According to Christophe van der Maat, the first new ASW frigate will enter into service with the Royal Netherlands Navy in 2029. The first Belgian ship is expected to be delivered in 2030.
Two remaining ships will be delivered to the Dutch and Belgian navies respectively in the following years.
“The new ASW frigates will provide an important reinforcement of the Royal Netherlands Navy’s striking power. With our cooperation, Belgium and the Netherlands are taking the next step in the field of international defense cooperation. Our countries are at the forefront of this in Europe,” said the Dutch State Secretary Christophe van der Maat.
The new ASW frigates will replace the four M-class (Karel Doorman-class) multipurpose frigates currently operated by the Dutch and Belgian navies.
The ships will cost around EUR 4 billion.
Besides the 76mm gun, two 40mm guns, and remote controlled weapon systems, the frigates will also be armed with Raytheon Mk54 torpedoes, Rolling Airframe Missiles (RAM), Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile (ESSM) Block 2 short-to-medium range munitions and Kongsberg’s Naval Strike Missile. Detection of air and surface targets will be covered by Thales’ Above Water Warfare System (AWWS). The radar and fire control system will bring information in from multiple sensors in order to help crews decide what arms to employ against threats.
NH90 naval helicopters can also be deployed from the frigates for submarine detection.
