have two installed as originally designed, they will eventually be replaced after 2025 by a new system.<ref name="NieuwewapensZevenProvinciën" /> The replacement system is currently unknown for the Zeven Provinciën class frigates, but it the replacement systems for the goalkeeper is known for the [[HNLMS Karel Doorman (A833)]], [[HNLMS Rotterdam (L800)]], [[HNLMS Johan de Witt]] and the upcoming [[Anti-Submarine Warfare Frigate (Koninklijke Marine)]]. The systems that will be replacing the goalkeeper will be the [[RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missile]] and the OTO Melara 76 mm naval cannon, the specific type of the last mentioned system is not clearly stated.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Defensie |first=Ministerie van |date=2021-01-14 |title=Combinatie van raket en granaat vervangt Goalkeeper - Nieuwsbericht - Defensie.nl |url=https://www.defensie.nl/actueel/nieuws/2021/01/01/combinatie-van-raket-en-granaat-vervangt-goalkeeper#:~:text=De%20Goalkeeper%20is%20een%20zogenoemd,de%20Goalkeeper%20verlengd%20tot%202025. |access-date=2024-12-04 |website=www.defensie.nl |language=nl-NL}}</ref>

In the Strategic Defence Review 2022 the acquisition of [[SM-3]] and [[BGM-109 Tomahawk]] missiles was announced for which the Mk 41 vertical launch systems will be expanded with an additional unit of 8 cells.{{cn|date=March 2024}}

==Surface and Subsurface Warfare==
As noted above, these ships were optimized for anti-aircraft warfare, but they also have weapons on-board capable of performing [[anti-surface warfare|anti-surface]] and [[anti-submarine warfare]], for example: the [[Boeing Harpoon|RGM-84F Harpoon missile]] and [[Mark 46 torpedo]]es. In a new defense Study published by the Dutch government in March 2018, it was stated the frigates will receive a new [[surface-to-surface]] missile to succeed the Harpoon Block 1D.

Proposals to equip the ''De Zeven Provinciën''-class frigates with a total of 32 BGM-109 Tomahawk (8 per ship) cruise missiles were evaluated, but these were shelved in May 2005<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.trouw.nl/laatstenieuws/laatstenieuws/article712492.ece/Defensie_ziet_af_van_Tomahawks |title=Trouw, Laatste nieuws (Novum/ANP)- novum_laatstenieuws – Defensie ziet af van Tomahawks}}</ref> but reconfirmed in 2022.

==Live missile firings==
In November 2003, some {{convert|200|nmi|lk=in}} from the [[Azores]], the missile guidance capabilities were tested with live firings for the first time.<ref name="JNI" /> The firings involved the firing of a single ESSM and a single SM-2ER Block IIIA. These firings were the first ever live firings involving a full-size ship-borne [[active electronically scanned array]] (i.e., APAR) guiding missiles using the ICWI technique in an operational environment.<ref name="Janes IDR">Jane's International Defence Review, February 2004, "Active phased array multifunction radars go live for missile firings"</ref> As related by Jane's Navy International:

<blockquote>
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, ... APAR immediately acquired the missile and maintained track until destruction". [...] These ground-breaking tests represented the world's first live verification of the ICWI technique.<ref name="JNI" /></blockquote>

[[File:HNLMS De Zeven Provincien (F802).jpg|thumb|left|HNLMS ''De Zeven Provinciën'' outward bound from [[Portsmouth Naval Base]], UK, on 21 September 2009.]]
Further live firings were performed in March 2005, again in the [[Atlantic Ocean]] some {{convert|180|nmi|km}} west of the Azores.<ref name="JNI" /> The tests involved three live-firing events including firing a single SM-2 Block IIIA at an Iris target drone at long range, a single ESSM at an Iris target drone, and a two-salvo launch (with one salvo comprising two SM-2 Block IIIAs and the other comprising two ESSMs) against two incoming Iris target drones.<ref name="JNI" /> The long-range SM-2 engagement apparently resulted in an intercept at a range of greater than {{convert|100|km|abbr=on}} from the ship, with a missile-target miss distance of {{convert|2.4|m|abbr=on}} (the warhead's proximity fuse having been disabled for the purposes of the test).<ref name="JNI" />

