In an era of rising costs, there has never been a better time to pool knowledge and resources in working towards a common goal. This is especially true in the naval domain, as navies continue to design the very complex integrated air and missile defence (IAMD) frigates of the future, which require effort and resources that they may not be able to provide on their own.

For decades the Netherlands has had very strong ties with both German government and industry. The relationship dates back to the 1980s, and the development of surveillance and fire control sensors, deployed on both German F-122 frigates and Dutch S-frigates. This collaboration led to the joint development of highly sophisticated AAW systems for other ship classes as well, up to and including the F-124 and LCF frigates.

In an initiative that would enable Germany to benefit from commonality and next-level fire control on future frigates, the Netherlands are currently developing a new, next-level AWW (Above Water Warfare) system, which combines air and surface warfare into one integrated solution. This system has the potential to be part of the ongoing cooperation between the two countries’ armed forces outlined in the declarations of intent signed by their respective defence ministers.

This cooperation is evident in many different areas. The German Sea Battalion’s capabilities have been integrated into the Royal Netherlands Navy since 2016 – thanks to the use of the joint support ship Karel Doorman – and the Netherlands is supporting the German Navy in the development of an amphibious concept and capability.

There are systems already in use binationally – such as on the German F-123 and F124 and Dutch M-frigates and LCF frigates – for which continued cooperation on maintenance and logistics is essential. Not only through combined procurement and qualification, but also a desire to harmonise rules and standards to support maintenance from shipbuilders in both countries.

Cooperation has also taken the form of exchange between the two nations: information and mutual support in the development of IAMD frigates; experience in the field of maintenance of ships, weapon systems and components. It even extends beyond naval systems and into the broader military domain: from cooperation on ground-based air and missile defence and counter unmanned air systems to the agreement to build the “Tactical Edge Networking” joint military internet.

The development, qualification and testing of the new AWW system are already being carried out by the Netherlands. Cooperation on the system would allow Germany to observe the results in the very early stages – thus mitigating the risks inherent in developing this kind of sophisticated system – but also share the lifecycle costs including upgrades, maintenance, spare parts, and training.

The advantages of having a common deployment of this next-level fire-control system are clear: it would provide the German Navy with a ready-made AWW system that not only meets current requirements, but that is also future-proof, capable of responding to evolving multi-threat scenarios for years to come. This would benefit both nations, and lay down a valuable stepping-stone towards future cooperation on the development of this, and other, AWW systems.