The Dutch State Secretary of Defense, Christophe van der Maat, announced in a letter to the parliament on Friday that the Netherlands plans to order four new air-defense frigates for over €3.5 billion ($3.8 billion US) to replace its current fleet. The Dutch Defense Ministry aims to collaborate with the local shipbuilder Damen Naval for the naval platform and Thales for the surface warfare system, although agreements with these companies are yet to be finalized, the government indicated. The four existing air-defense frigates will be replaced sequentially, with the first new unit expected to become operational in 2036.
The current Zeven Provinciën-class frigates, commissioned between 2002 and 2005, are set to be replaced in the 2030s, according to the ministry. Moreover, modern weapons like hypersonic anti-ship missiles and the proliferation of relatively simple systems such as drones have increased the threat level to naval vessels.
The Dutch government is also discussing cooperation with other European countries looking to replace frigates, including Denmark, Germany, and Norway. However, no concrete agreement has been reached yet, the ministry mentioned in its letter to the parliament. Cooperation might encompass joint development and construction, as well as collective procurement, training, and maintenance. “The Netherlands is leading these ships, but we would welcome other countries joining us,” Van der Maat stated in a video declaration.
The first delivery is scheduled for no later than 2034, with the final one of the four new air-defense frigates expected to be operational by 2041. This means the current fleet will continue to serve two more years than initially planned, according to the ministry.