Exclusive: Romania to Build Six Advanced Anti-Submarine Warfare Frigates for Netherlands and Belgium Navies.

According to information published by the Romanian national newspaper Puterea, Damen Shipyard in Galați, Romania, will construct six next-generation Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) frigates for the Royal Netherlands Navy and the Belgian Naval Forces. This strategic announcement confirms that the program, aligned with the European Union’s Military Capabilities Plan, will commence in the summer of 2025, with the delivery of vessels scheduled between 2028 and 2032. The European Union’s "Security Action for Europe" instrument financially supports the project, underscoring the commitment to enhancing European collective defense capabilities.
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Artistic rendering of the future ASW frigate designed by Damen Shipyards Group for the Royal Netherlands Navy and Belgian Naval Forces.  (Picture source: Damen)

The announcement was made by Gheorghe Savu, Director of Damen Naval Romania, during a high-level meeting organized by the Romanian Presidency at Cotroceni Palace, which gathered key representatives of the European defense industry. Damen Shipyard in Galați has an extensive track record in building naval vessels for both the Netherlands and Belgium, and the decision to once again entrust the Romanian shipyard with this critical project underlines the high degree of confidence in its technical and industrial expertise.

Damen Shipyards Group, headquartered in Gorinchem, the Netherlands, is a globally recognized leader in shipbuilding and ship repair. Founded in 1927, Damen has delivered more than 6,000 vessels across 100 countries. The Group specializes in a wide range of vessels including naval ships, offshore vessels, tugs, ferries, and superyachts. Damen Naval, part of the Damen Shipyards Group, focuses specifically on defense and security projects, and has earned a strong reputation for designing and constructing highly advanced military platforms for navies around the world, including frigates, corvettes, and amphibious ships.

Two years ago, the Damen Shipyards Group, in cooperation with Thales, secured a contract to construct four Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) frigates — two for the Netherlands and two for Belgium. Following the release of the Dutch Ministry of Defense’s 2024 Defense Memorandum, the program was expanded to include two additional frigates for the Royal Netherlands Navy, bringing the total to six ships. The prospect of a third Belgian frigate has been under discussion for some time, reflecting a broader commitment to modernizing both navies’ fleets.

The decision by the Royal Netherlands Navy and the Belgian Naval Forces to invest in new-generation ASW frigates stems from the urgent need to replace their aging Karel Doorman-class and Wielingen-class frigates, which no longer meet the requirements of contemporary naval warfare. With the resurgence of submarine threats, particularly in the North Atlantic and Baltic regions, maintaining robust and modern anti-submarine capabilities has become a strategic priority. The existing ships, though proven in service, lack the stealth technologies, advanced sensor integration, and propulsion efficiencies needed to counter the latest generation of quiet diesel-electric and nuclear submarines deployed by potential adversaries.

Furthermore, the acquisition of these frigates is part of a broader strategy to strengthen NATO’s collective maritime posture and ensure European navies maintain interoperability and technological superiority. The Dutch and Belgian navies, through this joint procurement effort, aim to maximize cost efficiency, standardize logistics and maintenance frameworks, and ensure their surface fleets remain highly relevant in multi-domain operations. This program reflects a long-standing defense cooperation tradition between the two countries and demonstrates their proactive approach to contributing to regional and alliance-wide maritime security.

The newly designed ASW frigates will represent the cutting edge of naval warfare technology. Each ship will feature a hybrid diesel-electric propulsion system that allows for exceptionally quiet operations, a vital attribute for effective submarine hunting. The silent sailing capabilities are further enhanced by advanced engineering focused on minimizing noise and vibration, ensuring the ships remain as undetectable as possible in contested waters.

In terms of detection capabilities, the frigates will be outfitted with a comprehensive suite of sonar systems, including hull-mounted sonar, towed array sonar, and variable depth sonar. This robust configuration will allow for superior underwater detection and engagement capabilities. Integration of these sensors with an advanced combat management system, developed by Thales, will ensure rapid threat evaluation and optimal weapon deployment during operations.

While primarily designed for anti-submarine warfare, the new frigates will maintain full multirole operational flexibility, capable of conducting surface warfare, air defense, and maritime security missions. The expected armament will include vertical launch systems for surface-to-air missiles, anti-ship missile systems, torpedo tubes, a medium-caliber naval gun, and close-in weapon systems for point defense. The vessels will also feature a hangar and flight deck suitable for deploying ASW helicopters, such as the NH90, thereby extending their surveillance and engagement reach.

The ships’ designs will emphasize survivability, stealth, and redundancy to ensure operational effectiveness under hostile conditions. This new class of frigates is poised to become a cornerstone of NATO's future maritime capabilities, reflecting the high standards and strategic vision of the Dutch and Belgian navies.

With this ambitious project, Damen Shipyard Galați reinforces its position as a key player in the European naval industry. At the same time, the construction of these frigates represents a significant strengthening of European maritime security at a time of heightened geopolitical tensions. Army Recognition will continue to provide in-depth coverage of the program's progress as it moves through design, construction, and eventual commissioning phases.