Ultra Maritime has been selected by the Royal Netherlands Navy and the Belgian Navy to provide anti-submarine warfare suite as well as torpedo defense capabilities to the future ASWF.
Ultra Marine press release
Ultra Maritime will deliver its most advanced, high-performance sonar suite for anti-submarine warfare (ASW) to the Royal Netherlands Navy and the Belgian Navy. The $200 (CAD) million contract will equip the surface fleets’ newest vessels with a powerful combination of sensors that provide unparallelled ASW and torpedo defense capabilities optimized for both deep water and littoral operations, ensuring the ability to detect even the quietest submarines and torpedo threats in the harshest of environments.
The Low-Frequency Active Passive Sonar (LFAPS) system combines Ultra Maritime’s world leading towed array sonar products – the Sea Lancer in-line and Sea Sabre towed body variable depth sonars (VDS). The system is optimized to provide enhanced operational performance and user operability through the employment of advanced health monitoring algorithms, reducing through life costs. Ultra Maritime boasts the world’s only combination of an in-line Horizontal Projector Array with a conventional towed body, providing unmatched performance and flexibility in any maritime theater of operation.
Together with Dutch Materiel and IT Command (COMMIT), Ultra Maritime is committed to providing global allies solutions for the rapidly evolving threat environment. The Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada’s (ISED) Industrial Technological Benefits (ITB) policy have played a pivotal role for Ultra Maritime in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, to foster economic growth and technological innovation in Canada. Furthermore, Ultra Maritime is committed to strengthening the Dutch defense knowledge and industrial base and will fulfill Dutch offset obligations through initiatives that deliver long-term value and capability to the Netherlands.
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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 government announced in September 2024 it would order two additional ASW frigates.
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. They are set to be fitted with a dedicated ASW USV.
M-Frigate Replacement Specifications
- Displacement: Approx. 6.000 tonnes
- Length: 146 meters
- Speed: +30
- Complement: 120
