The Multifunctional Support Ship (MSS), also known as the MSS (formerly TRIFIC & MICAN) is a project of the Royal Netherlands Navy (RNLN, Dutch: Koninklijke Marine). it was announced on 23 November 2022 by Captain (E) Paul Flos, head of maritime systems at DMO. On 24 September 2024 an announcement was made by State Secretary for Defence Gijs Tuinman that two ships will be procured from the Damen Group.[6] Both ships should be in service by 2027.[4][7]
 Impression of the MSS concept
| |
| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Name | Multifunctional Support Ships (MSS) |
| Builders | Damen Group[1] |
| Operators |  Royal Netherlands Navy |
| Cost | €250 million to €1 billion (for 2 units)[2] |
| In commission | 2026 onwards (planned)[3] |
| Planned | 2 |
| General characteristics [4] | |
| Type | Missile Carrier / Signals intelligence gathering vessel |
| Length | 53.20 m (174.5 ft) |
| Beam | 9.80 m (32.2 ft) |
| Draught | 3.50 m (11.5 ft) |
| Speed | 27 kn (50 km/h; 31 mph) |
| Boats & landing craft carried | 1× rigid-hull inflatable boats |
| Complement | 8 |
| Armament |
|
| Notes | Measurements based on the FSC 5009.[5] |
History
editOn 23 November 2022 it was revealed that the navy is investigating the possibility of purchasing four commercially available offshore supply type vessels and use these ships as missile carriers.[citation needed] This program, when first announced, was known as The Rapidly Increased Firepower Capability (TRIFIC) and involves ships that would operate with a very small crew.[8][9] The TRIFIC-vessels can carry up to six container units with eight or more vertical launch cells (depending on missile size) in each container. One or more of these ships would accompany another vessel like a frigate or an OPV and use the guiding systems and radars of these ships to attack targets.[8]
In December 2023 the revised TRIFIC concept was announced as MICAN. It was also revealed that instead of four ships, two are initially planned.[10]
On 24 September 2024 State Secretary for Defence Gijs Tuinman gave an update on the MICAN-program, which was now named the Multifunctional Support Ship (MSS). He also announced the procurement for two ships.[4][7]
Concept evolution
editTRIFIC concept
editThe Rapidly Increased Firepower Capability Royal Netherlands Navy (TRIFIC) ships were envisioned to stay close (around 5 nmi (9.3 km)) to a mother ship and give extra missile capability. The ship would rely on the radars, missile guidance and defence from an external source like the Future Air Defender, De Zeven Provinciën class, Holland class or the ASW frigate acting as mother ship.[8]
Stage 1
editThe first stage of the TRIFIC-program was to develop a ship with a low crew. The ship would be around 60 m (200 ft) to 70 m (230 ft) and will be based on a commercially available offshore supply vessel. Crew was required on these ships to keep a man-in-the-loop to actually fire the missiles.[8]
Stage 2
editIn stage two it was planned for the ships to sail themselves, with a minimal crew to keep a man-in-the-loop.[8]
Stage 3
editIn stage three the ships would be fully autonomous accompanying the mother ships.[8]
Armament
editMissiles
editDMO has spoken to several countries, including Israel, America and France to supply an array of missiles in the short term. The type of missiles is not limited to Surface-to-air or cruise missiles. Also the possibility to equip the ships with loitering munition is being investigated.[8][citation needed]
Countermeasure
editBeing very modular by design it, is also possible to load units with a soft kill capability, for example electronic warfare units.[8][citation needed]
MICAN concept
editThe Modular Integrated Capability for ACDF and North Sea (MICAN) concept was announced in December 2023 as a revised plan from the original TRIFIC concept. The plan still involves buying COTS offshore supply vessels, but instead of four, two ships are planned. Also the mission of the concept has changed, from solely being used as a missile carrier, to being able to carry sensors and systems to investigate (potential) threats on the North Sea.[10][11][12] This task was added in response to a Russian spy ship, the Admiral Vladimirsky, that was seen in the Dutch EEZ on multiple occasions.[13][14] The new mission is to monitor such vessels and see what they are up to below the surface.[10][15]
Payload
editPayloads that are being considered are:[11]
- Containerized VLS with SAM
- Containerized SSM
- Loitering munition
- Containerized ECM/ESM
Multifunctional Support Ships
editOn 24 September 2024 State Secretary for Defence Gijs Tuinman gave an update on the MICAN-program, which was now named the Multifunctional Support Ship (MSS). He also announced the procurement for the first two ships.[16] With insiders telling Marineschepen.nl that more ships are being considered if the program is a success.[4][7] The two ships will be a militarized version of a fast crew supplier from Damen, most likely the Fast Crew Supplier 5009 (FCS 5009).[citation needed]
Payload
editWeapon Payloads that are selected so far are:[4]
List of ships
edit| Pennant no. | Name | Builder | Laid down | Launched | Commissioned | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TBA | TBA | Damen Group | - | - | 2026 (planned) | Announced | [4][7] |
| TBA | TBA | - | - | 2027 (planned) | Announced | [4][7] |
See also
editCitations
edit- ^ Richard Scott (27 September 2024). "Netherlands firms up plans for multifunction support vessels". Naval News.
- ^ Thomas Newdick (25 September 2024). "New Dutch Navy Support Vessels Will Be Missile-Toting Wingmen To Frigates". The War Zone.
- ^ "Dutch Navy to improve defense capabilities with new high-tech support vessels". Army Recogniton. 27 September 2024.
- ^ a b c d e f g Gijs Tuinman. "A/B-brief project 'Multifunctionele ondersteuningsvaartuigen'" (in Dutch). Rijksoverheid. Retrieved 25 September 2024.
- ^ "Fast Crew Supplier 5009" (in Dutch). Damen.com. Retrieved 25 September 2024.
- ^ "Nieuwe vaartuigen met wapens en apparatuur bieden betere bescherming". Defensie.nl (in Dutch). 24 September 2024.
- ^ a b c d e "Damen gaat nieuwe ondersteuningsvaartuigen bouwen, raketten uit Israël" (in Dutch). Marineschepen.nl. Retrieved 25 September 2024.
- ^ a b c d e f g h "Marine wil op korte termijn grote zwaarbewapende schepen met enkele bemanningsleden" (in Dutch). Marineschepen.nl. Retrieved 23 November 2022.
- ^ Richard Scott (16 June 2023). "RNLN looks at low-manned platform to augment frigate fire power". Naval News.
- ^ a b c "Twee nieuwe marineschepen voor meer slagkracht en beter beeld dreiging op Noordzee" (in Dutch). Marineschepen.nl. Retrieved 21 June 2024.
- ^ a b "Dutch Naval programs: Renewing the entire Royal Netherlands Navy Fleet". Naval News. Retrieved 21 June 2024.
- ^ "Marine zet twee nieuwe schepen in om Russische spionage in de gaten te houden" (in Dutch). Pointer. Retrieved 21 June 2024.
- ^ "Dit is het Russische spionageschip dat in november voor de Nederlandse en Belgische kust voer" (in Dutch). Marineschepen.nl. Retrieved 21 June 2024.
- ^ "Russisch spionageschip bijna week in Nederlandse zone Noordzee" (in Dutch). Marineschepen.nl. Retrieved 21 June 2024.
- ^ "Marine wil nieuwe schepen tegen Russische spionage op Noordzee" (in Dutch). RTL Nieuws. Retrieved 21 June 2024.
- ^ Rudy Ruitenberg (25 September 2024). "Dutch Navy to buy armed sidekick ships for its air-defense frigates". Defense News.