Denmark Sends Frigate to Red Sea to Protect Civilian Vessels

1 February, 2024 Missile frigate HDMS Iver Huitfeldt (F361) of the Royal Danish Navy. Photo credits: Royal Danish Navy The Danish air defense frigate Iver Huitfeldt sailed from their home port on Monday, January 29, 2024.

It's heading towards the Suez Canal, according to a report from the Ministry of Defense of Denmark. The frigate will join the coalition forces that protect civilian vessels in the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea. Due to its powerful anti-aircraft missile armament, the frigate will provide long-range air defense.

The Danish Ministry of Defense decided to strengthen the coalition in the Red Sea after a Houthi missile hit a tanker with oil products.

Missile frigate HDMS Iver Huitfeldt (F361) of the Royal Danish Navy. Photo credits: Royal Danish Navy

In addition, the Defense Ministry reported that the frigate will join the U.S.-led Operation Prosperity Guardian after the parliament gives final approval, which is expected on February 6. France also deployed a second frigate to the Red Sea region recently, and Belgium is sending the Louise Marie frigate to join the European Union mission.

The Danish frigate Iver Huitfeldt is the lead ship of the series, which was created to provide echeloned air defense. To detect air targets at long range, the frigate is equipped with a SMART-L radar with an active phased array antenna, which provides a maximum range of over 400 km.

Missile frigate HDMS Iver Huitfeldt (F361) of the Royal Danish Navy. Photo credits: Royal Danish Navy

APAR multi-channel antenna arrays are used to guide anti-aircraft missiles.

Thanks to the developed element base, each array has the ability to simultaneously target up to 32 missiles. The ship is equipped with a Mk.41 Vertical Launching System used for SM-2 IIIA long-range missiles. Additionally, the frigate is equipped with a small-sized Mk.56 Vertical Launching System, which accommodates 24 ESSM missiles.

As Militarnyi previously reported, the Royal Navy missile destroyer HMS Diamond intercepted a Houthi drone over the Red Sea.

To intercept the air target, the destroyer used Sea Viper (Aster) missiles from the ship's Principal Anti-Aircraft Missile System (PAAMS).

The interception reportedly took place on January 27, 2024.