______________________________________________________________________________ Damen Naval – F126 Project
deliver the first ship in 2028 and the fourth in 2031 . The German Government has the option for two more , which , if selected will be delivered after that in 2033 .
As the project gets underway , Richard and Frank look to the future with the weighty responsibility of being a naval engineer in a war-torn world . “ We must equip our navies with new ships and ship systems in a rapidly changing world . Our ships must be ready to operate in today ’ s maritime world with all its threats . Under challenging security conditions , the Royal Netherlands Navy is facing the replacement of a large part of its fleet . Within 15 years , it must be replaced in its entirety . Together with the Dutch maritime sector , Damen Naval is ready to support this . We are working on the new ASW frigates for the Dutch and Belgian navies , a bid for new Dutch submarines that will replace the famous Walrus class , and a Combat Support Ship . We are also preparing to replace air
defense and command frigates , amphibious transport ships , and new , durable auxiliary vessels . Damen is ready to take up its role in the replacement of all these new ships and submarines and does so in close cooperation with the Dutch naval industry and research institutes ,” Richard outlines .
In closing , Richard ’ s final sentiments emphasize the importance of a dependable fleet for the world ’ s navies . “ This decade , with new developing threats to naval warfare , we are keen to look at cooperation with northern naval shipbuilding countries . This cooperation is the foundation of more integral teaming on shipbuilding on a Northern European level . Working with modular naval shipbuilding allows each country to differentiate within standard ship models to meet the demands of each country ,” he concludes . ■
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