Future of the Royal Netherlands Navy

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In April 2018, the Dutch Government approved a multi-year investment program for the Dutch Navy and allocated funds for the 2018–2030 period.

Ships under construction[]

The following is a list of vessels currently under construction for the Royal Netherlands Navy:

Class Ship Pennant no. Builder Type Displacement Launched Commissioning Status Source
Den Helder-class Combat Support Ship Den Helder A834 Damen Group Combat Support Ship 20,000 tonnes 2024 (planned) Under construction [1][2][3]

Surface combatants[]

De Zeven Provinciën-class frigate[]

Upgrading the De Zeven Provinciën-class LCF frigates Theatre Ballistic Missile Defense, acquisition of SM-3 missiles, a new OtoMelara 127/64 LW canon, ESSM-2 and SLCM integration 2018–2021.

Replacement[]

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.

Karel Doorman-class frigates[]

Replacement[]

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 its 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.

  • See Future Surface Combatant for more information.

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.

  • HNLMS Rotterdam is set to be replaced by 2030.[4]
  • HNLMS Johan de Witt is set to be replaced by 2032.[5]

LCUss[]

Acquisition of new LCUs in 2025 with additional capacity to support amphibious operations and the integration of the German Navy Marines (Seebatallion).

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.[6]

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.[7]
  • France's Naval Group and  [fr] established Belgian subsidiary Naval & Robotics and bid for the program.[8][9]
  • Imtech Belgium and Damen Group bid for the program.[8][9]

Selection[]

The contract was won by Naval Group on 15 March 2019.[8][9] Delivery of the first ship to the Royal Netherlands Navy is anticipated in 2025.[10]

Submarines[]

Walrus-class submarines[]

In November 2014, the Dutch Minister of Defence announced plans to replace the Walrus-class submarines[11] in 2025. By 2017, there was still no political agreement on the quantity or type of new submarines to be ordered; nor the tasks they were expected to perform. However, it seems certain that they will be replaced, since the alleged Russian threat was regarded an incentive to invest in a new class. The Minister of Defence, however, delayed the replacement by two years, until 2027. Roughly, there are two groups in the Dutch parliament – one in favor of replacing the Walrus class by an equally capable class of large, expeditionary, diesel-electric submarine, and the other in favor of choosing a cheaper solution of smaller diesel-electrics, similar to Swedish and German submarines. It is unknown where the new boats will be built; since the Dutch RDM shipyard (the only Dutch yard capable of building submarines) is no longer in operation. The Defensienota (Defense policy for the coming years) of March 2018 revealed that the Dutch government is still planning to replace the Walrus-class submarines,[12] with an allocated budget of more than 2.5 billion euros for the new submarines. Additional information on how to proceed with the replacement was expected at the end of 2018, when the Dutch Minister of Defence, Ank Bijleveld, was to send a so-called B-letter to the Dutch parliament.[12] Minister Bijleveld also underlined in an interview that the new submarines should have the same niche capabilities as the current Walrus-class submarines: the ability to operate and gather intelligence in both shallow water close to the coast and in deep water in the ocean.[13] In mid-2021 it was indicated that the revised plan was to take a decision on the replacement type in 2022 and to have the first vessel in service by 2028, with the first two boats to be in service by 2031.[14] However, by October 2021 it was reported that this timeline was no longer feasible. Instead, the Dutch Ministry of Defence signalled that the envisaged dates would have to be "substantially adjusted", likely impacting the originally proposed in-service dates for the first submarines.[15]

Contenders[]

The Ministry of Defence has shortlisted three bidders:[16][17]

  • 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.[18] It was announced on 1 June 2018 that their design will be derived from the A26 submarine.[19][20] The proposed submarine is around 73 metres (240 ft) long with a beam of 8 metres (26 ft). 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 6 torpedo tubes and 1 multi-mission lock which can be used to deploy special forces.[19]
  • 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 be offered, rather than the nuclear variant used by the French Navy.[21]
  • ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems is planning to offer a Type 212CD submarine.[22]

Spain's Navantia's S-80 was not accepted as a contender.

