StanFlex
Encyclopedia
StanFlex 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.
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 metres (177.2 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.
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. The ease of installation and use is compared by naval personnel to another Danish product: Lego
.
By 2006, there were 101 units of 11 types.
Royal Danish Navy
The Royal Danish Navy is the sea-based branch of the Danish Defence force. The RDN is mainly responsible for maritime defence and maintaining the sovereignty of Danish, Greenlandic and Faroese territorial waters...
, KDM).
Originally conceived during the 1980s as a way of replacing several classes
Ship class
A ship class is a group of ships of a similar design. This is distinct from a ship-type, which might reflect a similarity of tonnage or intended use. For example, the is a nuclear aircraft carrier of the Nimitz class....
of minor war vessel with a single class of multi-role ships (the Flyvefisken class
Flyvefisken class patrol vessel
The Flyvefisken class patrol vessels are warships of the Royal Danish Navy. The class is also known as the Standard Flex 300 or SF300 class.-Containerised weapon systems:...
), 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 classesShip class
A ship class is a group of ships of a similar design. This is distinct from a ship-type, which might reflect a similarity of tonnage or intended use. For example, the is a nuclear aircraft carrier of the Nimitz class....
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
Flyvefisken class patrol vessel
The Flyvefisken class patrol vessels are warships of the Royal Danish Navy. The class is also known as the Standard Flex 300 or SF300 class.-Containerised weapon systems:...
); 16 of which could replace the 22 previous vessels. These were 54 metres (177.2 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 (11.5 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
Mobile crane
-Defination:Mobile Crane A cable-controlled crane mounted on crawlers or rubber-tired carriers. A hydraulic-powered crane with a telescoping boom mounted on truck-type carriers or as self-propelled models..-History:...
. 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. The ease of installation and use is compared by naval personnel to another Danish product: Lego
Lego
Lego is a line of construction toys manufactured by the Lego Group, a privately held company based in Billund, Denmark. The company's flagship product, Lego, consists of colorful interlocking plastic bricks and an accompanying array of gears, minifigures and various other parts...
.
Benefits and drawbacks
- Unused modules can be stored in controlled conditions, reducing the need for preventative mainenance.
- Ships do not need to be taken out of service when equipment requires maintenance, and vice versa.
- New weapons and systems can be installed on the vessels by fitting them to a module, instead of refitting the entire ship.
- When a ship or class is removed from service, the modules can be reused by other vessels. Similarly, as they do not have to be built into the ship, modular weapons and systems do not have to be factored into the purchase cost of a new vessel: in 2006, a proposed 6,000-ton frigate design for the KDM was predicted to cost DKKDanish kroneThe krone is the official currency of the Kingdom of Denmark consisting of Denmark, the Faroe Islands and Greenland. It is subdivided into 100 øre...
1.6 billion per ship, while similar projects in other European nations were slated to cost between DKK 2.6 billion and DKK 6.3 billion.
- The multi-role ships are slightly less efficient than a dedicated ship in a particular role, but the ability to be quickly reequipped for other roles more than makes up for this.
Inventory
As of 2001, the KDM inventory of StanFlex modules included:| Type | Equipment | Quantity |
|---|---|---|
| SSM | 2 twin launchers for Boeing RGM-84 Harpoon missiles | 10 |
| SAM Surface-to-air missile A surface-to-air missile or ground-to-air missile is a missile designed to be launched from the ground to destroy aircraft or other missiles... |
6-cell Mk 48 Mod 3 launcher for RIM-7 Sea Sparrow RIM-7 Sea Sparrow RIM-7 Sea Sparrow is a US ship-borne short-range anti-aircraft and anti-missile weapon system, primarily intended for defense against anti-ship missiles... missiles |
20 |
| Gun | 1 Otobreda 76/62 Super Rapid Otobreda 76 mm The Otobreda 76 mm gun is a naval artillery piece built by the Italian defence conglomerate Otobreda. It is based on the Oto Melara 76mm/L62 Allargato, which was bigger and heavier... gun |
19 |
| ASW Anti-submarine warfare Anti-submarine warfare is a branch of naval warfare that uses surface warships, aircraft, or other submarines to find, track and deter, damage or destroy enemy submarines.... |
Launchers for MU90 Impact MU90 Impact The MU90/IMPACT is an advanced lightweight anti-submarine torpedo used by navies of Germany, France, Italy, Denmark, Australia and Poland. It is designed to compete with and outperform the US-built Mark 46 in the anti-submarine role, and is also available in a special MU90 Hard Kill version for... 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 Double Eagle (mine disposal vehicle) The Double Eagle is a remotely operated vehicle built by the Swedish defence company Saab Underwater Systems AB and used for the disposal of naval mines.-Design:As of 2009, four versions of the ROV have been designed.... ROVs |
5 |
| Crane | 1 hydraulic crane for launch/recovery of a RHIB Rigid-hulled inflatable boat A rigid-hulled inflatable boat, or rigid-inflatable boat is a light-weight but high-performance and high-capacity boat constructed with a solid, shaped hull and flexible tubes at the gunwale. The design is stable and seaworthy... 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.
Ships with StanFlex
By 2012, nine ship classes will be capable of using StanFlex modules.- Flyvefisken classFlyvefisken class patrol vesselThe Flyvefisken class patrol vessels are warships of the Royal Danish Navy. The class is also known as the Standard Flex 300 or SF300 class.-Containerised weapon systems:...
patrol vessel- 1 slot forward, 3 slots aft.
- Diana class patrol vessel
- 1 slot aft. Diana class ships normally operate with a storage or anti-pollution module fitted. Because of the position of the RHIB dock, they cannot embark the variable depth sonar module (which is normally deployed over the stern). The Diana class can be used to transport, but not operate, all other modules.
- Absalon class command ship
- 5 slots on weapons deck. Because of the weapons deck's position, only missile-firing modules can be used.
- Niels JuelNiels Juel class corvetteThe Niels Juel class is a three-ship class of corvettes currently in service with the Royal Danish Navy. They were built in Denmark at Aalborg Shipyard and were launched in the period 1978-1980...
class corvette- 2 slots aft. Unlike other classes, the Niels Juel corvettes were modified for StanFlex during their mid-life modernisation.
- MSF-class drone minehunter
- 1 slot aft.
- MRD-class drone minehunter
- 2 slots.
- Ivar Huitfeldt class frigateIvar Huitfeldt class frigateThe Iver Huitfeldt class will be a three-ship class of frigates entering service with the Royal Danish Navy in 2012 and 2013.-Background:...
- 6 slots.
- Thetis class frigate
- Knud Rasmussen classKnud Rasmussen class patrol vesselThe Knud Rasmussen-class is a class of offshore patrol vessel operating in the Royal Danish Navy from 2008. Built to replace the Agdlek-class patrol cutters on a one-by-one basis, the Knud Rasmussen vessels are significantly larger, enabling patrols further offshore.The ships' normal tasks include...
patrol vessel