Next Step In European Sea Based Ballistic Missile Defence Taken

The Dutch have decided to go ahead with modifying the SMART-L radar on board their Zeven Provinciën class frigates for ballistic missile defence.

And why I'm calling it the next European step is because the Germans are using them as well, as will Denmark when their Ivar Huitfeldt class will be operational. And the derivative S-1850 is in use by the UK, France and Italy. So that's 6 European countries, with between them 14 active ships and a planned total of 24.

In November and December 2006 HNLMS Tromp joined an American tracking excercise to test a software modification that would allow for the tracking of ballistic missiles. That test was succesfull. The range of the SMART-L during the 2006 test was around 480km (300 miles). This was up from a instrumented range of 400km. The Dutch MoD is now using maps showing a 2000km (1250 miles) range. That means that the Dutch can effectively guard the whole of Europe alone with their 4 ships.

So why has it taken so long to take this step?
I think the answer is quite simple: money.

The Dutch have been trying to get the above mentioned countries aboard, with the Germans being the most serious partners and Denmark as an observer. Recently France has also indicated they are interested.
Meanwhile we were also funding Thales' I-Mast, to be used on the Holland class OPV. Certain parts developed for the I-Mast can also be used in the SMART-L modification.
The Dutch apparently didn't want to wait any longer and have decided to go ahead and see who will join them eventually.

Modifications will be done during regular maintenance on the ships. That means one ship a year, starting in 2017.

Next thing would be buying SM-3's, but as of yet the Dutch haven't decided to buy them.