RH Marine awarded contract for new Dutch-Belgian ASW frigates

The new ASW frigates for the Dutch and Belgian navies will start entering service from 2029. (Damen Naval )

Netherlands-based RH Marine is the first Dutch supplier to receive a contract in support of the Dutch-Belgian anti-submarine warfare frigate (ASWF) programme.

Under a deal signed with Damen Naval on 4 July, RH Marine will equip the four new ASW frigates with its integrated mission management system (IMMS), integrated navigation bridge system (INBS), and integrated platform management system (IPMS).

The announcement follows the official contract signing between Dutch Materiel and IT Command (COMMIT) and Damen for the design, build, and delivery of four ASW frigates for the Dutch and Belgian navies on 29 June.

Under their joint ASWF programme, the Belgian and Dutch navies are procuring two ships each to replace their respective Karel Doorman M-class frigates. While the new ships are classed as ASW frigates, reflecting their primary role, they will also be equipped with anti-surface warfare (ASuW) and anti-air warfare (AAW) capabilities.

According to Damen, RH Marine's platform automation, bridge, and mission management applications incorporate next-generation cyber-security, network, and data-centre technology to create fast, robust, and easily maintainable systems well-suited to further growth and continuous improvement. The systems will enable the ship to operate with a smaller crew, with a much higher and smarter degree of automation supporting them.

RH Marine's IPMS uses industrial internet of things (IIoT) connectivity, which gives the platform flexibility in terms of connection and configurability. This connectivity enables vast amounts of data to be stored from connected systems and sensors, which can then be analysed and used to improve operational processes and support predictive maintenance.