The Danish frigate Iver Huitfeldt, which made headlines for its involvement in the U.S.-led Operation Prosperity Guardian, recently returned to Denmark with reports of equipment malfunctions and crew challenges following its deployment to the Red Sea. A newly released government document provides a rare glimpse into the issues that arose aboard the warship during a critical mission.
In early March, the Iver Huitfeldt successfully engaged and downed four drones in the Red Sea, demonstrating operational capability in a high-stakes environment. But behind the scenes, the frigate faced significant obstacles. The Danish Defense Ministry, which announced the ship’s completion of its mission on March 26, subsequently shed light on the complications it encountered, particularly with its missile system.
According to the report, during an engagement on March 9, the frigate’s Evolved SeaSparrow Missile (ESSM) system experienced a failure after the launch of the first missile. An unknown error affected the ESSM’s second launcher, preventing further missile engagements for approximately 30 minutes. The crew also inadvertently triggered an additional error in the ship’s command and control system. Amidst these challenges, the Iver Huitfeldt sought protection under the radar coverage of an American warship and moved to a lower threat region.
Further investigation into the ESSM system is ongoing, with the complete launcher system taken ashore for analysis in collaboration with the supplier, a multinational industry consortium led by RTX’s Raytheon. The ESSM is a significant asset in the arsenals of more than a dozen navies globally, and the outcome of this analysis may have wide-reaching implications.
In addition to missile system errors, the crew reported problems with the 76mm artillery shells used during the operation. Approximately 50% of the munitions detonated early or missed their intended targets. These shells, produced between 1989 and 1992, had not shown such issues in prior test firings, raising questions about their reliability in combat scenarios.
Notably, the deployment review contradicted initial claims by Danish media that the ship’s active phased array radar, produced by Thales Netherlands, was deficient. Instead, the report pointed towards software weaknesses in the interface between the ship’s radar and fire control system, which could lead to system lockups if certain operator behaviors were detected.
The document also highlighted concerns with the frigate’s crew, describing the personnel situation as “fragile” due to the inexperience of new members. These challenges had been noted as early as December 2023 during a British Fleet Operational Sea Training course, and again by the vessel’s commander a day after its departure from Denmark. Despite these issues, the report revealed that the Ministry of Defense Acquisition and Logistics Organisation was aware of software weaknesses prior to the frigate’s deployment, hinting at a discrepancy between pre-deployment assessments and the ensuing operational challenges.
Relevant articles:
– Missile mishaps, ammo snags – report details Danish frigate deployment, Defense News