Netherlands' lead role in missile defence
Description
Last October, the Dutch air defence and command frigate (LCF) Zr.Ms. De Zeven Provinciën participated with nine other ships from a total of eight countries in an international naval exercise in the Atlantic Ocean west of the Hebrides. The international exercise was led by Dutch commander Frank Sijtsma.
A unique part of this 'Integrated Air and Missile Defence' exercise was that, for the first time in Europe, an exo-atmospheric ballistic missile was launched simultaneously with the launching of anti-ship missiles aimed at the international naval squadron. It is for the first time that international units defended themselves simultaneously against space-based ballistic missiles, and against a traditional air (missile) threat.
The US Navy ship USS Ross successfully intercepted the ballistic missile with a STANDARD Missile 3 outside the atmosphere. What is unique here is that a US SM-3 launch was made on the indication of a non-US radar, in this case from a specially adapted version of the SMART-L radar developed by Thales Netherlands on Zr.Ms De Zeven Provinciën. This modification makes SMART-L the first radar in the world to have simultaneous round-trip search and detection capability against ballistic missiles and against traditional air targets such as aircraft and anti-ship missiles.
The exercise attracted considerable international and high-level interest, including from the Parliament's Standing Committee on Defence.
Speaker(s)
Jan Struik, test leader for the exercise at Thales Netherlands, will discuss the special capabilities of the SMART-L radar, the preparation, execution and some of the outcomes of the unique and successful test and the possibilities that the SMART-L radar can offer in an international context.
Location
Prinsessegracht 23, 2514AP The Hague
Organiser
Defence and Security
Name and contact details for information
KTZ bd Jan Wind, chairman of Defence and Security