- Yes
- No
- (independent) BeNeLux tree
- France: BeNeLux subtree
- Germany
- Dutch (sub) tree
- other
Hello all, today I want to present a modern Dutch approach to Short range air defence: The Fennek SWP, in service since 2008.
TL;DR: A KNDS Fennek armed with 4 stingers
History
History
After the collapse of the Warsaw Pact in 1991, many reorganizations and cutbacks were implemented in the Dutch armed forces. In the army the anti-aircraft artillery was reduced to one division (25th Afdlua) with three batteries of Flycatcher/40L70G and five batteries of armored anti-aircraft artillery (PRTL). The Airmobile Brigade was provided with STINGER teams. Despite the cutbacks, investments were made in new systems and improvements to existing systems. The Army Ground Based Air Defense System (AGBADS) was introduced in the Army between 2006 and 2009, consisting of TRML radars and six Norwegian Advanced Surface to Air Missile System (NASAMS) launchers for six AIM-120 AMRAAM missiles each. These systems were housed at the 11th and 13th Air Defense Batteries. To replace the PRTL and Flycatcher/40L70G, the Stinger Weapon Platform (SWP) Light (two Stingers on a gun carriage in the bed of a Mercedes-Benz GD250) and the SWP Medium (four Stingers on a Fennek chassis) were introduced in 2008. 18 Fenneks with the SWP turret were deployed to 13 Luchtverdedigingsbatterij ‘Ypenburg’. The silent engine and low silhouette of the Fennek are perfect for SHORAD.
Image above: Grondgebonden Luchtverdedigingscommando aka Joint Ground-based Air Defence Command
Verenigd op de grond, daadkrachtig in de lucht (“United on the ground, decisive in the air”)
Specifications
Weight Length Width Height ca.10,4 tons 5,58 m 2,55 m ca. 2,5 m Crew: 3 (commander, driver, gunner)
Armour: Aluminium rated STANAG 4569 Level 3
Speed: 112 km/h on road & 23 km/h reverse
Range: 1.000 km on road or 460 km cross country
Turn radius: 6.43 m
Engine power: 240 hp
Power to weight ratio: 23 hp/t
Armament Munition type FIM-92 Stinger SAM Mount PMADS remote weapon station by Aselsan Ammunition 4 missiles in mount, 4 missiles inside as reserve Elevation & Traverse Powered Smoke system 2x3 smoke grenade discharges Fire suppression Automatic Night Vision Yes Fire Control IR camera, TV camera, Laser Range Finder
View of the gunner in this article
View of the gunner in this article:
Place in War Thunder
This vehicle would have a BR of about 9.7.
However in which nation this vehicle will end up in is open for debate:Regarding nations
Germany
The Dutch Fennek SWPs serve in the 13 Luchtverdedigingsbatterij ‘Ypenburg’, which together with the German Flugabwehrraketengruppe 61 (Ocelot and Wiesel with radar) form the unit Bi-National Short Range Air Defence Task Force (BSTF).
This Task Force, led by Dutch or German officers depending on the NATO excercise, would be a good argument for the addition of this vehicle to bolster the German tech tree. Since the 1990s Germany and the Netherlands have seen many cooperations and Task forces formed by combining their battalions into combat ready groups according to NATO demands with the limited budgets available to both nations. Germany is also the only other user of the fennek platform, with about 200 in stock, compared to the Dutch that have over 400. Although this vehicle would not fill any gap or capability in the German tech tree, it would still be a nice addition to any line-up.
BeNeLux
As the BeNeLux subtree for France has been announced in the update seek & destroy France has the highest chance of recieving dutch equipment., however an independent BeNeLux would also be very possible by the large amount of ground-, air- and naval vehicles that have been part of these nations. The three BeNeLux nations (Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourgh) share a long history of economic cooperation through their union. However, this cooperation has not been limited to just matters of justice, economy or education. Policing and defence are also integrated for certain parts of these nations’ armed forces. Militairy donations to other nations go through the BeNeLux diplomatic channels regularly. For further info please go to: BeNeLux (Belgium, Netherlands & Luxembourg) Ground Forces.
The fennek would be the token missile-based Short range Anti-air of any BeNeLux or Dutch tech tree.
Pictures
Sources
Sources
- FENNEK SWP - KNDS
- Eenheden Defensie Grondgebonden Luchtverdedigingscommando | Koninklijke Landmacht | Defensie.nl
- Fennek-verkenningsvoertuig | Materieel | Defensie.nl.
- Fennek SWP | Weaponsystems.net
- Pedestal Mounted Air Defense System by Aselsan - Defence Turkey Magazine
- Hollanda Kraliyet Ordusu Aselsan’la hedefi vurdu - Son Dakika Haberler
- history of dutch aa: HCGLVD - Historische collectie Grondgebonden Luchtverdediging (museum) | hcglvd.nl.nl
- 2004 article on the dutch use of the stinger: Luchtdoelartillerie (KL/LuA) / Materieel / Wapens / Raketsystemen / Stinger Weaponplatform [SWP] | Fotoalbums van de grondgebondenluchtverdediging
- 2019 article on the SWP-M of the fennek: 01.Stinger Weapon Platform Medium | Fotoalbums van de grondgebondenluchtverdediging
- European Integrated Air and Missile Defence in NATO: Progress and Persistent Challenges by Dr Julia Muravska
- x.com
