RNLN to retrofit RAM on two LCF frigates

Introduced between 2002 and 2005, the four De Zeven Provinciën-class ships are planned to remain in commission through to 2032–35. (US Navy)

The Netherlands government has confirmed its intention to upgrade the inner-layer hard-kill defences on two of the Royal Netherlands Navy's (RNLN's) four De Zeven Provinciën-class air-defence and command frigates (Luchtverdedigings en commandofregat: LCF).

In a 15 June letter to the Dutch parliament's House of Representatives, State Secretary for Defence Christophe van der Maat said that the two LCF frigates remaining in service the longest will receive the Raytheon/RAM System GmbH RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missile (RAM) system to replace the current Thales Goalkeeper close-in weapon system (CIWS). These two ships – not named, but thought to be HrMs De Ruyter and HrMs Evertsen – are also in line to receive the dual-mode Evolved SeaSparrow Missile (ESSM) Block 2 point-defence missile system.

Introduced between 2002 and 2005, the four De Zeven Provinciën-class ships are planned to remain in commission through to 2032–35, which represents a five-year extension to the original planned service life. As a result, the Defence Materiel Organisation (DMO) is overseeing an upkeep programme design to manage obsolescence, and sustain safety, seaworthiness, and operational capability through to the ships' out-of-service date.

While the DMO has previously announced plans to acquire the RAM guided weapon system and Leonardo DART (Driven Ammunition Reduced Time of flight) 76 mm guided ammunition to replace the Goalkeeper CIWS on a number of RNLN ships, a decision had remained pending on the LCFs given their limited remaining life. According to van der Maat, a judgement has now been taken that “that the two frigates that remain in service the longest will also receive RAM missiles for short-range air defence and ESSM Block 2 missiles”.