Anti-Submarine Warfare Frigate (Koninklijke Marine)

The Anti-Submarine Warfare Frigate (ASWF) is a project of the Royal Netherlands Navy (RNLN, Dutch: Koninklijke Marine) and Belgian Navy to replace the existing Multipurpose- or M-frigates.^[16] The project shows similarities to the British Global Combat Ship (also formerly named FSC program) but development is fully separate.

Artist impression of the ASWF
Class overview
Name	Anti-Submarine Warfare Frigate
Builders	Damen Schelde Naval Shipbuilding (fitting out) Damen Shipyards Galați (hull)
Operators	Royal Netherlands Navy  Belgian Navy
Preceded by	Karel Doorman-class frigate
Cost	€4 billion for 4 ships (as of April 2023)[1]
Built	2020–2030s
Planned	Dutch Navy: 4 Belgian Navy: 2
Completed	0
General characteristics [2]
Displacement	6.400 tonnes
Length	145 m (475 ft 9 in)
Beam	18 m (59 ft 1 in)
Draught	5.5 m (18 ft 1 in)
Installed power	32 MW (43,000 hp)
Propulsion	CODLAD: 2 × MAN Energy Solutions 20V28/33D STC propulsion engines[3] 4 × MAN Energy Solutions 16V175D-MEV variable-speed naval GenSets[3] 2 × RENK gearbox system (subcontractor: Schelde Gears B.V.)[4] ABB Onboard DC Grid™ integrated power and distribution system[5] Propellers: Kongsberg Maritime controllable pitch propellers[6]
Complement	117 (plus space for additional 34)
Sensors and processing systems	Systems TNO UWWS (Under Water Warfare System) Thales AWWS (Above Water Warfare System) fire control cluster[7] Sonars: (not yet selected)[8] Bow sonar Towed array sonar mine / obstacle avoidance Radars:[7] Thales APAR block 2.0, X-band multifunctional radar Thales SM400 block 2, (E-band - F band (NATO)) multifunctional radar Thales PHAROS multi-target tracking radar Thales Scout Mk3 low-detectability naval surveillance radar Terma SCANTER 6002 naval surveillance radars [9] Electro-optical sensors:[7] Thales Mirador Mk2 (fire control) Thales Gatekeeper Mk2 (observation) Communications: Integrated Communications System (ICS) by Rohde & Schwarz with the NAVICS solution (internal and external communication), including cyber security.[10] Data distribution units (Exail [fr] and RH Marine Netherlands B.V. [nl])[11] Navigation: Inertial Navigation System (Exail [fr] and RH Marine Netherlands B.V. [nl])[11]
Electronic warfare & decoys	Systems to be installed:[8] Soft-kill torpedo countermeasures system Future systems planned: Hard-kill anti-torpedo torpedo system
Armament	Torpedoes: Mark 54 Lightweight Torpedo Missiles: 2 × 4-cell NSM launchers 2 × 8-cell Mk 41 VLS with RIM-162 ESSM Block 2 (quad-packs per cell) 1 × RAM RIM-116, 21 missiles each Guns: 1 × 76mm Sovraponte naval gun with DART Munition[12][13] 2 × Bofors 40Mk4[14][15]
Aircraft carried	1 × NH90 helicopter 1 × UAV

Context

The current M-frigates, originally all built in the Netherlands but apart from two units sold to Belgium, Portugal, and Chile are reaching their planned retirement age around 2020. However, due to extensive budget cuts over the past decades and other large materiel programs such as the acquisition of the F-35 for the Royal Netherlands Air Force, the Dutch Ministry of Defense currently does not have enough funds available to start building the ships.^[17] Therefore, lifespan of the current vessels has been extended until 2025. Keeping the ships any longer will cause problems with NATO and related tasks because the ships weapons suite is outdated and not up to current standards. For example: the M-frigates only carry 16 surface-to-air missiles in the form of the outdated NATO Sea Sparrow (RIM-7). Onboard modern ships the Evolved Sea Sparrow (Block 2 in development) does the job, but those do not fit in the also outdated Mk48 VLS cells on board the M-frigates. Apart from these, the M-frigates only have a single Goalkeeper system for CIWS. Offensive capabilities are limited to obsolete RGM-84 Harpoon missiles. The 76mm cannon is not fit for modern semi-guided munitions like DART, Davide/STRALES, or VULCANO.^[18]