During the military exercise Formidable Shield 2021, HNLMS ''De Zeven Provinciën'' detected and tracked a ballistic missile with Thales-made SMART-L MM radar and relayed the target information to {{USS|Paul Ignatius}} for SM-3 engagement. With this activity, the Netherlands becomes the only European country that can simultaneously scan the airspace beyond the atmosphere and space up to {{cvt|2000|km}} for air threats.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Archus|first=Dorian|title=USS Paul Ignatius intercepts Ballistic Missile in cooperation with the Dutch frigate's SMART-L MM radar |work=Naval Post |date=31 May 2021 |url=https://navalpost.com/uss-paul-ignatius-intercepts-bm-smart-l-assistance/|access-date=9 June 2021}}</ref>

In 2024 a test-fire of a Tomahawk missile is planned on a range of the US Navy on the West-Coast.

==Counterpiracy 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'':

<blockquote>
[The RNLN has] reported great success using tailored surface-search software for the APAR sets fitted to the ''De Zeven Provinciën''-class frigates deployed on antipiracy roles. By sacrificing some of APAR's high-end antiaircraft warfare capabilities, which were deemed unnecessary for the antipiracy role, its performance and resolution were improved in the surface-search role.<ref name="Janes IDR 2">Jane's International Defence Review, September 2010, "Fighting the hydra: multinational piracy operations move inshore"</ref></blockquote>

== Export ==
On 30 November 2017, [[Alion Science and Technology|Alion Canada]] submitted a proposal based on the ''De Zeven Provinciën'' class for the [[Canada|Canadian]] [[Single Class Surface Combatant Project]]. [[Damen Group]], as builder of the ''De Zeven Provinciën''-class frigates, was part of Alion's team in this proposal.<ref>{{citation |title= CSC: Alion Submits Proposal based on De Zeven Provinciën-class Frigate |url= https://www.navyrecognition.com/index.php/news/defence-news/2017/december-2017-navy-naval-forces-defense-industry-technology-maritime-security-global-news/5792-csc-alion-submits-proposal-based-on-de-zeven-provincien-class-frigate.html  |publisher= Navy Recognition |date=8 December 2017 |access-date= 15 December 2017}}</ref>

== Replacement ==
{{Main|Future Air Defender}}

In 2020 it was announced that these intensively used ships will not be replaced as planned around 2025. The Royal Netherlands Navy and the [[German Navy]] will cooperate towards a joint platform design to replace both the {{sclass|Sachsen|frigate|1}}s and ''De Zeven Provinciën''-class frigates from 2030–2035 onwards.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Vavasseur|first=Xavier|date=18 December 2020|title=Germany and the Netherlands Joining Forces for F-124 / LCF Frigate Replacement|url=https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2020/12/germany-and-the-netherlands-joining-forces-for-f-124-lcf-frigate-replacement/|access-date=14 March 2021|website=Naval News|language=en-US}}</ref>

In March 2024 the [[List of ministers of defence of the Netherlands#List of state secretaries for defence|State Secretary for Defence]] send a letter to the [[House of Representatives (Netherlands)|Tweede Kamer]] in which plans to replace the current ''De Zeven Provinciën'' class air-defense frigates with a new class of four new air-defense frigates were announced.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.defensenews.com/global/europe/2024/03/01/netherlands-plans-four-new-air-defense-frigates/ |title= Netherlands plans four new air-defense frigates |author= Rudy Ruitenberg |date=1 March 2024|website= Defense News }}</ref> The four new ships are estimated to cost more than 3.5 billion euros and the first ship is expected to be operational in 2036.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://navyrecognition.com/index.php/naval-news/naval-news-archive/2024/march/14114-netherlands-to-renew-fleet-with-four-advanced-air-defense-frigates.html |title= Netherlands to renew fleet with four advanced air-defense Frigates |author= <!--Not stated--> |date=6 March 2024|website= Navy Recognition }}</ref> The Dutch Damen Group will have a main role in the construction of the new ships.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.rtlnieuws.nl/nieuws/politiek/artikel/5437676/kabinet-laat-vier-fregatten-bouwen-bij-nederlandse-scheepswerf-voor |title= Grootste maritieme project ooit: kabinet laat vier fregatten bouwen bij Nederlandse scheepswerf |author= Arne Hankel and Marieke van de Zilver |date=29 February 2024|website= RTL Nieuws |language=Dutch}}</ref>

