The Dutch Navy recently presented the first characteristics of the future air defense frigates which will replace, at the start of the next decade, the four De Zeven Provinciën class frigates.
Particularly well armed and equipped, these ships promise to prove to be very effective escorts, while taking into account recent lessons in this area, particularly regarding the threat of drones in the Red Sea. Just as will be, moreover, the future Dutch amphibious assault ships, presented on this same occasion.
In this section:
The reconstruction of the Dutch Armies has been carried out at full speed since 2017
Most European countries have become aware of the reality of the threat posed by the evolution of Russian military capabilities, associated with the hardening of the Moscow regime, from February 2022, and the start of the Russian Special Military Operation against Ukraine, as cynically presented by the Kremlin.
This was not the case in The Hague. Indeed, from 2017, following the trauma of Flight MH17 shot down by a Russian Buk missile over Ukraine, the Dutch authorities undertook to significantly increase their defense effort.
This one thus passed from 1,16% of GDP and €9 billion in 2017, to almost €23 billion for more than 2% of GDP in 2024, aiming for €31 billion and almost 2,5% of GDP in 2030, far ahead of all other Western European countries in this area.
Initially, these resources were used to finance certain key programs, such as the replacement of the F-16s with American F-35As, moving from a fleet objective of 37 aircraft initially targeted, to 52 American planes now.
In the naval field, The Hague has committed, since 2019, to the joint development, with Belgium, of 12 large mine warfare ships, six per country, to replace mine hunters tripartite.
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without forgetting this program: https://meta-defense.fr/2023/02/22/futur-destroyer-ddx-marine-italienne/
the advantage being the collaboration already carried out by Naval and Fincatieri on the Horizon and fremm programs (what's more by having a common subsidiary NAVIRIS) and construction for 2028, but it seems in fact that the national navy is not interested in this kind of program for now.
it would be a good way to return the favor and develop concrete partnerships
Is such a rapprochement planned?
No. But it would be relevant.