Belgians and Dutch rename future ASW frigate programme
The Belgian and Dutch navies will each receive two Anti-Submarine Warfare Frigates, which will enter service by 2030.
The future Joint Future Surface Combatant for the Belgian Navy and Royal Netherlands Navy has officially been renamed as the Anti-Submarine Warfare Frigate (ASWF).
Each navy will receive two ASWFs to replace their Karel Doorman-class frigates. Discussions are under way with Damen Schelde Naval Shipbuilding and Thales on vessel and equipment specifications.
The frigate replacement programme is being run by Dutch procurement agency DMO in concert with its Belgian counterpart DGMR. They envisage that all four vessels will be in service by 2030, but Shephard Defence Insight notes that limited budgets in both countries translated into sluggish progress on the programme.
Belgium has approved funding of €1 billion ($1.2 billion) for its pair of ships, while the Netherlands is expected to spend about €1.5 billion.
No names have been assigned to the four new vessels, the Belgian MoD noted on 13 January.
The four ASW frigates will include technology for information warfare, ‘the latest anti-submarine warfare techniques and robust self-defence against surface threats’, the MoD added. ‘There is also extensive automation in order to be able to conduct operations with a limited basic crew’.
As part of our promise to deliver comprehensive coverage to our Defence Insight and Premium News subscribers, our curated defence news content provides the latest industry updates, contract awards and programme milestones.
Related Programmes in Defence Insight
Joint Future Surface Combatant - FSC (3-4) [Netherlands]
Joint Future Surface Combatant - FSC (1-2) [Netherlands]
Joint Future Surface Combatant - FSC (1-2) [Belgium]
Related Equipment in Defence Insight
More from Naval Warfare
-
![DSEI 2025: Red Cat expands into USV production with focus on combat-proven technology]()
DSEI 2025: Red Cat expands into USV production with focus on combat-proven technology
At DSEI 2025, Red Cat outlines its expansion from UAVs into uncrewed surface vessels (USVs), positioning itself as a multi-domain defence provider spanning land, sea, and air.
-
![Anduril Australia wins A$1.7 billion Ghost Shark XL-AUV contract]()
Anduril Australia wins A$1.7 billion Ghost Shark XL-AUV contract
The vessels are expected to deliver a major boost to Australia’s undersea warfare capabilities, with production set to start immediately.
-
![Royal Canadian Navy will start operating class 2 UAVs in 2028]()
Royal Canadian Navy will start operating class 2 UAVs in 2028
Acquired under Canada’s Department of National Defence ISTAR UAS project, the drones will be deployed from the Halifax-class frigates.
-
![Newest US Coast Guard cutters go after Chinese vessels sailing in the Arctic]()
Newest US Coast Guard cutters go after Chinese vessels sailing in the Arctic
Cutters Earl Cunningham and Storis have been monitoring five Beijing research vessels navigating in the North Pole.
-
![US Navy selects 25 companies for up to $1.9 billion nuclear submarine contract]()
US Navy selects 25 companies for up to $1.9 billion nuclear submarine contract
The multi-award contract will support the scheduled repair and maintenance of nuclear-powered attack submarines at the US Navy’s primary public shipyards.
