Zealand Class

The Zealand Class Landing Helicopter Dock are the strategic projection ships of the Royal Union Navy.

Background
In 2005 AFLO aproved a projet to build 4 Landing Helicopter Platforms to support the aircraft and amphibious capabilities of the RUN. The design contract was awarded to Aker Solutions. In November 2005, AFLO ordered the construction of 4 new ships to Aker Philadelphia Shipyards in Everett. Currently 4 ships are in service and 2 more under construction.

Power generation & propulsion
The power plant of the ship has been completely redesigned to suit the needs and requirements of the RUN and the new systems and elements of the ship. AFLO chose to equip the ship with a clean fuel cell propulsion system developed by the company NAtech.

The power plant of the ship was designed taking into account the current needs of energy for propulsion and other systems on board, so it was possible to assume an increase in power required if new equipment or systems were installed in the future.

For the propulsion of the ship NAtech has developed a solution combining 4 NAtech Statpower System power plants of 22 MW each with 8 NAsoft ST energy servers with 5 MW power each. Aditional 2 NAsoft ST energy servers provide the electricity needed for the ship military and support systems.

The propulsion system is fully electrical with two AZIPOD s (ABB azimut thrusters) mounted externally to the main hull. The electricity for the motors is supplied by the power system.

Electronic systems
One of the main design premises was the need to mount Baltic Union made electronic systems in order to full integration with other Armed Forces systems and satellite net.

Sensors
 * 1 x Saab 9LV CMS Combat Management System
 * 1 x Saab 9LV FCS Fire Control System
 * 1 x Saab EOS 500 Electro Optical Fire Control
 * 1 x TERMA SCANTER 4100 Surveillance Radar

Electronic warfare
 * 1 x Kongsberg C-Scope Sonar System


 * 1 x Saab SME-200 Tactical EMS / ELINT
 * 1 x Saab NLWS Naval Laser Warning System

Decoys


 * 1 x TERMA DL-12T decoy launcher
 * 1 x TERMA Loki torpedo countermeasure

Armament
The weapons system of the class are:


 * 4 &times; 12,7 mm M2 Browning M2HB HMG Sea Protector
 * 2 x Long Range Acoustic Device
 * 2 &times; spare CIWS gun w/ calibre 40 mm

Air wing
In the amphibious role, the ship can carry up to 15 aircrafts that can reach 40 in the aircraft carrier role. The aircrafts suitables to be operated are:
 * Medium and heavy helicopters. Currently Eurocopter AS332 Super Puma, Eurocopter AS332 Super Puma Naval variant], Westland Sea King and AS532 Cougar
 * VSTOL Aircraft as |AV-8B Harrier II

List of ships
The ships are named after islands of the Region of Denmark.