According to information published by the Belgian MoD on April 3, 2023, upon the proposal of the Minister of Defense, Ludivine Dedonder, the Council of Ministers has given the green light for the construction of two "Anti-Submarine Warfare" (ASW) frigates for the Belgian Navy.
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Artist rendering of the future Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) frigate. (Picture source: Dutch MoD)
The Dutch Navy will also build two identical ASW frigates to renew the joint fleet starting in 2029. The construction is part of the cooperation between the Belgian and Dutch navies, which are jointly replacing their fleet.
The Belgian and Dutch navies have been closely linked for 25 years and operate under a mixed command chain and with a common fleet. Both countries will replace their ships in the coming years and will work together to achieve this: Belgium is responsible for purchasing twelve mine countermeasure vessels - six for each navy, and the Netherlands is responsible for purchasing the four ASW frigates - two for each navy.
More expensive than expected
The purchase of the two frigates will cost about two billion euros, more expensive than planned in 2018. Part of the additional cost is due to inflation, and another part to the decision of the Minister of Defense, Ludivine Dedonder, to fully equip the frigates, both in terms of armament and onboard sensors.
Considering this considerable additional cost, the Netherlands has committed to further strengthening sustainable industrial cooperation between our two countries in the coming years. For example, 355 million euros of orders will be placed with the Belgian industry.
From 2030 onwards
The first new frigate will be delivered to the Royal Dutch Navy at the end of 2029, and the Belgian Navy can expect its first new frigate in the second half of 2030. Then it will be the Netherlands' turn again, and the fourth ASW frigate will arrive at the Zeebrugge naval base in the second half of 2031.
As their name suggests, the frigates will specialize in anti-submarine warfare. They will be equipped with all the necessary sensors and armament. The frigates are 145 meters long, over 17 meters wide, and have a crew of 115 people. In addition, they can accommodate an additional 35 military personnel who can be added to carry out specific missions.
