The Royal Institution of Naval Architects
4th October 2023
- Increased automation will mean the ships have a core crew of 117 (compared to 153 in an M-frigate)
- The hulls will be built at Damen’s shipyard in Galați, Romania, with construction activity expected to start in 2025. Following launch, each frigate will then be moved to Damen’s facilities in Vlissingen, in the south of the Netherlands, for outfitting and integration of the weapon systems/combat suite. The first ship is planned to enter service with the RNLN in 2029, with the Belgian Maritime Component to receive the second vessel in 2030. All four ships are scheduled for delivery by the end of 2031.
- To save weight, composites will be used in structures high in the ship. These include the masts, bridge deckhouse and superstructure.
- Each ASWF will be fitted with a single Leonardo 76/62 Sovraponte lightweight medium-calibre gun. Designed for use against air, surface and land targets, the Sovraponte gun is around 30% lighter than the 76/62 Super Rapid mounting, and does not penetrate below deck.
- Each ASWF ship will be fitted with two eight-cell MK 41 Baseline VII strike length launcher modules (each cell can take an ESSM Block 2 missile quad-pack for a maximum outload of 64 missiles).
- A single 21-cell Mk 49 Guided Missile Launching System for RIM-116C Rolling Airframe Missiles will be fitted aft.
- Kongsberg’s Naval Strike Missile (NSM) will provide an offensive anti-surface warfare capability for the ASWF.