==List of ships==
{|class="wikitable"
![[Pennant number]]
!Name
!Namesake
!Laid down
!Launched
!Commissioned
!Status
|-
|F802|| {{HNLMS|De Zeven Provinciën|F802|2}} ||The seven provinces of the [[Dutch republic]]<br>Flagship of admiral [[Michiel de Ruyter|de Ruyter]]
| 1 September 1998 || 8 April 2000 || 26 April 2002 || In service
|-
|F803|| {{HNLMS|Tromp|F803|2}}||[[Lieutenant admiral|''Luitenant-Admiraal'']] [[Maarten Tromp]]<br>[[Lieutenant admiral|''Luitenant-Admiraal-Generaal'']] [[Cornelis Tromp|Sir Cornelis Tromp, Bt]]
| 3 September 1999 || 7 April 2001 || 14 March 2003 || In service
|-
|F804|| {{HNLMS|De Ruyter|F804|2}} ||''Luitenant-Admiraal-Generaal'' [[Michiel de Ruyter|Michiel Adriaenszoon de Ruyter]]
| 1 September 2000 || 13 April 2002 || 22 April 2004 || In service
|-
|F805|| {{HNLMS|Evertsen|F805|2}}||''Luitenant-Admiraal'' [[Johan Evertsen]]<br>''Luitenant-Admiraal'' [[Cornelis Evertsen the Elder|Cornelis Evertsen de Oude]]<br>''[[Schout-bij-nacht]]'' [[Cornelis Evertsen the Younger|Cornelis Evertsen de Jonge]]<br>''Schout-bij-nacht'' [[Cornelis Evertsen the Youngest|Cornelis Evertsen de Jongste]]
| 3 September 2001 || 19 April 2003 || 10 June 2005 || In service
|}
All ships were built at the [[Damen Schelde Naval Shipbuilding]] shipyard in [[Vlissingen]], [[Netherlands]].

==Similar ships==
<!-- Alphabetical order -->
* {{sclass2|Horizon|frigate|1}}, French/Italian collaboration
* {{sclass|Iver Huitfeldt|frigate|1}}, Denmark
* {{sclass|Shivalik|frigate|1}}, India

==See also==
* [[List of naval ship classes in service]]

==Footnotes==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|De Zeven Provinciën class frigates}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20120318232852/http://www.defensie.nl/english/navy/materiel/ships/frigates/air_defence_and_command_frigates De Zeven Provinciën-class Air-defence and Command Frigate (LCF)] – Royal Netherlands Navy website of the Netherlands Ministry of Defence
* [http://www.naval-technology.com/projects/dezeven/ De Zeven Provincien Class Air Defence and Command Frigate] @ naval-technology.com
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20051119144645/http://www.amiinter.com/samples/netherlands/NL1301.html Netherlands – De Zeven Provincien Class Destroyer] @ AMI International
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20051214200518/http://www.kitsune.addr.com/LCF/index.html De Zeven Provinciën class] (Private page)

{{De Zeven Provincien-class frigate|}}
{{Post1945DutchShips}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:De Zeven Provincien Class Frigate}}
[[Category:Frigate classes]]
[[Category:De Zeven Provinciën-class frigates| ]]
[[Category:Stealth ships]]