Like a number of other navies in the NATO Alliance, the Royal Netherlands Navy is being transformed from a navy mainly focussed on Anti Submarine Warfare in the Atlantic Ocean to a far more deployable and expeditionary Maritime Force, highly suited to operate worldwide both in deep waters as in the littoral. This transformation process has consequences for the way the navy is organized, how it operates and of course for its assets. New classes of ships have been designed, build and commissioned.

The latest in these series of new ships is the Air Defense and Command Frigate, a destroyer-sized combatant, slightly over 6000 tons in displacement. In keeping with the general trend in today's naval design, these ships have extensive stealth features and a strong emphasis on survivability. Furthermore, reduced manning has been accomplished by a very high level of automation (both with regards to platform equipment as to weapon systems) and combat systems integration. With respect to sensors, the design features an Active Phased Array Radar (APAR) system, developed and now produced by Thales Netherlands and jointly funded by Canada, Germany and the Netherlands. Also, enhanced strike capabilities and a missile defense capability for this class of ships are under consideration. The second ship out of a class of four, HNLMS Tromp, will visit Baltimore, Maryland, in the period 19 - 25 May and will be moored at Broadway Pier at Fells Point, close to the Inner Harbor. The ship will be in Norfolk, Virginia, from May 26 to May 31.

In Baltimore, HNLMS Tromp will be open for the general public on the following dates:

• Saturday May 21: 1.30 p.m. - 4 p.m.
• Sunday May 22: 1.30 p.m. - 4 p.m.