Germany, Spain, and the Netherlands followed NFR-90 with the trilateral cooperation that produced the Sachsen, Álvaro de Bazán, and De Zeven Provinciën frigates. The Dutch design receives particular praise for its air-defence capability, but its 40-cell launcher still falls below NFR-90's proposed 48 cells. Mark 41 launchers come in eight-cell modules, so restoring one module would increase a 40-cell magazine by 20 percent. The expensive radar and command system are already aboard, leaving a question about the value of saving the launcher module and its surrounding hull space. The judgment is that this saving sacrifices useful fighting capacity, especially when even 48 missiles are considered a questionable allowance.
Notable Point · 13:50-16:34
What one missing Mark 41 module costs a frigate
Adding one eight-cell Mark 41 module would increase a 40-cell frigate's magazine by 20 percent, raising a question about savings after radar and command systems have been paid for.