In partnership, Damen Naval and Alewijnse have announced a contract for the systems integration of anti-submarine warfare frigates (ASWF) bound for the Netherlands and Belgium.
The collaboration signals a stride forward for Dutch naval construction and national defence capabilities.
Damen Naval, a player in naval shipbuilding, has recently solidified a collaboration with the Dutch company Alewijnse. This alliance aims to redefine maritime security in the region as the two entities join forces to create anti-submarine warfare frigates for the Netherlands and Belgium.
GlobalData’s The Netherlands Defense Market 2023–2028 report highlights that the Netherlands has invested in integrating its naval forces with those of Belgium under a single unified joint naval command.
The contract encompasses the design, engineering, installation and integration of all electrical systems on board the ASWF, including power distribution and lighting installations. The partnership marks a milestone in the defence industry, one that promises advanced capabilities and heightened national security.
Damen Naval managing director Roland Briene stated: “Our cooperation with Alewijnse goes back many years and many projects. We are delighted that we can work together once again on the ASWF project and that we have once again found a Dutch supplier.
“This ensures that the knowledge and experience will be shared with as many parties in the Dutch naval shipbuilding sector as possible. This strengthens the Dutch position in the world’s top of complex naval construction.”
The collaboration between Damen Naval and Alewijnse is not new, the companies having previously partnered on various naval projects including the joint support ship HNLMS Karel Doorman, landing platform dock HNLMS Rotterdam, the Holland-Class ocean-going patrol vessels, and the still-under-construction combat support ship Den Helder.
The ASWF frigates, set to replace the current Karel Doorman-class multipurpose frigates, represent a technological leap forward. These vessels will prioritise anti-submarine warfare capabilities and be equipped with hybrid diesel-electric propulsion systems designed to operate as quietly as possible. The ships will have sensors, enhancing their ability to detect submarines effectively.
Alewijnse CEO Gert Bravenboer said: “We are very proud to be working with Damen Naval on this prestigious project for COMMIT. This extensive and complex project demonstrates once again what the Dutch maritime sector can achieve through the power of cooperation.”
The ASWF project is carried out in close cooperation with the Dutch Ministry of Defence, with some of the work to be completed by the Ministry. The hulls for the frigates will be built in Romania and then transported to Vlissingen for further completion. Damen Naval is expected to deliver the first ship in 2028, marking a step forward for Dutch maritime capabilities and national security.
This year, Damen Naval also inked a contract with Dutch supplier RH Marine to provide the Integrated Mission Management System, Integrated Navigation Bridge System and Integrated Platform Management System for four anti-submarine warfare frigates commissioned by the Dutch and Belgian Navies.
