The ''Koster'' class is a class of five

mine-countermeasure vessel A mine countermeasures vessel or MCMV is a type of naval ship designed for the location of and destruction of naval mines which combines the role of a minesweeper A minesweeper is a small warship designed to remove or detonate naval mines. Usi ...

s currently in use by the

Swedish Navy The Swedish Navy ( sv, Svenska marinen) is the naval branch of the Swedish Armed Forces. It is composed of surface and submarine naval units – the Fleet () – as well as marine units, the Amphibious Corps (). In Swedish, vessels o ...

. Built between 1982 and 1993 as part of the seven-strong s, the last five ships of the class were given a comprehensive midlife upgrade between 2007 and 2010, which resulted in HMS ''Koster'' becoming the lead ship of the newly upgraded class of MCMVs. After the upgrade, the Swedish Navy expects that it will serve on for another 15 to 20 years. An identifying feature of the ''Koster'' class is the fire control radar on top of the bridge.

Overview

In December 2004, the Swedish Navy awarded Kockums a contract for the mid-life upgrade for five of the ''Landsort'' class (excluding HMS ''Landsort'' and HMS ''Arholma''). The upgrade includes a new mine countermeasures (MCM) system, adaptations for international operations as well as a new air defence systems involving moving and modification of the Arte 726 from the ''Kaparen'' class fast patrol boats. The first is expected to be completed in 2008. The upgraded vessels will be renamed as the ''Koster'' class, as the first vessel to be upgraded is HMS ''Koster'' (formerly the third ship in the ''Landsort'' class). On 31 January 2005 a contract exceeding €30 million was awarded to

Atlas Elektronik Atlas Elektronik is a naval/marine electronics and systems business based in Bremen, Germany. It is involved in the development of integrated sonar systems for submarines and heavyweight torpedoes. The company was a subsidiary of BAE Systems ...

for the upgrade of these five vessels with the Atlas Integrated MCM Systems (IMCMS-S). The systems will be commissioned into operational service between 2008 and 2009. The system combines minehunting, minesweeping, mine disposal, surveillance and communication with other naval forces. It comprises an Atlas MCM Tactical Command and Control system, a broadband Atlas HMS-12M hull-mounted sonar and an Atlas mine identification and disposal system (MIDS) Seafox. The IMCMS-S onboard also fully integrates sensors and effectors like the self-propelled variable depth sonar, underwater positioning system, navigation radar and sensors, conventional MIDS systems, and air defence system. The vessels are also upgraded to have

Link 16 Link 16 is a military tactical data link network used by NATO and nations allowed by the MIDS International Program Office (IPO). Its specification is part of the family of Tactical Data Links. With Link 16, military aircraft as well as ship ...

capability.

References

;Citations

External links

*https://web.archive.org/web/20100822064801/http://www.forsvarsmakten.se/sv/Materiel-och-teknik/fartyg/Minrojningsfartyg-Koster/ {{ActiveSwedishNavyClasses Mine warfare vessels of the Swedish Navy Mine warfare vessel classes

Overview

See also

References

External links