The Netherlands intends to replace its present fleet with four new air-defense frigates, costing more than €3.5 billion (US$3.8 billion), according to a letter sent to parliament on Friday by State Secretary of Defense Christophe van der Maat.
The government stated that the Dutch Defense Ministry still needs to come to an agreement with the firms but plans to collaborate with local shipbuilder Damen Naval for the naval platform and with Thales for the above-water warfare equipment. One by one, the four current air defense frigates will be replaced; the first of the replacements is scheduled to go into service in 2036.
The ministry states that the present Seven Provinciën-class frigates, which were put into service between 2002 and 2005, will need to be replaced in the 2030s. An increasing threat to naval vessels has also been brought about by contemporary weaponry like hypersonic anti-ship missiles and the proliferation of comparatively inexpensive devices like drones.
The ministry announced in a statement that the present frigates will be retired during the next ten years. The ministry further stated that it is time to replace the anti-aircraft missile arsenal on board the ships. As a result, several projects are being integrated.
According to the ministry's letter to parliament, the Dutch government is in talks about working with other European nations that are looking to replace their frigates, namely Denmark, Germany, and Norway. However, no firm agreements have been reached as of yet. According to the statement, cooperation might involve collaborative purchasing, training, and maintenance in addition to cooperative development and construction.
The first of the four new air-defense frigates is expected to be delivered no later than 2034, and the last one will go into service in 2041. According to the ministry, this implies that the current fleet will sail for two more years than anticipated.
