Delay hits Dutch Navy’s new anti-submarine warfare frigate project; No new timeline set
The design phase for the Royal Netherlands Navy’s new anti-submarine warfare (ASW) frigates is taking longer than expected. The delay was confirmed by shipbuilder Damen and the Ministry of Defense in answers to questions from Het Financieele Dagblad.
The contract for the construction of two ASW frigates for the Dutch Navy was signed in 2023 between Damen and the Ministry of Defense. Damen is also producing two identical frigates for the Belgian Navy.
The first Dutch vessel is scheduled for completion in 2029. The new ships will replace the Navy’s two M-class frigates, which date from the 1990s and are considered urgently due for replacement.
Specialized naval news site Marineschepen.nl earlier reported that the first steel for the frigates would be cut early in 2024. That report was based on the 2024 Defense Projects Overview, which stated Damen Naval would begin construction “early 2025.”
According to Damen, the initial target date for cutting the first steel was July 1, 2025, but that deadline was also allegedly missed. Neither Damen nor the Ministry of Defense has given a new target date.
