News item | 13-05-2026 | 19:23
Zr.Ms. Evertsen has returned to Den Helder. The air defense and command frigate left its home port at the beginning of February for an exercise, but was subsequently sent to the Mediterranean. In the eastern part, the ship protected a French Carrier Strike Group, Cyprus and allied territory from drones and missiles.
Zr.Ms. Evertsen joined the French fleet on February 6 for an international exercise. During the voyage towards the Baltic Sea, the war between the United States/Israel and Iran began. The task force was then given a new assignment in the Mediterranean.
This was followed by a French request whether the Evertsen could remain part of the fleet. This is because of the sensors and weapon systems that allowed this frigate to defend the French Carrier Strike Group, Cyprus and allied territory against attacks by drones and missiles. The Netherlands granted that request. It was a defensive effort.
Good cooperation
If anti-air warfare commander had Zr.Ms. Evertsen was in charge of the entire air defense several times within the French fleet. Commander Captain-Lieutenant Marcel Keveling calls this confidence in the Dutch naval ship honorable.
The frigate was on increased alert several times, but this did not lead to weapons being deployed. The crew did practice with various weapon systems. The ship launched, among other things, a surface-to-air missile to neutralize air targets at short range. Ship also tested it goalkeeper rapid-fire cannon to neutralize nearby targets.
