According to the MoD statement, the Danish government has decided this after consultation with the Foreign Policy Board. The Danish contribution will be under NATO’s command, but will focus on the Baltics. The Royal Danish Navy frigate HDMS Peter Willemoes (F 362) will be ready for deployment from mid-January and the four F-16 fighters by the end of the month.
Russia’s military build-up at Ukraine’s borders and harsh tone towards NATO prompted NATO headquarters in December to ask member states for forces to ensure that the alliance has the necessary capabilities at its disposal.
The contribution with the frigate Peter Willemoes is for NATO’s standing naval forces, where in addition to the already registered contribution of three months, Denmark offers a frigate for another three and a half months.
Danish Defense Minister Trine Bramsen said:
“The strong and in-demand contribution we offer to NATO when we send a frigate with 160 soldiers and 4 F-16 fighter jets and 70 men. That there is an almost unified Folketing they are behind is an important and clear signal, ”says .
About Iver Huitfeld-class
The Iver Huitfeldt-class is a 138 meters long anti-air warfare frigates of 6600 tonnes displacement, built by Odense Staalskibsvaerft for the Royal Danish Navy. Three have been built and all of them were commissionned in 2011.
The hull design of the Iver Huitfeldt-class is derived from the Absalon-class. The 32-cell Mk. 41 vertical missile launcher and 4 Standard Flex container positions amidships makes this platform a highly capable AAW frigate. The armament further includes two 76 mm OTO Melara guns forward and one 35 mm CIWS (Millennium) gun aft. They can carry an MH-60 helicopter.
The Standard Flex concept is a combination of standard platforms and different exchangeable weapon and system modules to match different missions or roles. Sensors and systems common to all roles are permanently fitted. As a truly “plug and play” concept it offers unique operational flexibility and exceptional lifelong logistic and financial advantages.
Mains specifications
- Displacement: 6 600 tonnes (full load)
- Length: 138m
- Beam: 19.75m
- Draft: 5.3m
- Propulsion: 4 MTU 8000 20V M70 diesel engines. 2 shafts, CODAD
- Speed: 28 knots
- Range: 9 000 nautical miles @15 knots
- Crew: 117 (total accommodation 165)
- Weapons: 4 × Mk 41 VLS with up to 32 SM-2 IIIA surface-to-air missiles ; 2 × Mk 56 VLS with up to 24 RIM-162 ESSM ; Harpoon block SSM; 1 × 35mm CIWS ; 2× OTO Melara 76 mm; 2 × dual MU90 Impact ASW torpedo launchers
