Tracking data from the Royal Netherlands Navy (RNLN) air-defence and command frigate (LCF) HNLMS De Zeven Provinciën has been used to consummate a launch on remote (LoR) exo-atmospheric ballistic missile engagement by a Standard Missile-3 (SM-3) Block IA interceptor fired from a US Navy (USN) Aegis guided-missile destroyer.
De Zeven Provinciën (centre) equipped with the SMART-L MM/N radar and USS Paul Ignatiusv (far right) are pictured during the ‘ASD/FS-21' exercise. (Thales)
De Zeven Provinciën is the first of the RNLN's four LCF frigates to receive the Thales SMART-L MM/N D-band early warning radar as part of a maritime ballistic missile defence (MBMD) upgrade. The live-fire test, against a non-separating ballistic missile target, was conducted in the North Atlantic on 30 May as part of the multinational ‘At Sea Demo/Formidable Shield 21' (‘ASD/FS-21') exercise.
LoR doctrine provides the capability to sense a threat remotely and then transmit tracking information to a BMD weapon system in order to launch a guided missile earlier and farther downrange than the weapon system organic radar's detection range. LoR requires sufficient track quality to be able to support missile fire control.
‘ASD/FS-21' marks the first time that the LCF MTMD upgrade has been tested in a live environment. According to information released by the Netherlands Ministry of Defence, the SMART-L MM/N radar on board De Zeven Provinciën autonomously detected the ballistic missile target without any prior cue. It continued to hold a firm track for more than five minutes as the target reached speeds of 3 km per second at an altitude of more than 300 km.
Track data was passed to the DDG 51 Flight IIA destroyer USS Paul Ignatius
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