Netherlands: Surprising announcement about naval armament projects

With two A-letters, which in the Netherlands means the announcement of an armaments project to parliament, within a week, a major overhaul is emerging for the neighboring country's navy.

Den Anfang machte die Ankündigung über neue Fregatten als Ersatz für die vorhandenen Luftverteidigungs- und Kommando-Fregatten der vier „De Zeven Provinciën“-Klasse – und zwar im Verhältnis 1:1. Die vier neuen LC-Fregatten werden wie ihre Vorgänger die Luftverteidigung als Hauptaufgabe haben. Die erste Fregatte soll 2034 in Dienst gestellt werden, Baunummer vier soll 2041 einsatzbereit sein. Bauwerft wird Damen, Sensoren und Führungssystem wird von Thales Niederlande entwickelt.

The second announcement concerns a new class of ships that the Royal Netherlands Navy will have at its disposal from 2032. In the A letter from State Secretary in the Ministry of Defense Christophe van der Maat, six amphibious transport ships are announced. They are intended to replace the four Holland-class patrol ships and the two LPDs “Rotterdam” and “Johan de Witt”.

The transmission of the armaments projects came as a surprise because the announcement of the selection decision for future submarines was expected in the Netherlands. The publication spread concern about the decision on submarines. The government last week faced demands from four provinces to choose the contractor that would provide the largest possible Dutch share of the upcoming submarine contract. This was preceded by press reports that the order would go to the Naval Group. There were also rumors about French support for the selection of Mark Rutte as NATO Secretary General. Naval Group's intended collaboration with the Dutch shipyard IHC is viewed with skepticism. There is also the idea that the announcement of the frigate and landing ship projects could be intended as compensation for the Dutch shipyard landscape.

For Germany, the information is significant in that the planned cooperation with the Netherlands to jointly procure air defense frigates is off the table. First discussed in April 2020 as part of an interview with the then DMO director Vice Admiral Arie Jan de Waard, a cooperation agreement was reached between the two defense ministries on the joint frigate program at the end of 2020. With the publication of the 'Course Marine 2035+', the German preference for a different solution became obvious. State Secretary Van der Maat had already previously been discussed about this in a parliamentary context in November 2022, sticking to the cooperation agreement. According to the A letter, The Hague is still in contact with Berlin. Other forms of cooperation are also being pursued, for example with Norway and Denmark.

This makes it clear that cooperation between the Netherlands and Germany in the maritime field will initially be limited to operational cooperation between the two marine infantry associations and technological joint work in the construction of the F126 class frigate. In contrast, it is becoming apparent that the Netherlands is supporting its own naval shipbuilders and suppliers. Whether the new amphibious transport ship will be similar to the MPSS presented at the arms fair in Qatar is currently premature speculation.

Hans Uwe Mergener