MICAN-program

Class overview
Name	Modular Integrated Capability for ACDF and North Sea (MICAN)
Operators	Royal Netherlands Navy
Planned	2
General characteristics
Type	Missile Carrier / Signals intelligence gathering vessel
Length	60 m (200 ft) to 70 m (230 ft)
Complement	±10

Modular Integrated Capability for ACDF and North Sea, also known as the MICAN-program (formerly TRIFIC), was announced on 23 November 2022 by Captain (E) Paul Flos, head of maritime systems at DMO. These ships are planned to be acquired in the short term. ^{[1] [2]}

History

On 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. 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. ^[3] 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. ^[1]

In December 2023 the revised TRIFIC concept was announced as MICAN. It was also revealed that instead of four ships, two are initially planned. ^[2]

Concept evolution

TRIFIC concept

The 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. ^[1]

Stage 1

The 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. ^[1]

Stage 2

In stage two it was planned for the ships to sail themselves, with a minimal crew to keep a man-in-the-loop. ^[1]

Stage 3

In stage three the ships would be fully autonomous accompanying the mother ships. ^[1]

Armament

Missiles

DMO 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. ^{[1] [ citation needed ]}

Countermeasure

Being very modular by design it, is also possible to load units with a soft kill capability, for example electronic warfare units. ^{[1] [ citation needed ]}

MICAN concept

The Modular Integrated Capability for ACDF and North Sea (MICAN) concept was announed in December 2023 as a rivised 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 missle carrier, to being able to carry sensors and systems to investigate (potential) threats on the North Sea. ^{[2] [4] [5]} This task was added in response to a Russian spy ship, the Admiral Vladimirsky, that was seen in the Dutch EEZ on multiple occasions. ^{[6] [7]} The new mission is to moniter such vessels and see what they are up to below the surface. ^{[2] [8]}

Payload

Payloads that are being considered are: ^[4]

• Containerized VLS with SAM
• Containerized SSM
• Loitering munition
• Containerized ECM/ESM

See also

• Future of the Royal Netherlands Navy
• Future Air Defender
• Large Unmanned Surface Vehicle

Citations

1. "Marine wil op korte termijn grote zwaarbewapende schepen met enkele bemanningsleden" (in Dutch). Marineschepen.nl. Retrieved 23 November 2022.
2. "Twee nieuwe marineschepen voor meer slagkracht en beter beeld dreiging op Noordzee" (in Dutch). Marineschepen.nl. Retrieved 21 June 2024.
3. Richard Scott (16 June 2023). "RNLN looks at low-manned platform to augment frigate fire power". Naval News.
4. "Dutch Naval programs: Renewing the entire Royal Netherlands Navy Fleet". Naval News. Retrieved 21 June 2024.
5. "Marine zet twee nieuwe schepen in om Russische spionage in de gaten te houden" (in Dutch). Pointer. Retrieved 21 June 2024.
6. "Dit is het Russische spionageschip dat in november voor de Nederlandse en Belgische kust voer" (in Dutch). Marineschepen.nl. Retrieved 21 June 2024.
7. "Russisch spionageschip bijna week in Nederlandse zone Noordzee" (in Dutch). Marineschepen.nl. Retrieved 21 June 2024.
8. "Marine wil nieuwe schepen tegen Russische spionage op Noordzee" (in Dutch). RTL Nieuws. Retrieved 21 June 2024.