Kongsberg has been chosen by Dutch shipbuilder Damen Naval to supply controllable pitch propeller systems for four anti-submarine warfare (ASW) frigates.
The Norwegian company will provide the parts alongside associated equipment such as blades, hubs, hubcaps, and shaft lines for the Netherlands and Belgium’s upcoming ASW fleet.
The equipment will be incorporated into a hybrid diesel-electric propulsion system designed to operate with reduced noise levels.
Damen Naval Corporate Strategy and Innovation Director Richard Keulen said the agreement underlines the importance of collaboration in the maritime industry.
“It is great news to have Kongsberg Maritime involved in the ASWF project as well. We have a long-standing relationship with the company, and it is a good example of the excellent cooperation that exists between the Dutch and Swedish naval shipbuilding industries,” Keulen added.
The first ASW ship is expected to be delivered by 2028.
The ASW Frigate
The upcoming ASW fleet is a joint project between the Netherlands and Belgium that seeks to equip their forces with vessels capable of taking on surface and underwater threats.
The 4-billion-euro ($4.4 billion) agreement was signed in 2023 as a means to replace the countries’ Karel Doorman- and M-class frigates.
The first two frigates will be delivered to the Royal Netherlands Navy, with the last two to be handed over to the Belgian Navy by 2030.
Arms giant Thales is slated to supply the ships with naval fire control systems and sensor technologies, employing high-speed counters for advanced attacks from threats at sea.