According to information published by NATO on November 23, 2022, two Russian fighter aircraft made an unsafe and unprofessional approach toward the French frigate Chevalier Paul and the Dutch frigate Tromp of Standing NATO Maritime Group 1 (SNMG1), which was conducting routine operations in the Baltic Sea.
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Dutch De Zeven Provinciën-class frigate HNLMS Tromp. (Picture source: NATO)
The Russian pilots failed to respond to Allied forces’ standing query communications and overflew the force at an altitude of 300 feet and a distance of 80 yards.
NATO deemed the interaction unsafe and unprofessional since it was conducted in a known danger area, which was activated for air defence training, and due to the aircraft altitude and proximity. The interaction increased the risk of miscalculations, mistakes, and accidents.
About the frigate Tromp
HNLMS Tromp (F803) is the second De Zeven Provinciën-class frigate of the Royal Netherlands Navy. The ship was laid down in 1999, launched in 2001, and commissioned in 2003.
The four De Zeven Provinciën-class frigates are highly advanced air-defence and command frigates in service with the Royal Navy of the Netherlands (Koninklijke Marine). This class of ships is also known as LCF (air defense and command frigate).
The ships are equipped with an advanced sensor and weapons suite. The primary sensors for this role are the long-range surveillance radar SMART-L and the multifunction radar APAR.
The frigates have weapons on-board capable of attacking surface and submarine targets, for example: the RGM-84F Harpoon missile and Mk. 46 torpedoes.
