In June 2023, the Netherlands and Belgium ordered Damen, a shipbuilding company linked to Thales Nederland, to construct four new anti-submarine warfare frigates (ASWF) for a total of four billion euros. These frigates are intended to replace the Belgian navy’s current ships, BNS Léopold I and BNS Louise-Marie, which were acquired second-hand from the Dutch military in the 2000s. The ASWF frigates are larger than originally planned, with a displacement of about 6,400 tonnes and a length of 145 meters. They will be equipped with advanced sensors from Thales Nederland, the ability to deploy an NH90 NFH helicopter and aerial drones, and a surface-air defense system using 64 RIM-162 ESSM Block 2 missiles and 21 RIM-116 missiles. By December 2025, concerns arose about delays in the project. Belgian Defense Minister Theo Francken noted that Damen Naval had fallen behind schedule, and the Netherlands were evaluating the impact of these delays on the delivery timeline. A May 2023 report from the Dutch Ministry of Defense confirmed that the initial design of the frigate was unstable and required modifications to meet requirements for flexibility and weight, particularly for future systems. The report estimated that the first frigate would not be delivered to the Dutch Royal Navy until 2033, four years late, and the cost of each ship had risen from 600 million to 1 billion euros. Belgium faces a potential gap in its naval capabilities as its older frigates reach the end of their service life. Extending their use until 2036 is one possible solution, but maintaining these nearly 40-year-old ships is becoming increasingly difficult and expensive due to the scarcity of spare parts. The Netherlands is currently evaluating whether it is technically feasible to keep the current frigates operational until 2036, as well as the associated costs and impact on readiness. While Belgium continues to value its partnership with the Netherlands, internal discussions suggest growing doubts about the viability of the current contract. A government source told the broadcaster VRT that the main concern is not whether to continue with the Dutch project, but how to exit the multi-billion euro contract gracefully. To prepare an alternative, the Belgian government has already reached out to other European shipbuilders, including Fincantieri in Italy, Naval Group in France, and TKMS in Germany, to explore options. Defense Minister Francken emphasized the urgency of acquiring new frigates and plans to make a decision by autumn. According to Belgian press reports, three shipbuilders—Naval Group, Fincantieri, and Navantia—have been selected to respond to a request for information (RFI). The Belgian government has set three key conditions: the frigates must be deliverable by 2029-2030, must have advanced anti-submarine warfare capabilities, and must not exceed a total cost of 3.2 billion euros. The French Defense and Intervention Frigate (FDI) appears to meet all these criteria, but the Italian FREMM EVO frigate is reportedly the preferred choice of the Belgian navy and government. Fincantieri, the builder of the FREMM EVO, could deliver three high-performance frigates by 2030. With Portugal also ordering FREMM EVO, the potential for cost savings through shared production is seen as a major advantage. Belgian Prime Minister Bart de Wever is said to have discussed the possibility of purchasing FREMM EVO with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni during a recent visit to Rome. A Belgian navy officer noted that the FREMM EVO meets most of the country’s needs and that the navy might opt for the current version, even if modifications are made later.