On July 29, the Netherlands Ministry of Defence’s Materiel and IT Command authorized the start of the design phase for a new 12-metre Uncrewed Surface Vessel (USV) which is intended to become part of the equipment of each of the new ASW frigates of the Royal Netherlands Navy.
This USV, which will be organic to the ship and deployed and recovered from it, is intended to operate with a Thales FLASH dipping sonar, a system usually employed on helicopters. It is found on the NH-90 NFH helicopters in service with the Navy and that will also be embarked on the future frigates.
The MOD has assigned the USV development mission to the Dutch Naval Design (DND) “ecosystem” that brings together the MoD, the maritime industry in the field of defence and knowledge institutes to cooperatively advance research and development.
A large industrial team of Dutch firms have formed the “USV Alliance (USVAL)” to deliver this project group comprises twelve organizations working together. Fugro will lead the designing and building of the remote operation capabilities of the USV, allowing the boat to operate at considerable distance from the frigate, extending its reach and sharpening its response capabilities.
The Consortium also includes de Haas Rotterdam Shipyard, ADSE Consulting and Engineering, AVR Maritime, Damen Naval, DEMCON unmanned systems, MARIN (Maritime Research Institute Netherlands), RH Marine, Rohde & Schwarz, Starion and SkyDec - Precision Navigation, and TNO.
Thales Underwater Systems France will supply the FLASH Compact dipping sonars themselves. DND will now proceed with the production of a first prototype to refine the design before progressing towards series production.
Early concept and design work for the USV has been ongoing for some time already, with a first contract assigned back in April 2024. Some work and trials have already been carried out for the related Launch and Recovery System as well.
The new contract should lead to a demonstration carried out already in the first quarter of 2027.
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