Additionally; the RNLN searched for European partners to build the ships with and cut costs, and in January 2017 reached an agreement with the Belgian Marine Component to build a total of four ships together.^[19] This number could be adjusted later on during next phases of the acquisition process. With a total of four and two for the RNLN the current two M-frigates are to be replaced by an equal number. There are concerns about whether that number is enough to meet current and near future challenges, since it often happens the RNLN has no ships available to only fulfill the most basic of its duties (like supporting foreign navy ships along the Dutch coast).^[20] The costs for the 4 ships are currently estimated at 1.50-2.50 billion euro's for the two Dutch frigates and 1 billion euro's for the two Belgian frigates.^[16] Originally it had been hoped that the first frigate would be delivered to the Royal Netherlands Navy in 2024, while the first frigate for the Belgian Navy was to be delivered in 2027.^[21] However, as of 2020, the in-service date for the two Dutch frigates had slipped to 2028-29 with the Belgian frigates following immediately thereafter.^[22] In March 2023, the Dutch Ministry of Defense announced that it expected to deploy the first frigate in 2029, with Belgium deploying their first in 2030. The other two remaining frigates would be deployed in the following years.^[23]

A final aggreement for the four ships was signed on 22 June 2023 by Dutch Minister of Defence Kajsa Ollongren and her Belgian counterpart Ludivine Dedonder.^[24]

On 5 September 2024, the Dutch Ministry of Defense released the 2024 Defense Memorandum which sees the Royal Netherlands Navy receiving 2 additional frigates, bringing the total order to 4 frigates for the Dutch navy and 6 in total.^[25]

Design

Armament

The ASWF frigates are equipped with a 76mm Sovraponte as primary naval gun.^[26][27][28] This naval gun is capable of firing DART munition.^[29] Besides the Sovraponte gun, each frigate will also be equipped with two Bofors 40 Mk4 as secondary naval guns.^[28][30]

Construction

The hulls will be partially manufactured in Romania, at Damen's shipyard in Galati. It will be fitted with its system at the Damen Schelde Naval Shipbuilding facility.

List of ships

Pennant no.	Name	Builder	Laid down	Launched	Commissioned	Status	Notes
Royal Netherlands Navy (2 ordered + 2 planned)
TBA	TBA	Damen Shipyards Galați (Hull) Damen Schelde Naval Shipbuilding (Fitting out)	2025 (planned)	-	September 2029 (planned)	Ordered
TBA	TBA		-	-	April 2031 (planned)	Ordered	[24]
TBA	TBA		-	-	-	Planned	[25]
TBA	TBA		-	-	-	Planned	[25]
Belgian Navy (2 ordered)
TBA	TBA	Damen Shipyards Galați (Hull) Damen Schelde Naval Shipbuilding (Fitting out)	2025 (planned)	-	August 2030 (planned)	Ordered	[24]
TBA	TBA		-	-	2032 (planned)	Ordered	[24]

