Romania to build 6 frigates for the Netherlands and Belgium

Frigates for Belgium and the Netherlands will be built in Galati, Romania. The countries have ordered 6 ships, which will be distributed among themselves.

This was stated by Gheorghe Savu, Director of Damen Naval Romania.

The order for six ships is part of a plan to strengthen the military capabilities of the European Union.

The construction of 6 frigates will begin this summer at the Damen shipyard in Galati. Delivery is scheduled for 2028-2032.

Belgium and the Netherlands ordered the ASWF anti-submarine frigates in June 2023 with shipbuilder Damen and Thales as subcontractors.

The order for new frigates for Belgium and the Netherlands is part of the Future Surface Combatant project.

The Future Surface Combatant is a project of the Dutch and Belgian navies to replace the outdated Karel Doorman-class multi-purpose frigates.

The future frigates will replace HNLMS Van Amstel and HNLMS Van Speijk in the Dutch Navy and Leopold I and Louise-Marie in the Belgian Navy.

The main task of anti-submarine frigates is to remotely detect and destroy submarines.

This is done, among other things, with the ship’s own NH90 helicopter on board. Both the frigate and the helicopter can launch an Mk54 torpedo to neutralize the submarine.

Damen began investing in the Romanian shipyard in Galati in 1999 to build such large ships.

Today, the shipyard is one of the largest production sites in the Damen Group, covering 55 hectares and employing around 1,500 people in the region, as well as subcontractors. Since joining Damen Group, the shipyard has delivered more than 500 vessels.