A springboard to maritime TBMD in Europe

摘要

The advent of SMART-L ELR presents NATO navies with a low cost, high Technology Readiness Level route to grow the capability of their latest AAW surface combatants to encompass maritime TBMD surveillance and early warning. Furthermore, it opens the door for European naval forces to make a credible contribution to the alliance's evolving TBMD construct.rnSMART-L has, de facto, established itself as the long range shipborne radar of choice across NATO. Already in service with the RNLN's four De Zeven Provincien class air defence and command frigates and the German Navy's three F124 Sachsen class frigates, it will also form a key component of the advanced AAW suite being supplied by Thales for the Royal Danish Navy's three new Ivar Huitfeld class frigates. The latter are due to enter service from 2012.