Two out of the four LCF frigates will undergo upgrades in their air defence capabilities. The work will be carried out in conjunction with scheduled major and dockyard overhauls planned between 2024 and 2029.
The Dutch Ministry of Defence expects the ships to be out of service for approximately one and a half years during this period.
These ships will be equipped with the Raytheon ESSM Block 2 short-range missiles. Additionally, the RAMSys RIM-116 RAM missile launchers will be installed as part of the direct defence system. The existing second-hand 127mm automatic guns OTO Melara Compatto, originally from Canadian modernised Iroquois-class destroyers, will be replaced.
The two frigates not undergoing full modernisation, planned for decommissioning in 2032 and 2033, will undergo refurbishments focusing on general ship equipment such as cooling systems, lifts, boilers, and fire-fighting systems. Smaller electronic systems including navigation radars, optoelectronic systems, and communication systems will also be replaced.
The project will also encompass networks and computer systems, including software updates. This pair of frigates will retain the capability to use ESSM Block 1 missiles.
