StanFlex

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A mine countermeasures StanFlex module in storage at Naval Base Korsor US Navy 070220-N-3642E-009 Secretary of the Navy (SECNAV), the Honorable Donald C. Winter receives a brief on the concept of operations of an anti-mine warfare module.jpg
A mine countermeasures StanFlex module in storage at Naval Base Korsør

StanFlex (also known as STANFLEX or Standard Flex) is a modular mission payload system used by the Royal Danish Navy. Originally conceived during the 1980s as a way of replacing several classes of minor war vessel with a single class of multi-role ships (the Flyvefiskenclass), the StanFlex system consists of weapons and equipment mounted in standardised containers, which can be loaded into slots on the ships. These containers can be swapped out in a short period of time, allowing the ship to switch between roles when needed. The success of the modular payload system led the Royal Danish Navy to design all new warships with StanFlex slots, and to install slots on older vessels during major refits. By 2012, nine ship classes capable of carrying StanFlex payloads were in service.

Contents

Development

During the early 1980s, the Royal Danish Navy (RDN) required replacements for three classes of minor war vessel, but could not afford to replace all 22 ships on a one-for-one basis. [1] Instead of building dedicated replacements for each role, the RDN came up with the idea for a single vessel design which could be modified to assume a particular role when needed. [1] Equipment common to all roles would be built into the ship, while mission specific payloads would be built into modules, which could be fitted into standardised slots aboard the ship when needed. [1] This modular payload system came to be known as "Standard Flex", or "StanFlex" for short. [1]

Feasibility studies during 1983 and 1984 led to the design of the Standard Flex 300 vessel (later named the Flyvefiskenclass); 16 of which could replace the 22 previous vessels. [1] These were 54-metre (177 ft 2 in) long, 320-ton patrol vessels, fitted with one Standard Flex slot forward and three aft. [1] The modules themselves were designed by the Naval Materiel Command and Promecon A/S. [2] Construction commenced in July 1985, with 14 vessels (2 having been cancelled in 1993) commissioned by mid-1996. [1] As other warship types were replaced, the new vessels were designed to carry StanFlex modules. [1]

Module design and use

Stanflex modules are constructed by Monberg & Thorsen. [3] Each module is housed in a stainless steel container measuring 3 metres (9.8 ft) in length, 3.5 metres (11 ft) in width, and 2.5 metres (8.2 ft) in height. [3] Precision-machined flanges ensure that the module accurately mates up with connections for power, ventilation, communications, water, and data. [3] The weapon or system is mounted on the roof of the module, while the machinery, electronics, and supporting equipment are housed within. [3]

Modules are usually installed and replaced by a 15-ton capacity mobile crane. [3] A module can be swapped out and replaced within half an hour, and after system testing completed, the ship is ready to deploy within a few hours. [3] However, refresher training for the ship's crew will take significantly longer. [3] Standardised consoles are fitted in the combat information centre: the console's role is defined by the software installed, which can be quickly replaced. [3] [4] The ease of installation and use is compared by naval personnel to another Danish product: Lego. [3]

Benefits and drawbacks

Inventory

As of 2001, the KDM inventory of StanFlex modules included: [3]

TypeEquipmentQuantity
SSM 2 Mk 141 quad launchers for Boeing RGM-84 Harpoon missiles10
SAM 6-cell Mk 48 Mod 3 launcher for RIM-7 Sea Sparrow missiles20
Gun1 Otobreda 76/62 Super Rapid gun19
ASW Launchers for MU90 Impact torpedoes4
VDS Thales Underwater Systems TSM 2640 Salmon variable-depth active/passive sonar4
MCM Command and control equipment to operate MSF and MRD class drone minehunters and Double Eagle ROVs5
Crane1 hydraulic crane for launch/recovery of a RHIB or deployment of sea mines22
Oceanography2
Anti-pollution3
Survey1
Storage14
SIGINT/ELINT 1

By 2006, there were 101 units of 11 types. [2]

Ships with StanFlex

This is a dynamic list and may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness. You can help by adding missing items with reliable sources.
The Thetis-class frigate HDMS Thetis and the Flyvefisken-class patrol vessel HDMS Skaden. Both vessels use StanFlex modules. F357THET+P561SKDN.jpg
The Thetis-class frigate HDMS Thetis and the Flyvefisken-class patrol vessel HDMS Skaden. Both vessels use StanFlex modules.

As of 2012, nine ship classes were capable of using StanFlex modules. [2]

Citations

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Scott, Versatility the key to Denmark's evolving navy
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Lok, Joris Janssen (2006-06-01). "New Danish combat support ships offer greater flexibility for NATO operations". Jane's International Defense Review. 39 (6). ISSN   0020-6512.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Scott, Richard (2001-11-01). "Flexing a snap-to-fit fleet". Jane's Defence Weekly.
  4. ↑ Naval Studies Board, Technology for the United States Navy and Marine Corps, 2000-2035, p. 30
  5. 1 2 3 4 Fish, Denmark commissions environmentally friendly Diana-class craft
  6. ↑ Werthein (ed.). The Naval Institute Guide to Combat Fleets of the World, p. 154
  7. ↑ "Environmentally Shipbreaking in Denmark". Archived from the original on 2013-04-11.
  8. ↑ Werthein (ed.). The Naval Institute Guide to Combat Fleets of the World, p. 153
  9. ↑ "Knud Rasmussen Class (2008-)". Royal Danish Navy. 2007-11-19. Archived from the original on 2009-04-01.
  10. ↑ "An Overview of Current, On-Going Danish Naval projects 2005-2009 Knud Rasmussen class Ice-Resistant OPV (Offshore Patrol Vessel)". Canadian American Strategic Review. May 2008. Archived from the original on 2009-09-19. Retrieved 2009-08-02.

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