TRIFIC-program

Class overview
Name	The Rapidly Increased Firepower Capability (TRIFIC)
Operators	Royal Netherlands Navy
Planned	4
General characteristics
Type	Missile Carrier
Length	60 m (200 ft) to 70 m (230 ft)
Complement	±10
Armament	48 VLS cels

The Rapidly Increased Firepower Capability Royal Netherlands Navy, also known as the TRIFIC-program, 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] [ citation needed ]}

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 is known as The Rapidly Increased Firepower Capability (TRIFIC) and involves ships that would operate with a very small crew. ^[2] 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]

Design

The TRIFIC ships will be designed to stay close (around 5 nmi (9.3 km)) to a mother ship and give extra missile capability. The ship will 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 is to develop a ship with a low crew. The ship will be around 60 m (200 ft) to 70 m (230 ft) and will be based on a commercially available offshore supply vessel. Crew is required on these ships to keep a man-in-the-loop to actually fire the missiles. ^[1]

Stage 2

In stage two it is 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 will 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 ]}

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. Richard Scott (16 June 2023). "RNLN looks at low-manned platform to augment frigate fire power". Naval News.