Iver Huitfeldt-class

Summary

Description

The Iver Huitfeldt class is a class of three air defence frigates that serve the Royal Danish Navy. The ships were commissioned in 2012 and 2013 and were named after the Danish naval officer Iver Huitfeldt. They are constructed based on the accomplishments of the Absalon-class frigates, sharing the same basic hull design. This approach enabled Denmark to build the Iver Huitfeldt class at a lower cost compared to similar vessels.

When it comes to design, the Iver Huitfeldt-class frigates employ the StanFlex modular mission payload system, similar to the Absalon class, which allows for flexibility in terms of onboard equipment. The ships have been designed to carry up to six modules with four StanFlex positions on the missile deck. These positions can hold either the Mark 141 8-cell Harpoon launcher module or the 12-cell Mark 56 Evolved SeaSparrow Missile (ESSM) Vertical Launching System (VLS). Unlike their Absalon-class predecessors which are focused on command, support, and anti-submarine warfare roles, the Iver Huitfeldt-class frigates are outfitted primarily for air defense.

In terms of armament, the frigates pack an impressive suite of anti-aircraft weapons comprising the medium-range ESSM and the long-range SM-2 IIIA area defense missiles. The ships also have the capability to carry Tomahawk cruise missiles, marking a first for the Royal Danish Navy. They utilize the Mk 41 Vertical Launching System (VLS) for missile storage and launching, supporting up to 56 missiles depending on the mix of Harpoon and ESSM/SM-2s.

The frigates' construction involved the assembly of blocks that were produced in Estonia and Lithuania and subsequently joined together at Odense Steel Shipyard in Denmark. To minimize costs, the Royal Danish Navy re-used components from older vessels including the Niels Juel-class corvettes and the Flyvefisken-class patrol vessels. The anti-air warfare system of the Iver Huitfeldt-class is shared with other navies' frigates like those of the Netherlands and Germany. The system's sensors include the SMART-L long-range surveillance radar and the APAR multi-function radar, which together provide extensive surveillance and precision tracking capabilities.

As for their operational history, the class has attempted to extend its reach beyond Denmark. Bids for exports included considerations by Australia as part of a royal navy procurement program, Canada in the Single Class Surface Combatant Project, and the United Kingdom, where the Arrowhead 140 design based on the Iver Huitfeldt hull was ultimately selected for the Royal Navy’s Type 31 frigate program. Additionally, Indonesia expressed significant interest in acquiring two Iver Huitfeldt-class frigates and later entered into collaborations and discussions for local design and construction, which also involved a technology transfer agreement. The Indonesian Navy looked forward to deploying the frigates for enhancing their blue water capabilities.

Technical specifications