The Danish Defense Materiel and Procurement Agency (FMI) signed a contract today for the design of new patrol ships for the Danish Navy. The new vessels are designed to be modular and upgradeable for years and even decades.
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The Danish Minister of Defense Trine Bramsen stands on the quay and waves Danish flags to welcome the crew as the Danish Navy frigate Iver Huitfeldt returns home to Denmark after a four-month deployment in a European multinational operation in the Strait of Hormuz.
Introducing New Designs for Danish Navy Vessels
Despite being a small country, Denmark ensured to outsize its role to play in the Artcitc escort. According to a report from Interesting Engineering, a new design contract was signed by the Danish Defense Material and Procurement Agency for its patrol ships that will form the basis for a planned decision on the acquisition and construction.
Danish Defense Ship program head Torben Mikkelsen stated, "A rethinking of the design will mean that we in the maritime domain are future-proof to handle changing needs. This applies, for example, to deal with hybrid threats in a faster and more flexible way than before."
Most likely, the patrol ships will feature side panels where this can slot in before the vessel heads out for a mission. As part of the cube, all of the equipment needed for the operation will be part of it and swapped out of the vessel once the operation concludes.
Through this process, the vessel can be used to lay and even hunt mines that will depend on the used module of the ship. This can also take the role of a coast guard by rushing to assist with rescue boats in case of an emergency. When there's a conflict, the cube can serve fire torpedoes or missiles.
The arctic vessels, which could serve as a template for warships in the future, can also be updated like weapons and sensors. Removing the ship from the service will not be necessary when updating.
Similar Prototype
The agreement of the Danish Navy with the Danish Patrol Ships K/S consortium constructed a design that will be completed by 2025. The 2021 OMT MPV80 is expected to serve as the template design for the new ships. These ships were built by the Odense Maritim Technology and SH Defense, using a modular system to package equipment in modules.
Pop Science reported that OMT MPV80 debuted at the DSEI arms exhibition last 2021 and was built with the modular cube system as one of its essential characteristics. OMT Chief Executive Officer Kåre Groes Christiansen stated that this ship was born to be "cubed."
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Before releasing the ships, the developers could take on mine-laying modules considering it is designed for use with the Cube. This will let the vessel turn the sea into an inhospitable domain as it obstructs passage and protects ports from hostile intrusion.
In an alternative manner, Shephard Media reported that the vessel could also work as a minehunter when it is needed as its shipping control can just be plughed in and could also take on other missions at different times. Other possibilities can also be expected, including the ability to carry extra torpedoes, anti-air missiles, or depth charges for more of a naval combatant role.
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