Anti-Submarine Sonar For Danish Absalon-Class Frigates

Two multirole Royal Danish Navy (RDN) Absalon-class frigates are set to be fitted with upgraded towed-array sonar systems to enhance their anti-submarine capabilities.

As per a recent press statement by Denmark’s Ministry of Defence (MoD), the new sonars will form part of a wider package of RDN anti-sub upgrades which also include diving sonar systems and new torpedoes for its Seahawk helicopters. 

An MoD press officer today (Friday) confirmed that while the Defence Conciliation Committee had made a decision on the supplier of new towed sonars for the two frigates, HDMS Absalon and HDMS Esbern Snare, because the contract had not been signed it was not revealing any clues about the identity of the firm involved at this stage.

The acquisition and installation of the new towed sonars is expected to take a number of years.

The spokesman would not be drawn on whether or not the systems would be sourced domestically and when pressed on timescales, would only say the MoD was seeking to finalise the agreement “as soon as possible.”

Denmark’s Minister of Defence Troels Lund Poulsen commented: "In light of the current foreign and security policy situation, I am pleased that a decision has now been made on who will deliver towed sonar systems to our frigates, so that we can move forward with strengthening Denmark's monitoring of submarine activity, including in the Arctic and the North Atlantic."

• You can read more details on the Danish Ministry of Defence website