STANFLEX Modules Standard Flexible Royal Danish Navy

Surface Vessel Weapon System
STANFLEX modules
(Standard/Flexible mission modules - Royal Danish Navy / Kongelige Danske Marine)

SSM and SAM modules aboard HDMS Absalon

StanFlex (also known as STANFLEX or Standard Flex) is a modular mission payload system used by the Kongelige Danske Marine (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 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. 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. 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. This modular payload system came to be known as "Standard Flex", or "StanFlex" for short.

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. These were 54-metre (177 ft) long, 320-ton patrol vessels, fitted with one Standard Flex slot forward and three aft. The modules themselves were designed by the Naval Materiel Command and Promecon A/S. Construction commenced in July 1985, with 14 vessels (2 having been cancelled in 1993) commissioned by mid-1996.

As other warship types were replaced, the new vessels were designed to carry StanFlex modules.

Module design and use:

Stanflex modules are constructed by Monberg & Thorsen. 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. Precision-machined flanges ensure that the module accurately mates up with connections for power, ventilation, communications, water, and data. The weapon or system is mounted on the roof of the module, while the machinery, electronics, and supporting equipment are housed within.

Modules are usually installed and replaced by a 15-ton capacity mobile crane. 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. However, refresher training for the ship's crew will take significantly longer. Standardised consoles are fitted in the combat information centre: the console's role is defined by the software installed, which can be quickly replaced.

source: wikipedia

Variants:

GUN = 1 x Oto-Melara/OtoBreda 76mm/62 caliber Super Rapid gun

SSM = 2 x Mk-141 quad launchers for RGM-84 Harpoon missiles

SAM = 1 x 6-cell Mk-48 (Mod.3) / Mk-56 Vertical Launching System (VLS) for RIM-7 Sea Sparrow missiles or RIM-162 Evolved Sea Sparrow missiles (ESSM)

ASW = launcher for MU90 Impact torpedoes

VDS = TSM 2640 Salmon variable-depth active/passive sonar

MCM = Command & Control equipment to operate mine warfare drones

CRANE = hydraulic crane to operate a Rigid-Hulled-Inflatable-Boat (RHIB)

further:
OCEANOGRAPHY
ANTI-POLLUTION
SURVEY
STORAGE
SIGINT/ELINT

Used on:
Iver Huitfeldt class Guided Missile Frigate
Absalon class Command & Control Ship
Knud Rasmussen class Offshore Patrol Vessel
Thetis class Offshore Patrol Frigate
Niels Juel class Corvette
Diana class Patrol Vessel
Flyvefisken class Patrol Vessel
MSF / MRD class drone minehunters

images

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