In 2020 it was announced that these intensively used ships will not be replaced as planned around 2025. The Royal Netherlands Navy and the German Navy will cooperate towards a joint platform design to replace both the De Zeven Provinciën-class frigate and the Sachsen-class frigate from 2030 onwards.
The two multipurpose M-frigates which are still in service with the Royal Netherlands Navy are reaching the end of their life; they were designed to last until 2018/2023. Because of this the Dutch Ministry of Defence started design studies in 2013. The new frigates are again planned to fulfill a general purpose role with anti-submarine warfare as their specialty. However, since the Netherlands Royal Navy only owns six frigates in total by 2017, the new ships have to be able to perform well in all areas of the spectrum. This means that anti-air equipment also has to be present, in the form of VLS (vertical launch)-cells carrying Standard Missile 2 or ESSM-projectiles. Due to budget cuts, the replacement program was delayed and is now projected to deliver the first ships in 2028–29.
On 5 September 2024, the Dutch Ministry of Defense released the 2024 Defense Memorandum which sees the Royal Netherlands Navy receiving 2 additional frigates, bringing the total order to 4 frigates for the Dutch navy.[6]
In the 2022 Defense spending bill it was announced that at the end of their life cycle the four ships of the Holland-class will be replaced together with the two ships of the Rotterdam-class to form a new class of 'cross-over' ships with patrol-, amphibious- & emergency relief capabilities in mind.[7]
Amphibious warfare
Rotterdam-class LPDs
The two ships in the Rotterdam-class, the Rotterdam and the Johan de Witt have had several Updates. With the midlife update of Johan de Witt planned to take place in 2021–2022. Amongst other things the radars will be updated, with Thales NS100 radar & Thales Scout Mk3 replacing the Thales Variant radar & Kelvin Hughes radar.
In the 2022 Defense spending bill it was announced that at the end of their life cycle the two Rotterdam-class ships will be replaced together with the four ships of the Holland-class to form a new class of 'cross-over' ships with patrol-, amphibious- & emergency relief capabilities in mind.[7] In June 2023, the Netherlands and British governments announced that the two countries would "explore opportunities" to jointly develop new specialist amphibious warships.[10]
LCU's
Modernization
In 2023 the navy started with the MLU for all LCU Mk.IIs to bring them to LCU Mk.III standards. The first, L9528, was completed in January 2024.[11]
Replacement
After the MLU the LCU's are expected to remain in service until at least 2032. After that they will get replaced. The A-letter for this is expected in 2024.[12]
LCVP's
Replacement
Acquisition of new LCVPs from 2025 with additional capacity to support amphibious operations and the integration of the German Navy Marines (Seebatallion). In March 2023, a report to the Dutch Parliament outlined a plan for 12 Littoral Assault Craft (LAC) and 8 Littoral Craft Mobility (LCM) to replace the 12 existing light landing craft (Landing Craft Vehicles and Personnel - LCVP) and improve on their capability.[13][12]
Mine countermeasures vessel
Alkmaar-class MCM ships
The Netherlands and Belgium are doing a joint procurement for the replacements of the Alkmaar-class MCM ships. Both countries want to procure six new mine countermeasure (MCM) vessels, which makes for a total of 12 MCM ships. The new MCM ships will include a range of unmanned systems including unmanned surface, aerial and underwater vehicles alongside towed sonars and mine identification and neutralization ROVs.[14]
Contenders
The Franco-Belgium consortium made up of French shipbuilders STX France and Socarenam together with Belgium's EDR are bidding for the 12 new MCM vessels. Their plan includes the construction of MCM vessels named Sea Naval Solutions and a multi-role frigate named Deviceseas, which will serve as mothership to the MCM vessels. All ships will have a strong focus on autonomous systems operations.[15]
In November 2014, the Dutch Minister of Defence announced plans to replace the Walrus-class submarines[20] in 2025.
