Damen Naval has contracted Lockheed Martin for the MK 41 Vertical Launching System in assist of the F126 venture. On this method, Lockheed Martin will considerably assist the development of the brand new frigates for the German Navy. Each the German and Royal Netherlands Navy function this method. Damen is conversant in the MK 41 VLS system working on the Netherlands Air Defence and Command Frigate (ADCF) venture and varied different tasks within the export area. Furthermore, the system has a wealthy 25+ yr historical past with the German Navy, together with tasks such because the F123 Brandenburg Class and F124 Sachsen Class frigates. Damen Naval is constructing the 4 F126 class frigates along with its companions Blohm+Voss and Thales. Damen Naval was chosen as profitable bidder in 2020 following a European tender course of spanning a number of years. The primary ship is anticipated to be delivered to the German Navy in 2028. All constructing work can be carried out fully in Germany at shipyards in Kiel, Hamburg and Wolgast.
Hein van Ameijden, Managing Director of Damen Naval, says: “This contract is the subsequent logic step for the game-changing venture F126. Furthermore, it is a superb instance for realizing monetary, technical and operative advantages by means of bi-national cooperation in Europe. Utilizing Lokheed Martin’s MK 41-system on board of the brand new German frigates carries on an extended and profitable historical past of German and Royal Netherlands Navies working this method for years.”
Commercial
The award issues the MK41 Vertical Launching System (VLS) Direct Industrial Sale contract, which was signed on January 31, 2021. Jorge Ciappi, MK 41 VLS Worldwide Enterprise Growth Supervisor is delighted with the belief proven in Lockheed Martin by Damen because the contracting get together and the BAAINBw having preselected Lockheed Martin for the scope. The Lockheed Martin scope of provide and companies contains the manufacturing and supply of two 8-cell strike size MK 41 VLS Advanced Sea Sparrow Missile Block 2 succesful modules for every of 4 ships plus related engineering efforts and ancillary {hardware}.
Initially designed with the power to fireside anti-air warfare, anti-surface warfare, strike, and anti-submarine warfare missiles concurrently, MK 41 VLS instantly solidified its place because the world’s premier surface-launching system. It’s “Any Weapon/Any Cell” design permits a MK41 cell to fireside any built-in missile offering most flexibility. With over 14,000 deployed VLS cells throughout greater than 150 vessels, 4,500 operational and check firings and an operational availability of better than 99 p.c, MK 41 VLS stands as a outstanding testomony of the ingenuity. With this method, together with different programs and sensors onboard, the F126 has the power to function in probably the most advanced maritime environments, and subsequently contribute internationally to securing security and stability.