Minor vessels[]

Replacement of Mercuur, Pelikaan, the four diving support vessels of the , the diving training vessel , the hydrographic vessels Snellius and Luymes and the training vessel HNLMS Van Kinsbergen from 2024 onwards.[23]

See also[]

Notes[]

  1. ^ "Marine wil bevoorrader 'in de geest van Zr.Ms. Amsterdam'" (in Dutch). marineschepen.nl. Archived from the original on 22 February 2018. Retrieved 22 February 2018.
  2. ^ "Nieuw bevoorradingsschip komt in 2022" (in Dutch). marineschepen.nl. Archived from the original on 22 February 2018. Retrieved 22 February 2018.
  3. ^ "First steel cuts of Combat Support Ship CSS Den Helder for Dutch Navy Netherlands". navyrecognition.com. December 2020. Retrieved 14 January 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  4. ^ "Zr.Ms. Rotterdam LPD". marineschepen.nl.
  5. ^ "Johan de Witt Landing Platform Dock". marineschepen.nl.
  6. ^ "Belgium OKs acquisition of six new mine countermeasure vessels". navaltoday.com. 29 January 2018. Archived from the original on 31 January 2018. Retrieved 31 January 2018.
  7. ^ "STX France, EDR, Socarenam team for Belgian mine countermeasure project". navaltoday.com. 31 January 2018. Archived from the original on 31 January 2018. Retrieved 31 January 2018.
  8. ^ a b c "France's Naval Group clinches Belgian-Dutch minehunter replacement contract". Naval Today. 15 March 2019. Archived from the original on 15 March 2019. Retrieved 15 March 2019.
  9. ^ a b c Scott, Richard (15 March 2019). "Naval Group team selected for BE/NL MCM programme". Jane's 360. London. Archived from the original on 15 March 2019. Retrieved 15 March 2019.
  10. ^ "First Steel Cutting Ceremony For Dutch-Belgian MCM Program". Naval News. 20 July 2021. Retrieved 14 January 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  11. ^ Tomkins, Richard (22 January 2015). "Swedes, Dutch partner for future submarine work". UPI.com. Retrieved 3 March 2015.
  12. ^ a b "Defensienota 2018" (in Dutch). Dutch Ministry of Defense. 26 March 2018. Retrieved 27 March 2018.
  13. ^ Keultjes, Hanneke; Boere, Raymond (27 March 2018). "We gaan niet oplappen, we gaan vernieuwen" (in Dutch). BNDeStem. Retrieved 27 March 2018.
  14. ^ "Dutch Navy Walrus-class submarine replacement project in progress". Navyrecognition.com. 1 June 2021. Retrieved 14 January 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  15. ^ "Netherlands' Walrus-Class Submarine Replacement Program Facing Delays". Naval News. 31 October 2021. Retrieved 14 January 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  16. ^ "The Netherlands: three bidders shortlisted for submarine replacement program". Naval Today. 2019-12-16.
  17. ^ Sprenger, Sebastian (2019-12-17). "One bidder out, three remain in Dutch race to replace Walrus subs". Defense News. Sightline Media Group.
  18. ^ "Saab and Damen Team for Walrus Future Submarine Replacement Programme". www.damen.com. 20 January 2015. Retrieved 8 December 2017.
  19. ^ a b "Meer details voorstel nieuwe Nederlandse onderzeeboot van Saab en Damen". www.marineschepen.nl. 5 June 2018. Retrieved 1 June 2018.
  20. ^ Stichting Nederlandse Industrie voor Defensie en Veiligheid magazine editie 2-2018 (June 2018), accessed 12 June 2018, pages 11–12.
  21. ^ "Franse werf Naval Group wil Nederland dieselelektrische variant van nucleaire onderzeeboot Barracuda aanbieden". www.marineschepen.nl. 1 May 2018. Retrieved 1 May 2018.
  22. ^ Fiorenza, Nicholas (2019-12-16). "Netherlands downselects contenders for submarine replacement". Jane's 360.
  23. ^ "Vervanging van tien Nederlandse marineschepen ineens". marineschepen.nl.
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