In April 2022 it was announced that the revised schedule for construction of the new replacement boats would likely see the first two vessels entering service in the 2034 to 2037 timeframe.[21]
On 16 November 2022 the next phase in the program was started when DMO (predecessor of COMMIT) delivered the request for quotation to the three remaining yards. It is expected that the proposals will come in during the summer of 2023 with a final decision being made by the navy in late 2023 or early 2024.[22]
Contenders
The Ministry of Defence has shortlisted three bidders:[23][24]
Damen Group and Saab Group announced that they have partnered from 2015 to jointly develop, offer and build next-generation submarines that are able to replace the current Walrus-class submarines.[25] It was announced on 1June 2018 that their design will be derived from the A26 submarine.[26][27] The proposed submarine is around 73 metres (240ft) long with a beam of 8 metres (26ft). Furthermore, the displacement will be around 2,900 tonnes (2,900 long tons), with a complement of 34 to 42 people. The boat's armament includes 6torpedo tubes and 1multi-mission lock which can be used to deploy special forces.[26]
Naval Group announced that it is offering its newest submarine class, the Barracuda class, as replacement for the Walrus class. A version of the "Shortfin" diesel-electric variant Barracuda class was offered, rather than the nuclear variant used by the French Navy.[28]
Spain's Navantia's S-80 was not accepted as a contender following the B-letter in 2019.[30] In 2022 the Spanish Ministry of Defence send a letter to the DMO for Navantia to be allowed to put in an offer following a RfQ sent to the remaining contenders, in which some of the requirements have changed. It is rumoured that the request was denied by DMO. [31]
On 15 March 2024 State Secretary for Defence Christophe van der Maat officially announced that Naval Group has been selected as the winning bid.[32][33][34] Prior to this announcement, the winner was already leaked to several media outlets, which caused political backlash for choosing a foreign yard over a Dutch one.[35]
The names of the new submarines where also announced by van der Maat. The class will be known as the Orka class, with the subs named Orka, Zwaardvis, Barracuda and Tijgerhaai. The first two will be delivered within ten years after the contract has been signed.[32][33][34]
On 23 November 2022 it was revealed that the navy is investigating the possibility of purchasing four commercially availableoffshore supply type vessels and use these ships as missile carriers. This program was known as The Rapidly Increased Firepower Capability (TRIFIC) and involves ships that would operate with a very small crew.[36] The TRIFIC-vessels could carry up to six container units with eight or more missiles (depending on missile size). One or more of these ships would accompany another vessel like a frigate or an OPV and use the guiding systems and radars of these ships to attack targets.[37][citation needed]
In December 2023 the revised TRIFIC concept was announced as Modular Integrated Capability for ACDF and North Sea (MICAN). It was also revealed that instead of four ships, two are initially planned.[38] Also the mission of the concept has changed, from solely being used as a missile carrier, to also being used as a Signals intelligence gathering vessel.[39][40]
On 24 September 2024 State Secretary for Defence Gijs Tuinman gave an update on the MICAN-program, which was now named the Multifunctional Support Ship (MSS). He also announced the procurement for two ships.[41][42]
Replacement of Mercuur, Pelikaan, the four diving support vessels of the Cerberus class (Cerberus, Argus, Nautilus, Hydra), the diving training vessel Soemba, the hydrographic vessels of the Snellius class (Snellius & Luymes) and the training vessel Van Kinsbergen from 2024 onwards.[43] On 16 June 2022 it was announced in the B-letter that these ten vessels will be replaced by eight new ships of the same family. Four will be ocean going and the other four are for coastal or inland duties. These ships will be built by a Dutch shipyard which will be selected in 2024.[44]
Ocean going
The sea going variant will replace the five larger vessels:
As part of the Future Fast Interceptors (FFI) program the Dutch Ministry of Defence signed a contract with De Haas shipyards to deliver 13 new fast crafts that will replace some FRISCs.[45][46]
Unmanned Surface Vessels
Artist impression
The navy is developing a 12m (39ft)unmanned surface vehicle as part of the toolkit for future ASW frigates. These USVs will be used to search for enemy submarines.[7]
On 5 September 2024, the Dutch Ministry of Defense released the 2024 Defense Memorandum, in which it was outlined that the navy would receive an additional number of NHIndustries NH90 NFH maritime patrol helicopters.[6]
The Dutch navy together with its Belgian counterpart is buying an undisclosed amount of UMS Skeldar V-200 drones. These will be primarily used onboard the City-class mine countermeasures vessel for communication between the mothership and the USVs. Or use lidar to search for mines just below the surface.[47][48][49]
High Eye Airboxer
On 14 May 2024 it was announced that COMMIT was going to purchase an undisclosed amount of High Eye Airboxer drones for use by the navy.[50][51]
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