Damen Asks Kongsberg to Supply Propeller Systems for Belgian-Dutch ASW Frigates

Damen Naval has awarded Kongsberg Maritime Sweden a contract to supply controllable pitch propellers and shaft lines for four Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) frigates destined for the Netherlands and Belgium.

Under the terms of the contract, Kongsberg will provide four sets of its controllable pitch propeller systems, along with associated equipment such as blades, hubcaps, hubs, and shaft lines.

These new ASW frigates will replace the current Karel Doorman-class multi-purpose frigates and will be tasked with a range of missions, with anti-submarine warfare as their primary focus. The vessels will feature hybrid diesel-electric propulsion systems designed to operate quietly.

This collaboration marks the second joint effort between Damen Naval and Kongsberg Maritime in the past 18 months, following a similar agreement signed in September 2022 for the German navy's F126 frigates.

The ASW-frigate project is being conducted in close coordination with the Dutch Ministry of Defence, which will handle some aspects of the work internally. The hulls will be constructed in Romania before being transported to Vlissingen for final outfitting.

Damen Naval signed the contract for the design and construction of the ASW frigates in June 2023. The frigates will primarily focus on anti-submarine warfare and will replace the aging Karel Doorman-class frigates. The Netherlands and Belgium will commission two frigates each for their respective navies as part of a replacement program.

The delivery of the first frigate from Damen Naval is anticipated in 2028.