Van Amstel leaving POrtsmouth harbour. 11/02/07
HELICOPTER
The ship carries one AgustaWestland Lynx SH-14D helicopter for anti-submarine warfare (ASW). Lynx is armed with two Mk 46 torpedoes and dipping sonar and has been upgraded with FLIR Systems 2000HP FLIR (forward-looking infrared). All 20 Lynx helicopters of the RNlN are due to be replaced with NH-90 helicopters from 2007.
COUNTERMEASURES
There are two Mk 36 SRBOC (Super Rapid Blooming Offboard Chaff) quad launchers from Sippican Hycor which fire chaff to a range of 4km. An AN/SLQ-25 Nixie towed torpedo decoy, from Argon ST of Newington, Virginia, is fitted which has two towed units that emit acoustic signals from an onboard transmitter.
ARGOSystems APECS II radar detection and jamming system can identify and jam up to 16 threats simultaneously. Detection range is 370km for ships and 93km for aircraft.
SENSORS
Air and surface search is provided by Thales Nederland's SMART-S 3D radar. This operates in the F-band and range is 100km for a 2m² target. Thales Nederland's LW-08 2D long-range search radar is also fitted, which operates in the D-band and has a range of 230km. Two Thales Nederland STIR tracking and illuminating radars provide fire control for the Seasparrow missile and 76mm gun. STIR operates in I and K bands and has a range of 140km. There is also a Thales (formerly Racal 1226) navigation radar.
"The radar detection and jamming system can identify and jam up to 16 threats simultaneously."
The ship is fitted with Thales Underwater Systems (formerly Thomson Marconi Sonar) Anaconda DSBV 61 very low frequency passive towed array sonar mounted on the hull at the bow. Thales Nederland's PHS-36 medium frequency active search and attack sonar is mounted on the hull at the front. The RNlN is planning to upgrade the ASW suite with a low frequency active sonar (LFAS).
PROPULSION
The ship is powered by a CODOG system - combined diesel or gas turbine. Main propulsion is provided by two Rolls Royce Spey 1A gas turbines each providing 12MW. For cruising there are two Stork Werkspoor diesel engines, each 3.6MW.