StanFlex

A mine countermeasures StanFlex module in storage at Korsure Naval Base

StanFlex (also known as STANFLEX or Standard Flex) is a modular mission payload system used by the Kongelige Danske Marine (Royal Danish Navy, KDM).

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 Flyvefisken class), 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 KDM 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 will be in service.

Development

During the early 1980s, the KDM 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 KDM 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 Flyvefisken class); 16 of which could replace the 22 previous vessels.[1] These were 54-metre (177 ft) 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]

Type Equipment Quantity
SSM 2 Mk 141 quad launchers for Boeing RGM-84 Harpoon missiles 10
SAM 6-cell Mk 48 Mod 3 launcher for RIM-7 Sea Sparrow missiles 20
Gun 1 Otobreda 76/62 Super Rapid gun 19
ASW Launchers for MU90 Impact torpedoes 4
VDS Thales Underwater Systems TSM 2640 Salmon variable-depth active/passive sonar 4
MCM Command and control equipment to operate MSF and MRD class drone minehunters and Double Eagle ROVs 5
Crane 1 hydraulic crane for launch/recovery of a RHIB or deployment of sea mines 22
Oceanography 2
Anti-pollution 3
Survey 1
Storage 14
SIGINT/ELINT 1

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

Ships with StanFlex

This list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it.
The Thetis class frigate HDMS Thetis (F357) and the Flyvefisken class patrol vessel HDMS Skaden (P561). 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, Flexing a snap-to-fit fleet
  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".
  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 2009-09-12.
  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 2009-09-12. Retrieved 2009-08-02.

References

Books
Journal articles
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