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Belgium and Netherlands go Dutch on four billion Euro bill for new frigates

4th April 2023 - 13:30 GMT | by Harry Lye in London

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A rendering of the future ASWF ships for the Belgian and Dutch Navies. (Photo: Dutch MoD)

Belgium and the Netherlands have agreed on plans to procure four new Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) Frigates under the ASWF project.

The two European neighbours will receive two frigates each under the programme worth nearly €4 billion.

The deal builds on the duo's naval collaboration, which also involves joint procurement of new mine countermeasures vessels and uncrewed systems under the rMCM programme.

The Dutch MoD said several contracts related to the ASWF project were due to be signed this summer, with the remaining agreements to follow later this year or in 2024.

The ships will be built by Damen, and Thales Nederland is supplying the integrated radar and fire control system.

The Dutch government said the construction of its pair of ASW

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