Belgians and Dutch rename future ASW frigate programme
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.
More from Naval Warfare
-
Australia to respond to surface fleet review in 2024
The Australian government will receive the much-anticipated independent Royal Australian Navy surface fleet review today, but will not publish the document or its response until next year.
-
HII reaches milestone in construction of USS Arkansas submarine
HII's Newport News Shipbuilding (NNS) division has completed the pressure hull for the Virginia-class submarine USS Arkansas (SSN 800) meaning that all of the hull sections were joined to form a single watertight unit, marking a significant milestone in the construction process.
-
Italian Navy overcomes delays in PPA ship deliveries
Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri delivered the third of seven Pattugliatori Polivalenti d'Altura (PPA) Multipurpose Offshore Patrol Vessel to the Italian Navy during a ceremony on 27 September.
-
India to speed up acquisition of further aircraft carrier
India's first domestically built aircraft carrier was massively late by six years, but the country thinks it can do better with the next ship.
-
Serco to support USN anti-terror effort under new technology services contract
Serco has been awarded a $200 million contract by the US Naval Information Warfare Center Pacific to provide technology support services for anti-terrorism efforts, including deployment of the Physical Security Information Management System (PSIM).