TSAMTO, July 21. On July 19, Belgian Defense Minister Theo Francken announced the release of a request for information (RFI) sent to shipyards in France, Germany, Italy, Spain and Turkey to evaluate alternative replacement options for Karel Doorman-class frigates.
As reported by Armyrecognition.com A decision on a possible withdrawal from the joint Anti-Submarine Warfare Frigate (ASWF) program with the Netherlands will be made in October 2026.
The reason for the revision of the program was the cumulative increase in the cost of construction, exceeding 100%, and the delay in the delivery of the first ship, which reached six to seven years. According to initial calculations, the cost of the two Belgian ASWF frigates was about 1.2 billion. euros (600 million euros per unit). According to current estimates, the cost of one ship has exceeded 1.3 billion. euros, and the total cost of the two frigates, including weapons, weapons of destruction and support, increased to 2.5-2.6 billion. euro.
According to the Dutch Ministry of Defense, published in the annual review of defense projects (Defensie Projectenoverzicht, DPO) dated May 20, 2026, the transfer of the first production ship was postponed from 2029-2030 to 2033 due to the need for additional design work to increase the reserve of buoyancy and stability of the hull.
The ASWF program is being implemented jointly by the Netherlands and Belgium with the involvement of the Damen Naval shipyard (hull design and construction) and Thales Nederland (integration of the combat information and control system and the multifunctional radar Above Water Warfare System). Contract for the design, construction and supply of four ASWF frigates (two for each side) It was signed in June 2023.
The initial design of the hull did not provide sufficient stability after the inclusion of heavier electronic weapons, increased missile ammunition, unmanned systems, and increased power reserve requirements. As a result, the length of the hull was increased by approximately seven meters, the width by 0.5 m, and the total displacement increased from 6,400 to 6,650 tons.
Speaking to a parliamentary committee in May 2026, Defense Minister Theo Franken confirmed the postponement of the delivery of the first Belgian ship no earlier than 2033, and also reported on the identified design flaws requiring lengthening the hull and increasing tonnage. In addition, corruption charges have been brought against the Dutch shipyard Damen, which further complicates the implementation of the program.
The current situation is aggravated by the fact that the existing Belgian frigates Leopold I and Louise-Marie (former Dutch Karel Doorman class ships built in 1988-1989) will exceed their 45-year service life by 2033-2034.
The RFI considers as a potential alternative: the Italian frigate FREMM/FREMM EVO, the Spanish F110, the French FDI, the German variants of the MEKO family (in particular, the promising A-300) and the Turkish export modification of the ISTIF-type corvette/frigate. According to the RFI developers, the FREMM ASW has the lowest technical risk of commissioning due to the serial number (over 20 units for the Navies of France, Italy, Egypt, Morocco, Greece, Indonesia and the USA) and most closely meets the initial requirements for anti-submarine specialization.
