THE HAGUE, 28/11/03 - The Air Defence and Commando Frigate (LCF) HMS De Zeven Provincien has successfully carried out its first trial launches, the defence ministry announced yesterday. Together with Germany, the Netherlands is the first country in the world with such an air defence system.

The missiles were fired on Wednesday and yesterday from De Zeven Provincien at unmanned incoming targets near the Portuguese island of Madeira in cooperation with HMS Van Speijk and an Orion reconnaissance arcraft. The launches were the first time the technical operation of the Active Phased Array Radar (APAR) has been fully demonstrated. Due to far-reaching integration of sensors and weapons, the system has a very short reaction time, allowing fleets or other objects both on the open sea and in coastal waters to be effectively protected against modern air threats.

The first LCF can be deployed operationally in 2005. The APAR system was developed in close collaboration between the Dutch, German and Canadian navies. The American navy was also involved, as well as various defence-related industries and research institutes in these countries.