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Holland Class Ocean Going Patrol Vessel [OPV]

The Patrol Vessels fulfil the operational requirements of the Royal Netherlands Navy for a robust platform with a limited weapon outfit, specifically designed for coastal patrol missions and maritime defence tasks in the territorial waters and EEZ of The Netherlands, The Netherlands Antilles and Aruba. To support interception operations, 2 large RHIB's and one NH-90 helicopter are boarded. The stern RHIB will be launched and recovered via a slipway in the stern. The vessel accommodates 50 crew and up to 40 non-listed persons, such as helicopter crew and medical teams. Further some 100 evacuees can be boarded. The ship's speed is approx 22 knots. To optimize the seakeeping behavior of the vessel the hull has been stretched, and the bridge and superstructure are located relatively aftwards.

The four vessels of the Holland Class Ocean Going Patrol Vessel [OPV] measure 108 meters in length and 18 meters in width with a displacement of approximately 3750 tons. They offer hangar space and landing facilities for one NH-90 helicopter or equivalent types. Their armament consists of one 76 mm Oto-Melara gun, one rapid-fire 30 mm gun and two 12.7 mm Hitrole machine guns. The weapons all have full remote control. Thanks to the state-of-the-art sensor and communication technology in the Integrated Mast Module (IMM), detection and tracking of high- and low-altitude air targets, fast boats, periscopes, mines and even swimmers will be possible.

The propulsion plant consists of 2 main diesel engines of approx 5400 kW each. Alternatively electric propulsion can be chosen for low speed operations. In order to reduce the vulnerability, the vessel is outfitted with ballistic features, blast resistant constructions, redundant and decentralized systems, a gas citadel, extensive fire fighting systems and additional measures to reduce the effects of flooding. Automation level for this vessel is high, and includes a shore support system, a shore management system, a calamity system, a warning system, an overview system and extensive subsystem automation. Also the communication and networks are state of the art, so as to support and direct all authorities involved.

The Patrol Vessels are the first vessels of the Royal Netherlands Navy equipped with the Thales Integrated Sensor & Communication Systems (ISCS), an integrated mast module which integrates practically all RF systems, radars as well as communication and optical sensors on board of the ship in one housing. Together with this Integrated Sensor & Communication Systems (ISCS) these four advanced Patrol Vessels can face the threats and missions of today and tomorrow.

Thales' IM400 integrated sensor and antenna system accomodates all of a naval ship's radars, electro-optic sensors and antennas. One of the systems integrated in IM400 is ICAS, Integrated Communications Antenna System. ICAS provides an integrated communication solution tht facilitates the use of standard VHF/UHF communications equipment, is fitted for Link 16 integration, provides excellent transmit/receive isolation, offers estate for auxiliary antennas as GSM/GPS, and is designed for future growth.

The IM 400 in production for the Royal Netherlands Navy's new Holland-class patrol ship and the new Karel Doorman-class Joint Logistic Support Ship. In Mid November 2010 the first real IM-400 housing arrived at the Thales plant in Hengelo. Built by the Netherlands Navy in Den Helder, this structure was transported by barge and hoisted on top of the test tower on the Thales premises. In the next few months all equipment will be installed in the Integrated Mast structure and all test procedures will be started. The IM-400 will then be transported to the Damen De Schelde Shipyard in Flushing where it will be installed on the first Holland class Ocean Patrol Vessel built for the Royal Netherlands Navy. Four IM-400 systems will be built for the four Holland class OPVs.

Sea Master 400 is a non-rotating, four faced S-band (NATO E/F-band) volume search radar designed to simultaneously provide air surveillance, helicopter control, surface surveillance and weapon control functions. Drawing on technology previously proved in Thales’ SMART-L, SMART-S Mk 2 and APAR radar systems, Sea Master 400 uses active phased array multibeam technology to enable the concurrent provision of situational and critical awareness through a single highly automated mode of operation. Exploiting proven multi-beam and Doppler processing principles, Sea Master 400's advanced system architecture delivers simultaneous functionality at high update rates regardless of environmental and clutter conditions. These include large search volume with high elevation coverage, reliable detection of small targets, rapid automatic track initiation, low false alarm rates, and helicopter detection and approach control.