Seven SCOUT Mk 3, a Single NS100 and an IFF System

The Royal Netherlands Navy has ordered a number of Thales high-tech radars, the company announced on 15 July, including an NS100 radar, seven SCOUT Mk3 radars and an IFF system.

The NS100 dual-axis multi-beam surveillance radar will replace the VARIANT radar currently deployed on HNLMS JOHAN DE WITT, one of the Landing Platform Dock (LPD) vessels currently in RNLN service: sea acceptance tests are scheduled for 2023. Fleet-wide logistics advantages played a part in the radar’s selection: the RNLN already operates the latest generation of Thales 4D AESA radars on the majority of its vessels and, given the radar’s flexible architecture, it is easy to offer through–life introduction of new capabilities, thereby future-proofing the radar. The NS100 on the navy’s other LPD, HNLMS ROTTERDAM, will be updated, so that the radars on both LPDs will be identical.

The same contract specifies the delivery of SCOUT Mk3 surveillance radars to be installed on HNLMS JOHAN DE WITT and on the Combat Support Ship currently under construction. The CSS will also receive a Thales IFF system and five further SCOUT Mk3 radars will be supplied for the M-class frigates operated by the RNLN and the Belgian Naval Component, as well as for spares and training purposes. This contract raises the number of SCOUT Mk3 radars under contract to 15.

Geert van der Molen, VP Naval at Thales, observed “This contract illustrates how convenient it is to update a Thales 4D AESA radar system in operation in order to align it with the same specifications as a new radar. The update involves only the exchange of one component and the installation of updated software, and can be carried out at the Naval base in Den Helder.”