Dutch Ministry of Defense press release – Translated by Naval News
The ASW frigates will replace the existing four multipurpose frigates (M frigates). The Dutch and Belgian frigates have reached the end of their service lives but can still be deployed. The first frigate will be delivered to the Royal Netherlands Navy in 2029. The second ship will be delivered to Belgium one year later. The remaining two frigates will be delivered to the Netherlands and Belgium in the next few years.
International cooperation
The Netherlands and Belgium cooperate in the development, procurement, use, and maintenance. This is already the case with mine countermeasures ships. This not only saves money but also promotes international cooperation.
“The new ASW frigates represent a significant expansion of the Royal Netherlands Navy’s attack capability. With our cooperation, Belgium and the Netherlands are taking the next step in international defense cooperation. In Europe, our countries are at the forefront of this.”
Christophe Van der Maat, Dutch Defense Secretary
Industry
The development of these high-quality ships can offer the Dutch industry a stronger international market position. Furthermore, the business community plays a part in ship maintenance. The Defense Ministry has already been planning for it.
Main task
The main task of ASW frigates is remote detection and engagement of submarines. This is done, among other things, with the ship’s own NH90 helicopter. Both the frigate and the helicopter can launch an Mk54 torpedo, which will be available in a few years, to neutralize the submarine. The ASW frigates will be a challenge for the submarines to detect and defend against torpedo attacks.
The ships will also be equipped with state-of-the-art armament and sensors. Anti-Submarine Warfare Suite will give the crew timely detect the threat posed by submarines. The ships will also be armed with the Naval Strike Missile for surface targets and the ESSM Block 2 for air defense.
The Defense Department is buying these and numerous other systems from a total of dozens of different companies. A number of contracts are expected to be signed this summer. The remaining contracts for these subprojects will follow this year or no later than 2024. The construction of the 2 ASW frigates involves an investment of about €1.9 billion.
The ASW frigates are robust and capable ships. They will be capable to accommodate a crew of 117. In addition, there will be room for 35 people to sail along for special missions. In addition, the 2 Dutch frigates are named after women who had great importance for Dutch freedom. Parliament passed a motion to this effect in 2020.
About ASWF – Anti-Submarine Warfare Frigate
The Future Surface Combatant is a project of the Royal Netherlands Navy and Belgian Navy to replace the ageing Multipurpose- or M-frigates (Karel Doorman-class). The future frigates will be replacing HNLMS Van Amstel and HNLMS Van Speijk in the Dutch Navy and Leopold I and the Louise-Marie in the Belgian Navy.
The Dutch MoD started design studies for the M-frigates replacement in 2013. The new frigates are set to fulfill a general purpose role with ASW as its specialty. However, given the limited number of frigates in the Royal Netherlands Navy (six) and Belgian (two) fleets, the Future Surface Combatant are required to excel in all area (air defense, anti surface warfare…). While the Belgian Navy is in charge of the MCM replacement program for both navies, likewise the Dutch Navy is in charge of the M-Frigates replacement program for both the Netherlands and Belgium.
M-Frigate Replacement Specifications
- Displacement: Approx. 6.000 tonnes
- Length: 146 meters
- Speed: +30
- Complement: 120
ASW Frigate Weapon systems
The future frigate will receive RIM-162 Evolved SeaSparrow Missile (ESSM) Block 2 anti-aircraft missiles and a successor of the Goalkeeper close-in weapon system. These new weapon systems are complemented by heavy-duty remotely operated machine guns (RWS) and light machine guns for use against small surface threats. To combat larger surface targets, the Dutch Ministry of Defense selected Naval Strike Missile.
The main submarine weapon system is a new torpedo purchased through the “Replacement Mk46 Lightweight Torpedo” project. For defending against enemy torpedoes, the frigates will be fitted with a system capable of deceiving enemy torpedoes. In the future, a so-called hardkill system, an « anti-torpedo system », is yet to be developed. The frigate has room for a 110-strong crew, but 40 extra beds and various rooms are available for mission-specific personnel and their equipment.
AWWS by Thales
The future frigate will be fitted with the new Above Water Warfare System (AWWS) suite by Thales. will consist of a new generation of sensors, coupled with intelligent software that continuously calculates which actions are best suited to tackle each threat detected by radar and other sensors in the right manner. This maximizes the chance of survival, while the crew stays in control.
This system uses the latest sensor technology from Thales to detect and monitor all above-water threats, including the next-generation, fully digital dual-band X/S radar suite: an integral combination of Active Phased Array Radar II (APAR II) and Sea Master 400 radar technologies.