The delivery of the first Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) frigate has been delayed by three years because the initial ship design lacked stability, the Ministry of Defence has announced. Shipbuilder Damen is constructing the new vessels, which specialise in tracking and countering submarines. Defence officials stated that the technical complexity of the vessel extended the design phase, pushing the expected delivery date of the first frigate from 2030 to 2033.
The Netherlands and Belgium have each ordered two ASW frigates and are currently considering buying more. Under the original schedule, the first vessel was due for completion in 2029, with the final ship entering service in 2031. The new fleet will replace the ageing M-frigates currently used by both countries, which have reached the end of their operational lifespan.
Rising costs and wider collaboration
The Ministry of Defence is in close contact with the Belgian government and the shipbuilder to discuss the next steps. The Dutch and Belgian navies have collaborated closely for decades and frequently buy equipment together, including twelve new minehunters currently under construction by the French company Naval Group. Meanwhile, the budget for the ASW project has risen. Initially expected to cost between 1 billion and 2.5 billion euros, the project total has now surpassed 2.5 billion euros, though the ministry has not released exact figures.
The delay marks another setback for Damen, which has also faced major issues with a frigate construction project for Germany. Additionally, the company is currently facing legal proceedings over allegations of bribery and forgery. Despite these issues, Damen remains a vital partner for the Dutch military and will play a leading role in building four new Air Defence and Command (LC) frigates, which represents the largest maritime budget project for the Ministry of Defence.
@ anp | NEWS BRAINPORT
