De Haas Shipyards has received a contract to build 13 vessels to replace the Netherlands Armed Forces’ Fast Raiding Interception and Special Forces Craft (FRISC).
The incoming boats will have enhanced weapons compatibility, communication systems, and sensors compared to their predecessors.
Additionally, the fleet will be less detectable by adversarial trackers and include modern hulls and seats to decrease the physical strain on personnel while operating in extreme environments.
Upon arrival, the new systems will be distributed to the Netherlands Maritime Special Operations Forces and the Royal Netherlands Army, and are expected to last for at least 10 years.
Missions that the platforms will deploy for include “boarding and other special operations in the highest spectrum of violence.”
De Haas will work on the project for three and a half years at its facility in Rotterdam.
FRISC Fleet Replacement
The Dutch Ministry of Defence first announced the replacement of the military’s FRISC fleet in 2021, as the systems are scheduled to retire by 2024.
The armed forces employ 52 FRISC boats, with the majority being used for amphibious and patrol operations.
The Netherlands’ current FRISC system is operated by a driver and a navigator.
It has the capacity for up to eight passengers and can be equipped with heavy machine guns, automatic grenade launchers, camera equipment, and integrated marine communications technology.
The existing FRISC measures 9.5 to 12 meters (31 to 39 feet) long and weighs up to 8 tons (17,637 pounds), depending on its boarding, raiding, and support mission profiles.
It is powered by a 370 to 435 horsepower engine as well as two stern drives or two water jets for a maximum speed of up to 45 knots (83 kilometers/52 miles per hour) and a range of 500 kilometers (311 miles).
