Danish Iver Huitfeldt class frigate Niels Juel fires SM-2 missiles.

According to information published by the Danish Ministry of Defense on May 5, 2022, the first SM-2 missile was fired from the Iver Huitfeldt-class frigate Niels Juel. This is a major step towards equipping the three Iver Huitfeldt-class frigates with SM-2 missiles.
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Iver Huitfeldt-class frigate Niels Juel (Picture source: Danish MoD)

When the new missiles are fully phased in, the frigates will be able to deploy at short notice for defense missions both in conflict areas around the world and in defense of Denmark and its territory.

At the same time, the upgrade means that the frigates will become more valuable to NATO, as the ability to deploy a ship with sensors and weapons that together can protect airspace is something NATO is very much looking for. Denmark's contribution to NATO will thus be enhanced.

Prior to launch, the Ministry of Defence's Materiel and Procurement Administration (FMI) has been preparing for the missile's installation and testing for several years. The procurement consists of several parts.

The missile itself is being procured through the US Navy. But in addition to the procurement of these components, FMI has been working hard to update the electronics and software onboard the frigate so that the missile can be integrated with the ship's other systems.

FMI has also prepared the MK41 launcher, which was built into the ships from the start and from which the missiles are launched. At the same time, storage space and a workshop for the missiles have been set up on land.

Niels Juel is the first Danish frigate to fire the new missiles. The missile firing is a test that all the systems work and interact correctly. It will take place this week in an offshore firing range at Andôya Space Defence (ASD) in the north of Norway.

The Iver Huitfeldt class is a three-ship class of air defense frigates that entered service with the Royal Danish Navy in 2012 and 2013. The class is built on the experience gained from the Absalon-class frigates, and by reusing the basic hull design of the Absalon class the Royal Danish Navy has been able to construct the Iver Huitfeldt class considerably cheaper than comparable ships.

The RIM-66 Standard MR (SM-1MR/SM-2MR) is a medium-range surface-to-air missile (SAM), with a secondary role as anti-ship missile, originally developed for the United States Navy (USN).

The RIM-66C/D Standard MR (SM-2MR Block I) was developed in the 1970s and was a key part of the Aegis combat system and New Threat Upgrade (NTU).

The SM-2MR introduced inertial and command mid-course guidance. The missile's autopilot is programmed to fly the most efficient path to the target and can receive course corrections from the ground. Target illumination for semi-active homing is needed only for a few seconds in the terminal phase of the interception.