See also

• Future of the Royal Netherlands Navy
• De Zeven Provinciën-class frigate

References

1. Saballa, Joe (7 April 2023). "Netherlands, Belgium Agree to $4.4B Anti-Submarine Frigate Deal". The Defence Post. Retrieved 5 June 2024.
2. "Anti-Submarine Warfare Fregatten (ASWF) | België en Nederland". Marineschepen.nl (in Dutch). 10 September 2024.
3. "MAN Energy Solutions to supply main engines and generator sets for ASW Frigates". Defence Industry Europe. 11 December 2023. Retrieved 5 June 2024.
4. Hill, John (5 April 2024). "RENK will provide gearbox systems to Dutch and Belgian ASW frigates". Naval Technology. Retrieved 5 June 2024.
5. "ABB wins order with Damen Naval to supply integrated power and distribution system for ASW frigates". ABB. 12 October 2023. Retrieved 5 June 2024.
6. "Kongsberg Maritime secures contract to supply propeller systems to Damen Naval for four Anti-Submarine Warfare frigates". Kongsberg. 18 April 2024. Retrieved 5 June 2024.
7. "Thales To Equip The New Dutch And Belgian Frigates With Leading Edge Above Water Warfare System". Thales. 29 June 2023. Retrieved 5 June 2024.
8. "NEW ANTI-SUBMARINE WARFARE FRIGATES ORDERED FOR NETHERLANDS AND BELGIUM". The Royal Institution of naval architects. 4 October 2023. Retrieved 4 June 2024.
9. "Terma secures contract to equip Belgian and Netherlands Navy frigates with Scanter 6002 Naval Surveillance Radars". edrmagazine. 3 June 2024. Retrieved 3 June 2024.
10. "Turnkey communications from Rohde & Schwarz for Dutch and Belgian ASW frigates". edrmagazine. 31 October 2024. Retrieved 31 October 2024.
11. "Exail to equip Royal Netherlands and Belgian Navies' Anti-Submarine Warfare Frigates". edrmagazine. 29 November 2023. Retrieved 4 June 2024.
12. https://marineschepen.nl/schepen/aswf.html
13. "Leonardo to supply naval guns for Dutch-Belgian ASW frigates". Defence Industry Europe. 21 July 2023. Retrieved 4 June 2024.
14. Peter Felstead (1 November 2024). "BAE Systems to arm Dutch and Belgian ASW frigates with Bofors 40Mk4 naval guns". European Security & Defence.
15. "BAE Systems Secures Contract to Equip Dutch and Belgian ASWF Frigates with Bofors 40Mk4 Naval Guns". Army Recognition. 1 November 2024.
16. Fiorenza, Nicholas (29 May 2018). "Belgium approves M-frigate replacement". www.janes.com. Archived from the original on 29 May 2018. Retrieved 29 May 2018.
17. Kuijpers, Dieuwertje (5 November 2016). "Strategische armoede III: de Nederlandse marine is een zinkend schip" (in Dutch). Follow the Money. Retrieved 12 April 2018.
18. Karremann, "Marine wil van twee naar één soort fregat".
19. "Nederland vervangt marineschepen samen met België" (in Dutch). Dutch Ministry of Defense. 30 November 2016. Retrieved 12 April 2018.
20. Karremann, Jaime (29 March 2018). "Vervanger M-fregatten (België en Nederland)" (in Dutch). marineschepen.nl. Retrieved 12 April 2018.
21. Karremann, Jaime (26 May 2018). "Nieuwe fregatten en mijnenjagers: dinsdag ondertekening overeenkomst" (in Dutch). marineschepen.nl. Retrieved 26 May 2018.
22. "Dutch MoD clears path for the M-frigates replacement, expects delays". 24 June 2020.
23. "Nieuwe Anti Submarine Warfare fregatten vanaf 2029 in de vaart" [New Anti Submarine Warfare frigates to hit the seas from 2029] (Press release) (in Dutch). 3 April 2023. Retrieved 3 April 2023.
24. Staff, Naval News (2023-06-23). "The Netherlands and Belgium Sign Final Agreement for ASWF Frigates". Naval News. Retrieved 2024-07-21.
25. Vavasseur, Xavier (2024-09-05). "Netherlands Orders 2 additional Frigates, 6 more helicopters to 'prepare for the worst'". Naval News. Retrieved 2024-09-06.
26. Richard Scott (21 July 2023). "Leonardo to supply Sovraponte guns for new ASWFs". Janes.
27. "The Netherlands Select Leonardo's New Sovraponte Guns for ASWF". Naval News. 21 July 2023.
28. Jaime Karremann (1 November 2024). "Trendbreuk: nieuwe fregatten krijgen Bofors-kanons". Marineschepen.nl (in Dutch).
29. "Leonardo to supply naval guns for Dutch-Belgian ASW frigates". Defence Industry Europe. 21 July 2023.
30. Xavier Vavasseur (1 November 2024). "The Netherlands and Belgium Select 40Mk4 Naval Gun for ASW Frigates". Naval News.

Bibliography

• Karremann, Jaime. "Multipurposefregat (M-fregat)" (in Dutch). marineschepen.nl. Retrieved March 6, 2018.
• Karremann, Jaime. "Marine wil van twee naar één soort fregat" (in Dutch). marineschepen.nl. Retrieved March 6, 2018.
• "Boeggolf aan vervangingen" (in Dutch). marineschepen.nl. Retrieved March 6, 2018.
• Oosting, Antoon. "Nieuwbouw marineschepen dreigt ernstig te vertragen" (in Dutch). Maritiem Nederland. Archived from the original on May 7, 2017. Retrieved March 6, 2018.