Echoes Across the Globe highlights the global footprint and impact of General Dynamics Mission Systems–Canada’s sonar systems technology. This series of customer profiles will spotlight our ongoing collaboration with allied navies and air forces around the world and focus in on how our industry-leading technologies are providing capability overmatch in anti-submarine warfare, strengthening maritime security, and advancing NATO's defence objectives.
The Netherlands and Belgium are situated along one of the world’s busiest and most strategically important coastlines. With an increase in the volume and complexity of underwater threats, their naval forces, alongside allied navies worldwide are looking to level up their operational readiness – and are turning to advanced sonar solutions to bolster their underwater warfare capabilities.
In a collaborative move to increase European naval security and its contributions to strengthen NATO defence and deterrence, the Royal Netherlands Navy and Belgian Navy are replacing their multi-purpose frigates – the Karel Doorman class – with Anti-Submarine Warfare Frigates (ASWF). Through recently awarded contracts, General Dynamics Mission Systems–Canada will provide sonobuoy processing systems and hull-mounted sonar technology for integration into these next-generation naval vessels.
The Dutch and Belgian navies – like many allied countries in this region – are looking for solutions to support operations in both the deep ocean and harsh regions of the littoral. Perhaps the most pressing need they are facing – reflected in this renewed interest and investment in sonar systems technology – is the ability to deploy and maintain tactical advantage in the Arctic region as it becomes increasingly accessible and contentious from above and below the surface.
“We are proud to be a trusted partner for sonar systems technology worldwide and our work with the Netherlands and Belgium further reinforces our commitment to ensuring allied nations have what it takes to stand up to the myriad of threats – old and new – that they face in modern maritime operations,” said Tony Morris, Vice-President, Air and Naval Systems, General Dynamics Mission Systems–International.
As they look to replace their legacy fleets with purpose-built vessels, the Dutch and Belgian navies will benefit from the mission proven and ready-now sonar technologies used by the Royal Canadian Navy’s Halifax-Class frigates that empower naval crews with automated detection, localization, and tracking of underwater threats. This made-in-Canada and ready for the world technology routinely comes out on top in international ASW competitions and has been a key force enabler in NATO maritime operations.
Upon deployment of the ASWFs, General Dynamics will continue in-service support through training, testing, and ongoing software updates that will enhance these systems and allow the Netherlands and Belgium to evolve with the mission and maintain capability overmatch in an ever-changing maritime environment.
