Damen contracts RH Marine for critical systems of future ASW frigates.

According to a PR published by Damen Naval on July 6, 2023, the company has entered into a contract with the Netherlands-based supplier, RH Marine, for the provision of critical systems for the new Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) Frigates.
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Artist rendering of the future Belgian and Dutch Anti-Submarine Warfare frigates. (Picture source: Damen)

RH Marine is set to deliver the Integrated Mission Management System (IMMS), Integrated Navigation Bridge System (INBS), and the Integrated Platform Management System (IPMS) for each of the four ASW Frigates being constructed for the Dutch and Belgian Navies.

This collaboration was revealed following the recent contract agreement between the Dutch Ministry of Defence and Damen Naval to design, construct, and deliver the new generation of frigates.

Roland Briene, Managing Director of Damen Naval, highlighted the importance of sharing the wealth of knowledge obtained from such premium projects with local suppliers, a strategy that bolsters the Netherlands' standing in the global naval construction industry and reinforces their position in European partnerships. He further noted that the contract with RH Marine is a testament to their longstanding successful collaboration.

The systems to be supplied by RH Marine incorporate cutting-edge cybersecurity, networking, and data centre technology. They will serve as the backbone for the next-generation platform automation, bridge, and mission management applications on the frigates. These advanced systems enable the ships to operate with a leaner crew while relying on highly sophisticated automation.

Expressing pride in their contribution to the ASWF project, Hugo Loudon, Managing Director of RH Marine, highlighted the collaborative effort between COMMIT, Damen, and RH Marine that has set the innovative foundations for automated manning and operations. This pioneering approach is set to be the standard for future naval vessels of the Dutch and Belgian navies.

The new frigates will be multi-functional, with a primary focus on anti-submarine warfare. These vessels will boast an array of sensors for submarine detection and leverage state-of-the-art technology to ensure swift, sturdy, and easily maintainable systems primed for further growth and ongoing enhancement.

With Industrial Internet Of Things (IIoT) connectivity incorporated into RH Marine's IPMS system, the platform is granted enhanced connection flexibility and configurability.

This connectivity also enables the storage of vast volumes of data from connected systems and sensors, which can be analyzed for operational optimization and predictive maintenance.

These ASW frigates are set to replace the aging Karel Doorman-class multipurpose frigates, built by Damen Naval between 1985 and 1991. Of the eight M-class frigates delivered, six were subsequently sold to various countries, including two to Belgium.

With the service life of these vessels nearing its end, the Netherlands and Belgium jointly decided to replace them with the new ASW frigates, the first of which is slated for delivery by Damen Naval in 2028.

ASW frigate

The frigate boasts a displacement of 6,400 tonnes and dimensions of 145 meters in length and over 17 meters in breadth. She can comfortably house up to 117 personnel, with additional space for 34 more.

The armaments continue with a range of guns: a single OTO Melara 76 mm (including DART ammunition), two 40mm Oto Marlins, and multiple medium and light machine guns.